Kihann snuggled up to the warm chest, content and happy, slowly waking up.
She couldn't remember being this happy; not in a very long time. She sighed
softly, listening to Piccolo's breathing and heart beating. She shivered
contentedly when she recalled last night, recalling that Piccolo had
finally admitted after teasing her mercilessly that he did love her and
that he cared for her.
She recalled the dream they'd shared last night. It had been her idea, and she'd surprised Piccolo when she'd shown up in his dreams. It was the same trick she'd used to call to him.
She'd set up the dream as she'd wanted it before calling out for Piccolo. Summoning up memories from her childhood, she set the scene as one of her favorite spots on old Namek. It was one of those hidden spots, a trysting place for younger ones, when she was a girl. Now she would use it to show Piccolo something that she'd struggled with for the past month. It had been something that had been keeping her here, keeping her from escaping and had kept her under Trask's thumb.
Once Kihann was content that everything was the way she wanted it, she set out to find Piccolo's thought pattern; quickly finding it and latching on, luring his mind to hers, linking on a level that no one but herself or Piccolo could break. Piccolo materialized looking mildly confused until he realized that Kihann was in charge of this scenario and to which the look of confusion turned to a smirk.
"Is this your idea of us being alone?" His baritone voice rumbled in mild amusement, arms folded over his chest, eyes shifting taking note of the surroundings. "I take it that this is home as you remember?"
Kihann laughed faintly watching as the breeze stirred Piccolo's shirt. "Yes this is my idea of being alone, since both of us know that Trask and Mauston are watching our every move, listening to everything we say. And there's something I wanted to tell you, and show you."
Piccolo raised a brow ridge, half smirking, feeling flippant. "What you didn't want them to watch?"
Kihann elbowed Piccolos side. "Not that you idiot! Besides, you're not capable of doing anything yet."
Piccolo coughed and rubbed his side, murmuring, "I don't want to know how you know that."
Kihann smirked as she walked next to Piccolo leading him to a grove of trees. "I've been with you through a couple procedures."
Piccolo flushed profusely, and changed the subject. "Did you drag me here to embarrass me, or were you going to tell me something?"
"Okay, okay; you have to promise me that you won't be angry. That what I'm about to tell you is neither one of our faults. You have to promise me that what if something happens that you won't blame anyone." Her tone had grown serious and she gazed into Piccolos eyes, coming to a stop and facing him, her fingers weaving into his. "I only know about it because Trask is using it against me, in an attempt to keep me at his side."
Piccolo watched her facial expressions carefully, taking note in every eye shift, every twitch of her lips, he could sense that she was not only nervous, but almost terrified of his response. "Kihann, just tell me. Whatever it is I won't blame you. We've come too far to let whatever they've done come between us. You've shown me a side of myself that I've denied far too long, and I would deny this if anyone asked me, but you were one of the first people that has shown me that I can become something more than what I was meant to, I had thought Gohan had been the one, but he'd just been the start."
Piccolo half expected her to say that she was with Trask's child, but he knew that humans and Nameks were just too incompatible for breeding to be successful, he knew that the blood types would be more than incompatible if something were to come of a mating like that the child would most likely be deformed, not to mention possibly genetically damaged. But if that wasn't the case then what else could it be? And what he had just admitted had been his true feelings. He just hoped that they wouldn't come back later to haunt him.
Kihann leaned forward resting her head against his chest but only after kissing his chin. "What you said means more to me, and gives me the courage to tell you what I have to. Trask and Mauston wanted me to keep it secret, threatened not only my death but yours if you were to find out, but I have to tell you Piccolo, you're love for me means too much; and what I have planned could mean your freedom, and I need you to know something before I do anything."
Piccolo lifted her chin with a finger, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "You're stalling; just tell me."
Kihann sighed. "You've been here three months; we've been here three months total actually, and during that time they've subjected you to just about everything possible. You know this you're the one who's gone through it. While they've tested on you, they've been testing on me as well. I've allowed San-Yi to take what's needed; especially after he told me what he had to do. Remember when I told you that his daughter was ill? San-Yi has been using our blood, our abilities in an attempt to heal his daughter, to cure of her that disease I had told you about. I allowed it because I knew that he loved her, and that all he wants is to have his daughter back. I also allowed it because of my feelings for you since I first got to know you." She traced a finger down his arm, swallowing slightly as she felt him tense a bit. "They've taken your core make-up and mine, and combined them Piccolo. They've created-"
"They've created test tube offspring." Piccolo finished for her, realization dawning on him slowly. His heart suddenly wanted to reside somewhere in his throat, and a tingling sensation coursed through his limbs like volts of electricity. It took a few moments to gather his thoughts, and even longer before he could look at Kihann fully in the face. They had offspring, a child. Their blood had created something that hadn't existed on Namek in hundreds of years. They had created a child between a man and a woman, or as close to a man and a woman that they'd get for a while.
"Two children Piccolo," Kihann responded softly, nodding. "One is a boy, one a girl; they were created just a month ago and released from the tubes just a short while back, their growth accelerated so that they can survive outside the tubes. I've gotten to see them Piccolo and they're," Kihann stopped, not sure what to say; how he'd react to her words. "They're beautiful Piccolo and, and."
"Just, shh for a moment Kihann, you're rambling, and you're kind of scaring me to be honest." Piccolo wrapped his arms around her, knowing she needed the contact, sensing that she was scared and unsure on how to tell him everything; privately he was scared, and all this was stuff he'd never thought he'd live to hear. "Why don't you tell me what Trask and Mauston plan on doing with these kids?"
"They plan on training them, using them as a team to seek out other alien life forms, not just on this planet but on others as well as soon as the military is capable of deep space travel. They're a bonded pair Piccolo, meaning they're linked, their combined power when they grow up could potentially destroy this entire sun system. Separate their power levels would be normal but together, well like Trask told you, they're looking for powerful species to clone and train for an army. That's what they plan on doing with the kids." Kihann closed her eyes fighting tears.
"So, we find a way to escape, all of us and we get the hell out of this place." Piccolo stated simply. If anything to him it sounded insane, get him, Kihann and their children out of a military facility alive. It sounded like something you'd see on a Friday night television special, or in a book.
