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Now or Never
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Over the great northern forests...
"Keep in mind," called out Tien, as he flew over the forest. "I never actually made it to the crash site. Before I could get there, our Saiyan friend had woken up, and was already moving around. I just have a basic idea of where it is."
Piccolo, who was flying ahead of Tien, nodded inperceptively. "That'll be good enough."
Tien was silent for a moment, then called out again. "I don't suppose Namek eyes are all that better than Human eyes, are they?"
Piccolo actually looked back at Tien. "Not drastically. Why?"
Tien tilted his head skyward. "Clouds are coming in. Night comes quickly up here. I'd say we've only got another twenty minutes of daylight. And the way the clouds look, we won't be getting any starlight, either."
Silently, Piccolo returned his gaze forward.
Tien guessed the meaning of this. "We could open up the clouds, though. Enough ki will do that."
"No," came Piccolo's gruff reply. "Considering what's gone on lately, I'd rather not risk the disturbance."
"You sure that's really necessary?"
"Are you sure it isn't?"
Silence reigned for a moment.
"All right, then. We'll get some lights from... My place. This way."
Tien veered to the right, and a moment later Piccolo looped around to follow him. As he did, Piccolo briefly wondered what was behind's Tien's pause, but quickly dismissed the thought.
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Chouzu's Palace, nighttime...
Effortlessly, Tien and Piccolo dropped down into a courtyard behind the Palace. On the ground, Chouzu, Lunch, and Kushami anxiously awaited their arrival.
"Tien!" Cried Lunch as soon as he touched down. "Are you all right?!"
"Huh? Of course I am," Tien replied, wondering why Lunch sounded worried. "Why wouldn't I..." Tien belatedly remembered that his shirt had been reduced to a shredded tank top. "Oh, that. It's nothing."
"Yeah, it's not like he hasn't had worse..." Piccolo glanced at the blond woman, who was, for some reason, glaring at him.
"So what happened?" Chouzu asked, ignoring Kushami. "You said that you ran into a Saiyan, but that didn't feel anything like a Saiyan energy signature..."
"Actually, it was an Oozaru. It's a type of Saiyan transformation," informed Tien. "Sorry I couldn't say much earlier, but I was kind of in a rush. And we really should be now, too..."
"But why? Did it get loose or something?" Chouzu looked at Tien with genuine worry in his eyes.
"Not exactly, but..." Tien exhaled, apprehensibly. "Look, it's a long story, and I'd rather not repeat it. ...'Cause whenever someone does, it gets worse." He added under his breath.
Lunch stared blankly at Tien. "What?"
"Look, the Oozaru is a Saiyan who's got a virus that makes her more dangerous dead than she is alive. So we're keeping her frozen while we try and find a cure for the virus."
"Bulma and Dende are studying the virus," informed Piccolo, speaking for the first time since he arrived. "Tien and I are headed to the site where the Saiyan landed, so we can look for remnants of whatever brought the Saiyan here. We came here," Piccolo paused for a second, "for lights."
Tien continued the thread, with a slight smirk on his face. "As you can see, its dark. And Piccolo wants to keep ki use at a minimum." Tien noticed Chouzu's questioning expression. "The virus might be ki-active. And we know its psi-active. Like I said, it's a long story..."
"I guess that sort of makes sense..." Chouzu paused for a moment. "Okay, I think we have some pretty big hand-lights in the shed by the west wing..." With that, Chouzu took to the air and started floating towards the Palace proper, with Tien trailing close behind.
"And lets get Tien a new shirt," Lunch added as she followed them. "The nights get pretty cold this time of year..."
Piccolo remained where he was and watched the trio enter the Palace. After they disappeared form sight, he returned his gaze to the blond woman, who was still glaring at him.
"Figures you're involved in this," muttered Kushami, as Piccolo caught her gaze.
Piccolo remained silent, waiting for her to go on. She didn't.
Finally, more out of boredom than real curiosity, Piccolo prompted her. "...Really?"
"Don't play stupid, green man," said Kushami. "You know why as well as I do. Every time I've seen the two of you in on something together, my Tien ends up getting hurt. It happened at the Cell Games. At the incident with the Saiyans. And lets not forget your part in that debacle at the Twenty Second Tenaichi Bodukai..."
"That," corrected Piccolo, "was my 'father,' of sorts, Piccolo Daimao. I present at the Twenty Third Tenaichi Bodukai. Tien was barely harmed in that altercation."
This, however, only served to deepen Kushami's scowl. Angrily, she walked up at him. "But since Tien insists the two of you have buried the hatchet, I'm going to let all that slide. For now. But on this mission, Namek, if he dies," Kushami jabbed her finger in Piccolo's chest for emphasis, "you die. Capiche?"
Thoroughly unintimidated, Piccolo looked down at the girl who stood over a foot shorter than him. "Sure," he responded with a condescending smirk.
Kushami gave Piccolo one last scowl, then turned around and stalked off into the Palace.
Piccolo gave a bemused snort, then his expression returned to normal as he waited for Tien's return.
A few moments later, Tien voice came through the darkness. "Okay, Piccolo, we're ready to roll."
Piccolo looked up and saw Tien approaching with a knapsack slung over his shoulder. Tien also sported a new green shirt, which three red triangles running up the right side, connected by a thoroughly unnecessary seam. The shoulders sported similar decoration.
"Are you sure there isn't anything we can do, Tien?" Asked Chouzu, who was trailing Tien.
Tien halted, and turned back to the Emperor. "Chouzu, I know you want to help, but its probably best that you stay here. You're a psychic. And from what I gathered from Dende, the virus seemed to work along the lines of a possession. And it also sounded like people with any sort of psychic or mystic abilities were especially vulnerable." Tien exhaled, knowing Chouzu would be disappointed. "There's a chance you might do some good, but I think there's a greater chance that your powers would make you a better target."
Chouzu nodded, sadly. "I understand..."
"I won't let you become just another casualty," Tien finished. "Not again... Take care little guy. I'll contact you when I can." With that, Tien took to the air.
Chouzu turned to Piccolo. "Good luck..."
Silently, Piccolo nodded, then flew off after Tien.
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