'I can't believe this.' Tien's thoughts ran wildly through his head as he waited on the lookout with Piccolo for Krillin to come back with word from Bulma.
Ezekiel lay curled in Piccolo's lap as his father meditated, trying to reach out to Mia mentally. Ezekiel knew that his mother was missing, and that was all he needed to know at the time. A child his age knows nothing of rape and violence. Nothing exists beyond his little world, and that's the way it should be.
That's the way it should be...in an ideal world. The voice had returned and told the boy of what had really happened, and Ezekiel, unsure how to handle it, simply went to sleep.
Tien, from afar, watched him as he slept in Piccolo's lap.
'Lucky man...to be so close to Mia.' He bowed his head. Thoughts of her still filled his mind, and beyond that, overtook his heart. He remembered when she said that she wouldn't sleep with him. Was that what he wanted? It couldn't be that simple...There had to be more to it than that.
He sighed, and everyone else shrugged off his agitation, assuming it worry. Of course it was worry, but what was he feeling for her? He shut all three eyes and thought a moment. It wasn't like him to lust after a girl who was taken...or lust at all for that matter! He was always shy around girls, even Launch.
When Piccolo had found him unconscious, he had brought him here until he came around, leaving Choutsu at Roshi's. He was disturbed to learn of the recent events, and was eager to put his foot in the door and offer to help. But was it for the best he went along?
Krillin finally arrived, Bulma flying a ship after him. Everyone present looked up as she landed it and dreaded the moment she opened her mouth, knowing what she was going to say.
The aqua haired woman trotted forward. "Come on everyone! Are we going after her or what?"
Of course... 'we.'
She hurried Krillin into the ship. "Get going, the ships warmed up! Make sure everything s in place!" She then sighed with a big smile, fists on her hips as she looked around at the unlikely group of rescuers. "Well, are you coming or what?"
Vegita grunted. "No one asked you to come."
Bulma smirked, very much like Vegita himself. "So tell me, who'd pilot the ship?"

Silence.

"That's what I thought! Come on!" She hopped in the plane, Vegita right behind her, giving her a good shove to keep moving.
As an argument arose, Kami and Piccolo turned to each other, bewildered beyond words. Standing, he scooped up his son, figuring he had no choice but to bring him.
"WAIT!"
Everyone stopped and turned, to see Goku stepping out of the time chamber.
"What's going on?"

Mia lay in the corner, her pillow pressed close to her chest as she wept. She'd been dreading his return for about an hour now. He had left to attend to business, and said he'd give her 'more attention' when he returned.
She inhaled firmly, trying to stop her tears. 'Alright, I'm here, now what do I do?' She thought hard on that. 'Piccolo said he's find me?' She smiled in vain of her oncoming tears. 'He'll never find me...I'm stuck here...'
She stood wrapping a sheet around her and walking to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror and what she saw scared her. She was white and pale from grief, and her long brown hair was in tangles around her shoulders. She swallowed, seeing the shadows under her eyes.
'I look so old....' She bit in her lip, knowing she was only in her twenties.
"Where are you Mia?"
With a gasp, she quickly looked for a hiding place. Her eyes were wide and frantic like a fawn looking down the barrel of a gun. She saw the closet and jumped in, not caring if it was an obvious hiding place. She just wanted to get away from him.
Her breath caught as she listened t his footsteps, and she prayed silently for her heart to calm. The noise thundered in her ears, and she was afraid he heard it too.
"Oh! Playing are we?"
She remained quiet, curling into a fetal position. 'Oh Piccolo...I wish you were here...' She begged. 'What I wouldn't give to have you here!'

In an instant, Piccolo's antennae were twitching, alerting his instincts. His mind followed her mental echo, and found hers.
He had settled into a lotus position and persisted in reaching her, sending out gentle waves of telepathic energy to see if he could find her thought...Now, after hours of sitting, he had found her.

'Mia! Do here me?' He called. 'Mia, TALK TO ME!'

Mia gasped, hearing his voice in her head. 'I'm going insane...' She thought, her mind now blank except for the voice of her lover in her head.

'Mia, you're not, it's me! I'm reaching you through our mental bond!'

'Piccolo...' She thought about it, and her mind was hushed as she contemplated his words. 'Prove it! You could be Krill trying to trick me!'

Piccolo smirked. 'You're knee's are ticklish and I know that because our first night together became very interesting when I nibbled you there. And then there's your...'

'Okay! Okay! It's you!' Mia blushed, the memory becoming fresh in her mind. Then the joy overwhelmed her. 'PICCOLO! Oh I could kiss you!'

'I wish you could...but it'll have to wait.' His mind reached out, trying to touch her. 'I'm coming for you as we speak, and I have our son and the others with me.'

Mia sat, the words ringing in her head. 'You wouldn't listen to me if I told you to go back...would you?'

'No chance in hell.'

'Then hurry...' her mind voice cracked as she began to cry. 'Please...he...he...he's coming...'

'Don't worry...when I get there, I'll kill him myself!' His consciousness finally reached her, and filled her mind. 'Relax...'

In that very heartbeat, Mia saw him. They were in a warm darkness, and she sighed, feeling the presence comfort her. Her eyes drifted shut, and without another moment...she had fallen asleep.

Piccolo stayed in her thought, making sure she would be all right.

Krill opened the closet door to see her wrapped in the sheet sleeping. He shrugged. 'Might as well let her rest...she's more fun when she struggles anyway...' He turned and began to walk off, hoping to find some physical relief from some of the woman in his harem.

Meanwhile, the ships crew was trying to get a clue as to where they were going.
Bulma screeched, pulling at her hair. "I can't even figure out which direction to head in!" She stomped her foot and swore a few times until her anger was successfully vented.
Vegita groaned, cringing as her voice rose again just to let out a scream.
"Will you shut up! I'm trying to keep Mia asleep!" Piccolo growled, still in deep meditation, agitated that he had to even say it. He wished to no end that humans could read minds or something, then conversation with them would be illuminated!
Krillin's eyebrows perked. "You are?"
"You are!?!?!" The rest of the ship chorused.
"Yes, and it's hard with all of you blabbering like that!" The Nameks frown deepened as Bulma made her way over.
"If you can do that, can you get directions or something!"
"Just leave me alone!"
"Just point!" She bellowed.
He pointed Northeast...or at least it'd have been northeast if they were on earth.
"Great!" She chimed, a determined look on her face! "Now onward! We should be there in two hours!"