"They're kept in a locked room, heavily guarded, not only by soldiers but by automatic weapons. The sensors are only locked onto three people's heat signatures and voice patterns. Trask's, Doctor Murashi's and General Mauston's, they're the only ones allowed in. I only got to see them once and even then they'd been brought out to me." Kihann smiled faintly as she looked up at Piccolo. "Kind of a crappy way to say congratulations you're a father, but it was the only way I could figure out how, and using a mind link was the only way I could be sure that you'd understand, and they wouldn't know."
Piccolo sighed softly, again realizing that he would have to find a way to not only get out alive but to get others out in the process. "Right now we have to just cooperate as best as possible, now that I know what's at stake."
Kihann shook her head, tugging on his shirt. "No, they can't know that you're aware of the little ones. It could jeopardize them, Trask wouldn't have any qualms with killing them and starting over just to hurt us, and he'd kill them in front of us just to try and make a point. I have a plan, and I need you to play ignorant. Can you do that?"
Piccolo glanced away, focusing on the area around him. "I trust you Kihann; but promise me one thing?" He focused back on her, he didn't realize until then just how much he'd come to care for her. "Promise me that when this is all over that you'll still be here?"
"I can't make you that promise Piccolo. I can't make you any promises, all I can do is try as best as I can, and that I hope you have enough faith in me to pull what I have planned off. I've managed to get some outside help, but even then I'm not sure just how much got through." Kihann sighed softly looking suddenly weary and drained. "I have to break contact now, it's all I can do to keep up this link; please promise me that you won't say a word?"
Piccolo nodded, letting the image break up, and falling into dreamless slumber. Kihann waited until the link was broken before she allowed herself to fall into sleep.
Kihann rolled over, watching Piccolo sleep. She was pleased that Piccolo had handled the news as well as he had. She wasn't sure at first at how he'd react, at first afraid that he'd be angry, possibly blame her for allowing all this to happen. But he'd seemed happy, and with the empathic impressions she'd gotten he'd been scared yes, but felt hopeful, and on a private level Piccolo was almost eager to see what they had created. All Kihann wanted to do now was get away, but it wasn't going to be as easy as said. She knew Trask and Mauston would stop at nothing to keep them there; and she knew Trask would kill Piccolo if given a chance just to keep Kihann at his side.
"You look worried."
Kihann blinked, jumping at the sound of Piccolos voice. "A little, but it's nothing for you to become worried over."
Piccolo watched Kihann as she got up and stretched, the floor was far from comfortable; but he'd become accustomed to it. He thought about all that he'd been told last night, having been told that they'd used his genetic make-up to create not only one child but two. He grinned to himself when he imagined the looks on his friend's faces when and if he escaped with this entire lot and showed back up to the Lookout. The grin faded when he looked around the room and realized that the when, was rapidly turning into an 'if'.
All this was happening far too fast. He'd been here three months, put through hell volunteering to take Kihann's place, he'd not thought about these past three months, hadn't thought about his feelings for Kihann, hadn't thought about himself; and all of a sudden, he needed to think about all of this. His entire life he'd spent focusing on the next battle, the next big fight. He'd spent his time training, learning to focus on the future, but the future had never included a family. It'd been one of those things he'd never wanted to think about. Piccolo having a family; he'd have laughed at the entire idea five or six months ago. But then again, five or six months ago he'd have laughed outright if someone had told him that Kihann had existed. And now here he was, having fallen in love with someone that wasn't supposed to exist in his world and now he had kids. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was laughing at the whole thing. Not in a cruel or malicious way, but in the way that all this seemed like some convoluted, twisted dream that he half expected to wake up from and see Gohan or Goku sitting there in his little camp grinning like an idiot asking and ask what he'd been dreaming.
But when he sat up, fully waking up and thought about the situation they were in Goku's silly grin seemed like a distant memory. So did just about everything else, he once again caught himself thinking of the future, thinking of another battle, but this time this battle was one that was personal; he knew he was on his own and that he couldn't get any help.
His thoughts were interrupted when Murashi came in, looking panicked and disheveled, so panicked that he tripped over his own feet, and it took Kihann's agility to catch the human before he fell on his face.
Kihann helped Murashi sit on the floor, and screamed as she pulled back her hand away from his neck, her hand covered in blood. "He's hurt!"
Murashi's eyes rolled in his head, lips moving but he made no sound, Kihann pressed her ear to his lips trying to grasp what it was he was trying to say. Murashi's body shuddered as he managed to get out what he was trying to say; Kihann nodded and then her eyes widened as she grasped what he had said. "Trask is coming with the kids."
Piccolo didn't need to be told. He was staring at Trask, who stood in front of a solider that held two small Namekkian children in his arms, both children appeared to be around three or four years of age, terrified as they clutched onto Trask and Piccolo wondered just what the hell they'd used on the kids to accelerate their growth that quickly. Trask grinned like a mad man, pink tongue darting out to lick his lips before he spoke. "Seems we got ourselves a stalemate here old fellow."
Piccolo had a moment of panic, realizing he couldn't attack Trask, not while he held the kids, and not while he had no way to attack; the ki dampening ankle device still firmly attached to his leg. And apparently, Trask knew it too. "Now, Dr. Murashi here went back on his deal, and you see he had to pay for it, and now Kihann my darling girl here went back on her deal as well. And she's going to have to pay for her little traitorous act now as well."
"That depends on what you consider traitorous Trask. Looks to me that you're the one playing traitor; where will you go, you can't hide Trask." Piccolo glanced to Kihann, she was doing her best to tend to Murashi, but even Piccolo saw that it was a losing battle that Murashi had lost too much blood to survive the man breathing his last breath as Piccolo watched; quickly he flicked his eyes back to Trask. "Killing any of us, all of us will only make this entire ordeal a failure."
Trask threw his head back and laughed, he appeared to carry no weapons, but that didn't mean much to Piccolo; he'd seen too many fighters that could wield energy like he and his friends. "Do you really think so? Just from your genetic structure alone we could start making thousands, millions, of soldiers now! This planet wouldn't have need for you or your friends anymore. We could lock them up like the freaks you are!"
Piccolo smirked folding his arms over his chest. "I'd love to see you try Trask. Considering you're just like the rest of us."
"Ah so Kihann here told you about the organism that helps give me my gifts, my power?" Trask nudged her with a toe, and watched as she scrambled away from his touch, and to Piccolo's side. "I'd wondered how long it would be before you and she got together. After all people have a tendency to try and stick with their own kind. But she was good while she lasted."
"The way I see it Trask, she used you as much as you used her. I don't know why you're gloating anyways." Piccolo felt Kihann's hand slip around his ankle, fiddling with the inhibitor and broadened his grin. "It wasn't like I was going to compete with something like you; after all you're beneath me. You're a parasite; a bug living within a pile of garbage."
"But this pile of garbage as you so quaintly describe me can destroy your little world of happiness." Trask pointed a finger at the children, his hand glowing faintly; giving Piccolo the indication that he did indeed have the power to destroy. "I can kill your little kids; after all we can just whip up another batch. Then I can destroy Kihann here, after I've had my fun with her of course, letting you watch, and then finally destroy you."
"Where's General Mauston?" Piccolo's sudden question and diversion from Trask's rant threw off the other man completely. He wanted to keep Trask talking, off balance for as long as possible. He had felt the ankle inhibitor slip off his leg and into Kihann's grasp as Trask went on about killing everyone, and now he needed to buy time to gather his strength, power and to build a strategy.
"Mauston?" Trask looked confused momentarily as if he expected the General to be standing behind him, even going as far at turning his head to look behind him, and then grinned as he looked back to Piccolo. "Oh Mauston; he had a bit of a run in with me this mornin' seemed he was about to take your little darlings here and keep them for himself. He'd even poisoned my food. Sneaky bastard; but I showed him what its like to cross me."
Piccolo ticked Mauston off of his who to kill list, seemed that Trask had done it for him, for which he was grateful. "What about the rest of the soldiers here Trask, you think they're going to let you walk out of here with their pet projects?" Piccolo casually motioned to the soldier behind Trask. Kihann stood up slowly, clutching her fists tightly; Piccolo could feel her power levels rising inch by inch and knew it was a matter of time before she attacked.
"Bloody hell you ask a lot of questions." Trask snarled irritably. He didn't like questions, and this damn thing was doing its best to stall, he realized that now. Trask knew his time was getting short, and that he needed to get out of there and fast. "They'll let me walk out with whatever the hell I want."
Piccolo glanced at Kihann; they both knew that they had to act and at that moment other wise they'd lose everything, including their own lives. Kihann crossed over in front of Piccolo, snarling a battle challenge to Trask, her hand flicking out to snap and release the inhibitor at the soldiers face, the little box connecting with the mans head and detonating, the soldier crying out in pain as the box detonated releasing some of Piccolo's stored energy; letting go of the kids as he tried to pick shrapnel from his eyes and face screaming the whole while.
Piccolo crossed behind Kihann diving for the two kids, glad when he felt two bodies connect with his arms. Rolling to a stand he watched as Kihann tackled Trask, slamming him up against the outer wall, and then spinning she used the wall as balance, hands grasping Trask's shoulders, scrunching her knees up between her chest and Trask's, she kicked out brutally knocking Trask back into Piccolo's holding cell, then blasting the control panel the door slid shut, closing Trask in. "Run you moron!" Kihann snarled as she grabbed Piccolo's arm and jerked him down the hall, palm shooting the screaming soldier in the face, putting the man out of his misery. "Unless you were waiting for some sign from the gods, run! You know that door isn't going to stop him long!"
Piccolo grasped each kid in an arm and ran; he noted that both of them were oddly silent. He followed Kihann since she was the only one who knew how to get out; where to go. Piccolo noticed that the hallways were oddly devoid of soldiers and personnel and he wondered just where the hell everyone was at, the klaxon alarm howled loudly, grating on everyone's nerves. The only thing they did run into were three dead soldiers, their eyes gouged out, one mans head turned completely in the opposite direction it was supposed to go; and finally General Mauston; half of him anyways. Piccolo covered the kids' eyes forcing their heads into his shoulders as they passed by the grisly remains.
Kihann came to a halt at an intersection looking confused as her head whipped back and forth. "Which way, which way, oh shit which way?"
"What do you mean which way? Don't you know the way out?" Piccolo bellowed over the alarm. He was sweating with exertion, it having been three months since he'd had to exercise, and then with holding two more hot bodies, it was not a fun jaunt for the namek.
Kihann glanced back irritably at Piccolo. "They didn't exactly let me out for a jog around the damn block you know!"
Both kids pointed to the left side and spoke simultaneously, "That way is out, we smell fresh air." And fell silent once more. Kihann and Piccolo blinked at the kids both a bit more than creeped out by them, but shook it off.
"Okay left it is." Piccolo started down that direction, when they heard an explosion behind them.
"Trask's loose." Kihann needlessly pointed out. "You run out, there should be someone waiting for you, I'll hold off Trask as long as I can."
"Are you insane? He'll kill you Kihann!" Piccolo stared at her incredulously.
"Do you have a better idea?! You can't exactly take him on yourself Piccolo!" Kihann countered back, "You're power won't be back for probably a good three or four days, and there's not a snowballs chance in hell that you could fight him one on one! He's got nearly the same abilities as you or I do, if not more!"
"Mother is right, you can't fight." A quiet voice reasoned, the boy Piccolo realized. "We can sense your power level and it's far too low for you to be effective in a battle. Let mother handle this fight father, she is capable."
Piccolo struggled internally with the choice he faced; leave Kihann alone to fight the symbiotic mad man or risk getting all of them killed. He gave Kihann a pleading look before she leaned up, kissing Piccolo firmly and shoving him towards the door. ~Ei ylantai neit Piccolo~
Piccolo staggered back towards the door and to the light, his expression one of anger and sorrow. ~Ei ylantai neit, Kihann~ He turned and ran as he heard Trask screaming in rage, feeling the ground and walls shake around him; plaster and lighting fell from the ceiling as he felt Kihann power up to face Trask head on. ~Ei ylantai neit~
Piccolo felt more than heard the clash of power between Kihann and Trask as they met, the backlash throwing him through the door; curling up he protected himself and the children as best he could, rolling with the blow, and back onto his feet.
Coming to a stop, he came face to face with roughly a battalion of armed soldiers and tanks. The children stared at the men with mild interest, while Piccolo stood there tensely. A voice boomed over a loud speaker, "Halt! You are under arrest for theft of Military property! Please place the children on the ground and put your hands in the air! I repeat you're under arrest."
"You have got to be kidding me." Piccolo muttered through clenched teeth. The ground shook once more, and he knew that Kihann and Trask were giving it their all in the complex; glass shattered spraying Piccolo, the kids and those closest to them with shards, the sonic boom blowing out windows for a good two block radius.
"Honestly, one would think this planets military would have better things to do than to harass useless namek." A grating voice carried on the wind, as the boom died out leaving silence. Everyone focused their attention to the roof of the building a few soldiers yelping and running off as they saw who it was.
Vegeta stood on the edge of the roof, arms folded over his chest and body adorned in the typical saiyajin armor. Next to him stood Goku, then Goten, and Trunks; on the other side of Vegeta stood Gohan, all of them wearing the same saiyajin armor as Vegeta's, and all of them looking ready to take on the universe. Vegeta tilted his head and smirked as he continued, thoroughly enjoying being in the spot light. "You little bastards have a tendency to forget that this planet is teeming with alien life forms. Some of us are just more obvious than others. Now, I suggest letting the Namek go, with a fight preferably, its been a while since we've had anything to kill."
The grin Vegeta gave those looking on was enough to make even Piccolo shudder. No wonder Frieza used him for intimidation factor. He thought in amazement, gaining a new level of respect for the prince.
As if on cue the group of saiyajins jumped from the roof to form a shield around Piccolo and the kids; Gohan glancing back and grinning to his former teacher and glancing to the kids he held, "I can't wait to hear about this."
Piccolo smirked and backed up a step, he knew that it was best to let the group handle the situation. The gathered military opened fire on the group, thinking they could kill everything, the saiyajins all powering up, created a shield that rendered the bullets useless.
"Try not to kill them! They're only following orders guys!" Goku's voice rang out over the din of gun fire. "Just go for their weapons and try to keep casualties to a minimum!"
Piccolo watched as Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten bolted off to take on the military, the younger boys teamed up to destroy the tanks, Goku and Vegeta busied themselves with disarming the front line and then working their way back. Most by now had run off not wanting to take on four saiyajins.
Gohan meanwhile hung back, protecting Piccolo and the children. "Piccolo, that girl you were with, she came to all of us in a dream, where is she?"
"Kihann's inside; she's dealing with the bigger threat." Piccolo set the kids down, using his own body as a shield. "We're going to have to get out of here soon; I know you can feel the power building up."
Gohan nodded and glanced to the kids, then glanced behind Piccolo exclaiming; "DENDE!"
Piccolo whirled to see the guardian grab the kids and give a grin to the group before taking off. "I got them! They'll be up on the Lookout, go on and do your jobs! I'll be up there waiting to heal!" And Dende was gone before anyone could respond.
Piccolo grunted shaking his head. "Anyone she didn't summon?"
Gohan grinned hugely and shrugged, not bothering to look behind him as he back fisted a soldier attempting to sneak up on him, the man crumpling to the ground out cold. "Well if it makes you feel better, she didn't summon the media?"
"Hah, hah, hah." Piccolo snorted. As he drew in a breath to retort an explosion threw everything within a one hundred foot radius back. The building trembled, cement and brick crumbling, and shattering. Light broke through the jagged remains, making the building look like some bizarre disco ball gone awry. The very air around them seemed to be sucked in; as if the building had inhaled and was getting ready to scream in rage.
And then it did. The building blew out, releasing energy that none had felt before. Anything not ki protected was destroyed; Vegeta, Goku, Gotenks, Gohan and Piccolo were all thrown back; Piccolo protected by Gohans ki. Bricks, mortal, steel beams and debris suddenly became deadly projectiles killing those that had survived the blast instantly, everyone and everything else was buried in debris.
Piccolo struggled beneath a collapsed wall, needing to get back to fresh air and to see what had happened, who had possibly won. Kihann let it be Kihann who won this. He thought desperately. Let her have taken out Trask in that blast.
When he'd managed to claw his way up and out from under the wall what he saw would remain burned in his mind for the rest of his life.
Kihann and Trask hovered in the air, both bodies glowing with energy, Trask's body aglow with a bloody red color, Kihann's a pearl white. Their bodies were wrapped around each other in a nightmarish parody of a lovers embrace. The air around them crackled and hissed, Piccolo and the others still conscious noticed that the fighters' ki had formed a barrier around one another, effectively cutting them off from the others; it was a fight only one could win, and no one could help.
Trask's hands were wrapped around Kihann's neck, trying to strangle, the woman's arms wrapped around Trask's shoulders, trying to bring her face to his, as if she was seeking a kiss from him. Her body glowed more brightly, nearly drowning out the blood color of Trask's. The man screamed in rage and fury, his legs attempting to wrap around Kihann's mid-section, except she beat him to it. She wrapped her own legs around Trask's body, holding on for dear life.
Piccolo's eyes widened in horror as Kihann's lips connected with Trask's own mouth, and he sensed her powering up for an attack he'd used on several occasions; the attack he knew, you summoned up ki and expelled it from ones mouth. Except at such close proximity it'd kill not only Trask, but Kihann as well.
"KIHANN NO!" Piccolo lunged for Kihann, even though he knew there was no way to reach her, no way to get to her in time to stop her. He summoned up what little ki his body still had and attempted to launch himself for her.
Two bodies tackled him at the same time, Gohan and Goku both knowing what he was going to do. Goku's voice spoke to him from a distance. "Let her do what she has to Piccolo! She knew what she had to do to make this end, and we can't help her, not with that shield around them both!"
He didn't see her die; but he felt it. He felt that bond they'd developed blink away like a dying star. Her presence, her life force shined brilliantly in the night sky and in his mind, as she and Trask ceased to exist, Trask's voice bellowing in dying rage before ceasing completely. Kihann's life force lit up the darkness, and then slowly faded. Piccolo heard in his mind and heart before she ceased to exist ~Ei ylantai neit~
The backlash of power flooded through Piccolo and for a moment it felt like his entire body was on fire, leaving his nerves feeling like they were alive with a thousand volts of electricity, and his mind screaming for relief. That was until the darkness consumed him, leaving him floating in a void of darkness, the void where Kihann had been.
She recalled the dream they'd shared last night. It had been her idea, and she'd surprised Piccolo when she'd shown up in his dreams. It was the same trick she'd used to call to him.
She'd set up the dream as she'd wanted it before calling out for Piccolo. Summoning up memories from her childhood, she set the scene as one of her favorite spots on old Namek. It was one of those hidden spots, a trysting place for younger ones, when she was a girl. Now she would use it to show Piccolo something that she'd struggled with for the past month. It had been something that had been keeping her here, keeping her from escaping and had kept her under Trask's thumb.
Once Kihann was content that everything was the way she wanted it, she set out to find Piccolo's thought pattern; quickly finding it and latching on, luring his mind to hers, linking on a level that no one but herself or Piccolo could break. Piccolo materialized looking mildly confused until he realized that Kihann was in charge of this scenario and to which the look of confusion turned to a smirk.
"Is this your idea of us being alone?" His baritone voice rumbled in mild amusement, arms folded over his chest, eyes shifting taking note of the surroundings. "I take it that this is home as you remember?"
Kihann laughed faintly watching as the breeze stirred Piccolo's shirt. "Yes this is my idea of being alone, since both of us know that Trask and Mauston are watching our every move, listening to everything we say. And there's something I wanted to tell you, and show you."
Piccolo raised a brow ridge, half smirking, feeling flippant. "What you didn't want them to watch?"
Kihann elbowed Piccolos side. "Not that you idiot! Besides, you're not capable of doing anything yet."
Piccolo coughed and rubbed his side, murmuring, "I don't want to know how you know that."
Kihann smirked as she walked next to Piccolo leading him to a grove of trees. "I've been with you through a couple procedures."
Piccolo flushed profusely, and changed the subject. "Did you drag me here to embarrass me, or were you going to tell me something?"
"Okay, okay; you have to promise me that you won't be angry. That what I'm about to tell you is neither one of our faults. You have to promise me that what if something happens that you won't blame anyone." Her tone had grown serious and she gazed into Piccolos eyes, coming to a stop and facing him, her fingers weaving into his. "I only know about it because Trask is using it against me, in an attempt to keep me at his side."
Piccolo watched her facial expressions carefully, taking note in every eye shift, every twitch of her lips, he could sense that she was not only nervous, but almost terrified of his response. "Kihann, just tell me. Whatever it is I won't blame you. We've come too far to let whatever they've done come between us. You've shown me a side of myself that I've denied far too long, and I would deny this if anyone asked me, but you were one of the first people that has shown me that I can become something more than what I was meant to, I had thought Gohan had been the one, but he'd just been the start."
Piccolo half expected her to say that she was with Trask's child, but he knew that humans and Nameks were just too incompatible for breeding to be successful, he knew that the blood types would be more than incompatible if something were to come of a mating like that the child would most likely be deformed, not to mention possibly genetically damaged. But if that wasn't the case then what else could it be? And what he had just admitted had been his true feelings. He just hoped that they wouldn't come back later to haunt him.
Kihann leaned forward resting her head against his chest but only after kissing his chin. "What you said means more to me, and gives me the courage to tell you what I have to. Trask and Mauston wanted me to keep it secret, threatened not only my death but yours if you were to find out, but I have to tell you Piccolo, you're love for me means too much; and what I have planned could mean your freedom, and I need you to know something before I do anything."
Piccolo lifted her chin with a finger, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "You're stalling; just tell me."
Kihann sighed. "You've been here three months; we've been here three months total actually, and during that time they've subjected you to just about everything possible. You know this you're the one who's gone through it. While they've tested on you, they've been testing on me as well. I've allowed San-Yi to take what's needed; especially after he told me what he had to do. Remember when I told you that his daughter was ill? San-Yi has been using our blood, our abilities in an attempt to heal his daughter, to cure of her that disease I had told you about. I allowed it because I knew that he loved her, and that all he wants is to have his daughter back. I also allowed it because of my feelings for you since I first got to know you." She traced a finger down his arm, swallowing slightly as she felt him tense a bit. "They've taken your core make-up and mine, and combined them Piccolo. They've created-"
"They've created test tube offspring." Piccolo finished for her, realization dawning on him slowly. His heart suddenly wanted to reside somewhere in his throat, and a tingling sensation coursed through his limbs like volts of electricity. It took a few moments to gather his thoughts, and even longer before he could look at Kihann fully in the face. They had offspring, a child. Their blood had created something that hadn't existed on Namek in hundreds of years. They had created a child between a man and a woman, or as close to a man and a woman that they'd get for a while.
"Two children Piccolo," Kihann responded softly, nodding. "One is a boy, one a girl; they were created just a month ago and released from the tubes just a short while back, their growth accelerated so that they can survive outside the tubes. I've gotten to see them Piccolo and they're," Kihann stopped, not sure what to say; how he'd react to her words. "They're beautiful Piccolo and, and."
"Just, shh for a moment Kihann, you're rambling, and you're kind of scaring me to be honest." Piccolo wrapped his arms around her, knowing she needed the contact, sensing that she was scared and unsure on how to tell him everything; privately he was scared, and all this was stuff he'd never thought he'd live to hear. "Why don't you tell me what Trask and Mauston plan on doing with these kids?"
"They plan on training them, using them as a team to seek out other alien life forms, not just on this planet but on others as well as soon as the military is capable of deep space travel. They're a bonded pair Piccolo, meaning they're linked, their combined power when they grow up could potentially destroy this entire sun system. Separate their power levels would be normal but together, well like Trask told you, they're looking for powerful species to clone and train for an army. That's what they plan on doing with the kids." Kihann closed her eyes fighting tears.
"So, we find a way to escape, all of us and we get the hell out of this place." Piccolo stated simply. If anything to him it sounded insane, get him, Kihann and their children out of a military facility alive. It sounded like something you'd see on a Friday night television special, or in a book.
"They're kept in a locked room, heavily guarded, not only by soldiers but by automatic weapons. The sensors are only locked onto three people's heat signatures and voice patterns. Trask's, Doctor Murashi's and General Mauston's, they're the only ones allowed in. I only got to see them once and even then they'd been brought out to me." Kihann smiled faintly as she looked up at Piccolo. "Kind of a crappy way to say congratulations you're a father, but it was the only way I could figure out how, and using a mind link was the only way I could be sure that you'd understand, and they wouldn't know."
Piccolo sighed softly, again realizing that he would have to find a way to not only get out alive but to get others out in the process. "Right now we have to just cooperate as best as possible, now that I know what's at stake."
Kihann shook her head, tugging on his shirt. "No, they can't know that you're aware of the little ones. It could jeopardize them, Trask wouldn't have any qualms with killing them and starting over just to hurt us, and he'd kill them in front of us just to try and make a point. I have a plan, and I need you to play ignorant. Can you do that?"
Piccolo glanced away, focusing on the area around him. "I trust you Kihann; but promise me one thing?" He focused back on her, he didn't realize until then just how much he'd come to care for her. "Promise me that when this is all over that you'll still be here?"
"I can't make you that promise Piccolo. I can't make you any promises, all I can do is try as best as I can, and that I hope you have enough faith in me to pull what I have planned off. I've managed to get some outside help, but even then I'm not sure just how much got through." Kihann sighed softly looking suddenly weary and drained. "I have to break contact now, it's all I can do to keep up this link; please promise me that you won't say a word?"
Piccolo nodded, letting the image break up, and falling into dreamless slumber. Kihann waited until the link was broken before she allowed herself to fall into sleep.
Kihann rolled over, watching Piccolo sleep. She was pleased that Piccolo had handled the news as well as he had. She wasn't sure at first at how he'd react, at first afraid that he'd be angry, possibly blame her for allowing all this to happen. But he'd seemed happy, and with the empathic impressions she'd gotten he'd been scared yes, but felt hopeful, and on a private level Piccolo was almost eager to see what they had created. All Kihann wanted to do now was get away, but it wasn't going to be as easy as said. She knew Trask and Mauston would stop at nothing to keep them there; and she knew Trask would kill Piccolo if given a chance just to keep Kihann at his side.
"You look worried."
Kihann blinked, jumping at the sound of Piccolos voice. "A little, but it's nothing for you to become worried over."
Piccolo watched Kihann as she got up and stretched, the floor was far from comfortable; but he'd become accustomed to it. He thought about all that he'd been told last night, having been told that they'd used his genetic make-up to create not only one child but two. He grinned to himself when he imagined the looks on his friend's faces when and if he escaped with this entire lot and showed back up to the Lookout. The grin faded when he looked around the room and realized that the when, was rapidly turning into an 'if'.
All this was happening far too fast. He'd been here three months, put through hell volunteering to take Kihann's place, he'd not thought about these past three months, hadn't thought about his feelings for Kihann, hadn't thought about himself; and all of a sudden, he needed to think about all of this. His entire life he'd spent focusing on the next battle, the next big fight. He'd spent his time training, learning to focus on the future, but the future had never included a family. It'd been one of those things he'd never wanted to think about. Piccolo having a family; he'd have laughed at the entire idea five or six months ago. But then again, five or six months ago he'd have laughed outright if someone had told him that Kihann had existed. And now here he was, having fallen in love with someone that wasn't supposed to exist in his world and now he had kids. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was laughing at the whole thing. Not in a cruel or malicious way, but in the way that all this seemed like some convoluted, twisted dream that he half expected to wake up from and see Gohan or Goku sitting there in his little camp grinning like an idiot asking and ask what he'd been dreaming.
But when he sat up, fully waking up and thought about the situation they were in Goku's silly grin seemed like a distant memory. So did just about everything else, he once again caught himself thinking of the future, thinking of another battle, but this time this battle was one that was personal; he knew he was on his own and that he couldn't get any help.
His thoughts were interrupted when Murashi came in, looking panicked and disheveled, so panicked that he tripped over his own feet, and it took Kihann's agility to catch the human before he fell on his face.
Kihann helped Murashi sit on the floor, and screamed as she pulled back her hand away from his neck, her hand covered in blood. "He's hurt!"
Murashi's eyes rolled in his head, lips moving but he made no sound, Kihann pressed her ear to his lips trying to grasp what it was he was trying to say. Murashi's body shuddered as he managed to get out what he was trying to say; Kihann nodded and then her eyes widened as she grasped what he had said. "Trask is coming with the kids."
Piccolo didn't need to be told. He was staring at Trask, who stood in front of a solider that held two small Namekkian children in his arms, both children appeared to be around three or four years of age, terrified as they clutched onto Trask and Piccolo wondered just what the hell they'd used on the kids to accelerate their growth that quickly. Trask grinned like a mad man, pink tongue darting out to lick his lips before he spoke. "Seems we got ourselves a stalemate here old fellow."
Piccolo had a moment of panic, realizing he couldn't attack Trask, not while he held the kids, and not while he had no way to attack; the ki dampening ankle device still firmly attached to his leg. And apparently, Trask knew it too. "Now, Dr. Murashi here went back on his deal, and you see he had to pay for it, and now Kihann my darling girl here went back on her deal as well. And she's going to have to pay for her little traitorous act now as well."
"That depends on what you consider traitorous Trask. Looks to me that you're the one playing traitor; where will you go, you can't hide Trask." Piccolo glanced to Kihann, she was doing her best to tend to Murashi, but even Piccolo saw that it was a losing battle that Murashi had lost too much blood to survive the man breathing his last breath as Piccolo watched; quickly he flicked his eyes back to Trask. "Killing any of us, all of us will only make this entire ordeal a failure."
Trask threw his head back and laughed, he appeared to carry no weapons, but that didn't mean much to Piccolo; he'd seen too many fighters that could wield energy like he and his friends. "Do you really think so? Just from your genetic structure alone we could start making thousands, millions, of soldiers now! This planet wouldn't have need for you or your friends anymore. We could lock them up like the freaks you are!"
Piccolo smirked folding his arms over his chest. "I'd love to see you try Trask. Considering you're just like the rest of us."
"Ah so Kihann here told you about the organism that helps give me my gifts, my power?" Trask nudged her with a toe, and watched as she scrambled away from his touch, and to Piccolo's side. "I'd wondered how long it would be before you and she got together. After all people have a tendency to try and stick with their own kind. But she was good while she lasted."
"The way I see it Trask, she used you as much as you used her. I don't know why you're gloating anyways." Piccolo felt Kihann's hand slip around his ankle, fiddling with the inhibitor and broadened his grin. "It wasn't like I was going to compete with something like you; after all you're beneath me. You're a parasite; a bug living within a pile of garbage."
"But this pile of garbage as you so quaintly describe me can destroy your little world of happiness." Trask pointed a finger at the children, his hand glowing faintly; giving Piccolo the indication that he did indeed have the power to destroy. "I can kill your little kids; after all we can just whip up another batch. Then I can destroy Kihann here, after I've had my fun with her of course, letting you watch, and then finally destroy you."
"Where's General Mauston?" Piccolo's sudden question and diversion from Trask's rant threw off the other man completely. He wanted to keep Trask talking, off balance for as long as possible. He had felt the ankle inhibitor slip off his leg and into Kihann's grasp as Trask went on about killing everyone, and now he needed to buy time to gather his strength, power and to build a strategy.
"Mauston?" Trask looked confused momentarily as if he expected the General to be standing behind him, even going as far at turning his head to look behind him, and then grinned as he looked back to Piccolo. "Oh Mauston; he had a bit of a run in with me this mornin' seemed he was about to take your little darlings here and keep them for himself. He'd even poisoned my food. Sneaky bastard; but I showed him what its like to cross me."
Piccolo ticked Mauston off of his who to kill list, seemed that Trask had done it for him, for which he was grateful. "What about the rest of the soldiers here Trask, you think they're going to let you walk out of here with their pet projects?" Piccolo casually motioned to the soldier behind Trask. Kihann stood up slowly, clutching her fists tightly; Piccolo could feel her power levels rising inch by inch and knew it was a matter of time before she attacked.
"Bloody hell you ask a lot of questions." Trask snarled irritably. He didn't like questions, and this damn thing was doing its best to stall, he realized that now. Trask knew his time was getting short, and that he needed to get out of there and fast. "They'll let me walk out with whatever the hell I want."
Piccolo glanced at Kihann; they both knew that they had to act and at that moment other wise they'd lose everything, including their own lives. Kihann crossed over in front of Piccolo, snarling a battle challenge to Trask, her hand flicking out to snap and release the inhibitor at the soldiers face, the little box connecting with the mans head and detonating, the soldier crying out in pain as the box detonated releasing some of Piccolo's stored energy; letting go of the kids as he tried to pick shrapnel from his eyes and face screaming the whole while.
Piccolo crossed behind Kihann diving for the two kids, glad when he felt two bodies connect with his arms. Rolling to a stand he watched as Kihann tackled Trask, slamming him up against the outer wall, and then spinning she used the wall as balance, hands grasping Trask's shoulders, scrunching her knees up between her chest and Trask's, she kicked out brutally knocking Trask back into Piccolo's holding cell, then blasting the control panel the door slid shut, closing Trask in. "Run you moron!" Kihann snarled as she grabbed Piccolo's arm and jerked him down the hall, palm shooting the screaming soldier in the face, putting the man out of his misery. "Unless you were waiting for some sign from the gods, run! You know that door isn't going to stop him long!"
Piccolo grasped each kid in an arm and ran; he noted that both of them were oddly silent. He followed Kihann since she was the only one who knew how to get out; where to go. Piccolo noticed that the hallways were oddly devoid of soldiers and personnel and he wondered just where the hell everyone was at, the klaxon alarm howled loudly, grating on everyone's nerves. The only thing they did run into were three dead soldiers, their eyes gouged out, one mans head turned completely in the opposite direction it was supposed to go; and finally General Mauston; half of him anyways. Piccolo covered the kids' eyes forcing their heads into his shoulders as they passed by the grisly remains.
Kihann came to a halt at an intersection looking confused as her head whipped back and forth. "Which way, which way, oh shit which way?"
"What do you mean which way? Don't you know the way out?" Piccolo bellowed over the alarm. He was sweating with exertion, it having been three months since he'd had to exercise, and then with holding two more hot bodies, it was not a fun jaunt for the namek.
Kihann glanced back irritably at Piccolo. "They didn't exactly let me out for a jog around the damn block you know!"
Both kids pointed to the left side and spoke simultaneously, "That way is out, we smell fresh air." And fell silent once more. Kihann and Piccolo blinked at the kids both a bit more than creeped out by them, but shook it off.
"Okay left it is." Piccolo started down that direction, when they heard an explosion behind them.
"Trask's loose." Kihann needlessly pointed out. "You run out, there should be someone waiting for you, I'll hold off Trask as long as I can."
"Are you insane? He'll kill you Kihann!" Piccolo stared at her incredulously.
"Do you have a better idea?! You can't exactly take him on yourself Piccolo!" Kihann countered back, "You're power won't be back for probably a good three or four days, and there's not a snowballs chance in hell that you could fight him one on one! He's got nearly the same abilities as you or I do, if not more!"
"Mother is right, you can't fight." A quiet voice reasoned, the boy Piccolo realized. "We can sense your power level and it's far too low for you to be effective in a battle. Let mother handle this fight father, she is capable."
Piccolo struggled internally with the choice he faced; leave Kihann alone to fight the symbiotic mad man or risk getting all of them killed. He gave Kihann a pleading look before she leaned up, kissing Piccolo firmly and shoving him towards the door. ~Ei ylantai neit Piccolo~
Piccolo staggered back towards the door and to the light, his expression one of anger and sorrow. ~Ei ylantai neit, Kihann~ He turned and ran as he heard Trask screaming in rage, feeling the ground and walls shake around him; plaster and lighting fell from the ceiling as he felt Kihann power up to face Trask head on. ~Ei ylantai neit~
Piccolo felt more than heard the clash of power between Kihann and Trask as they met, the backlash throwing him through the door; curling up he protected himself and the children as best he could, rolling with the blow, and back onto his feet.
Coming to a stop, he came face to face with roughly a battalion of armed soldiers and tanks. The children stared at the men with mild interest, while Piccolo stood there tensely. A voice boomed over a loud speaker, "Halt! You are under arrest for theft of Military property! Please place the children on the ground and put your hands in the air! I repeat you're under arrest."
"You have got to be kidding me." Piccolo muttered through clenched teeth. The ground shook once more, and he knew that Kihann and Trask were giving it their all in the complex; glass shattered spraying Piccolo, the kids and those closest to them with shards, the sonic boom blowing out windows for a good two block radius.
"Honestly, one would think this planets military would have better things to do than to harass useless namek." A grating voice carried on the wind, as the boom died out leaving silence. Everyone focused their attention to the roof of the building a few soldiers yelping and running off as they saw who it was.
Vegeta stood on the edge of the roof, arms folded over his chest and body adorned in the typical saiyajin armor. Next to him stood Goku, then Goten, and Trunks; on the other side of Vegeta stood Gohan, all of them wearing the same saiyajin armor as Vegeta's, and all of them looking ready to take on the universe. Vegeta tilted his head and smirked as he continued, thoroughly enjoying being in the spot light. "You little bastards have a tendency to forget that this planet is teeming with alien life forms. Some of us are just more obvious than others. Now, I suggest letting the Namek go, with a fight preferably, its been a while since we've had anything to kill."
The grin Vegeta gave those looking on was enough to make even Piccolo shudder. No wonder Frieza used him for intimidation factor. He thought in amazement, gaining a new level of respect for the prince.
As if on cue the group of saiyajins jumped from the roof to form a shield around Piccolo and the kids; Gohan glancing back and grinning to his former teacher and glancing to the kids he held, "I can't wait to hear about this."
Piccolo smirked and backed up a step, he knew that it was best to let the group handle the situation. The gathered military opened fire on the group, thinking they could kill everything, the saiyajins all powering up, created a shield that rendered the bullets useless.
"Try not to kill them! They're only following orders guys!" Goku's voice rang out over the din of gun fire. "Just go for their weapons and try to keep casualties to a minimum!"
Piccolo watched as Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, and Goten bolted off to take on the military, the younger boys teamed up to destroy the tanks, Goku and Vegeta busied themselves with disarming the front line and then working their way back. Most by now had run off not wanting to take on four saiyajins.
Gohan meanwhile hung back, protecting Piccolo and the children. "Piccolo, that girl you were with, she came to all of us in a dream, where is she?"
"Kihann's inside; she's dealing with the bigger threat." Piccolo set the kids down, using his own body as a shield. "We're going to have to get out of here soon; I know you can feel the power building up."
Gohan nodded and glanced to the kids, then glanced behind Piccolo exclaiming; "DENDE!"
Piccolo whirled to see the guardian grab the kids and give a grin to the group before taking off. "I got them! They'll be up on the Lookout, go on and do your jobs! I'll be up there waiting to heal!" And Dende was gone before anyone could respond.
Piccolo grunted shaking his head. "Anyone she didn't summon?"
Gohan grinned hugely and shrugged, not bothering to look behind him as he back fisted a soldier attempting to sneak up on him, the man crumpling to the ground out cold. "Well if it makes you feel better, she didn't summon the media?"
"Hah, hah, hah." Piccolo snorted. As he drew in a breath to retort an explosion threw everything within a one hundred foot radius back. The building trembled, cement and brick crumbling, and shattering. Light broke through the jagged remains, making the building look like some bizarre disco ball gone awry. The very air around them seemed to be sucked in; as if the building had inhaled and was getting ready to scream in rage.
And then it did. The building blew out, releasing energy that none had felt before. Anything not ki protected was destroyed; Vegeta, Goku, Gotenks, Gohan and Piccolo were all thrown back; Piccolo protected by Gohans ki. Bricks, mortal, steel beams and debris suddenly became deadly projectiles killing those that had survived the blast instantly, everyone and everything else was buried in debris.
Piccolo struggled beneath a collapsed wall, needing to get back to fresh air and to see what had happened, who had possibly won. Kihann let it be Kihann who won this. He thought desperately. Let her have taken out Trask in that blast.
When he'd managed to claw his way up and out from under the wall what he saw would remain burned in his mind for the rest of his life.
Kihann and Trask hovered in the air, both bodies glowing with energy, Trask's body aglow with a bloody red color, Kihann's a pearl white. Their bodies were wrapped around each other in a nightmarish parody of a lovers embrace. The air around them crackled and hissed, Piccolo and the others still conscious noticed that the fighters' ki had formed a barrier around one another, effectively cutting them off from the others; it was a fight only one could win, and no one could help.
Trask's hands were wrapped around Kihann's neck, trying to strangle, the woman's arms wrapped around Trask's shoulders, trying to bring her face to his, as if she was seeking a kiss from him. Her body glowed more brightly, nearly drowning out the blood color of Trask's. The man screamed in rage and fury, his legs attempting to wrap around Kihann's mid-section, except she beat him to it. She wrapped her own legs around Trask's body, holding on for dear life.
Piccolo's eyes widened in horror as Kihann's lips connected with Trask's own mouth, and he sensed her powering up for an attack he'd used on several occasions; the attack he knew, you summoned up ki and expelled it from ones mouth. Except at such close proximity it'd kill not only Trask, but Kihann as well.
"KIHANN NO!" Piccolo lunged for Kihann, even though he knew there was no way to reach her, no way to get to her in time to stop her. He summoned up what little ki his body still had and attempted to launch himself for her.
Two bodies tackled him at the same time, Gohan and Goku both knowing what he was going to do. Goku's voice spoke to him from a distance. "Let her do what she has to Piccolo! She knew what she had to do to make this end, and we can't help her, not with that shield around them both!"
He didn't see her die; but he felt it. He felt that bond they'd developed blink away like a dying star. Her presence, her life force shined brilliantly in the night sky and in his mind, as she and Trask ceased to exist, Trask's voice bellowing in dying rage before ceasing completely. Kihann's life force lit up the darkness, and then slowly faded. Piccolo heard in his mind and heart before she ceased to exist ~Ei ylantai neit~
The backlash of power flooded through Piccolo and for a moment it felt like his entire body was on fire, leaving his nerves feeling like they were alive with a thousand volts of electricity, and his mind screaming for relief. That was until the darkness consumed him, leaving him floating in a void of darkness, the void where Kihann had been.