Chapter Nine

18 groaned and put a hand to hear aching head. What happened? She had been walking in the forest, looking for her brother, when... she had been attacked.

18 sat up and looked around to find herself in a cave. It was huge. More importantly there seemed to no way out! There was a passage way that most likely led into another cave, and that one would lead into another, and another, and another... She might never find her way out short of blasting herself out... but she couldn't risk that, she didn't know how deep in the ground she was...

She took a deep breath, it wouldn't help her situation if she panicked. She was sitting on a pile of animal furs that barely softened the hard stone floor.

18 stood up hesitantly. Someone or something had brought her here for something.

"Well, your awake, sister," a voice echoed around her.

18 spun around in alarm unable to pinpoint the voice.

"Who are you? What do you want?" 18 demanded.

"What do I want? What were you doing in my forest?" The voice seemed to be amused.

"I was looking for my brother," 18 shot back defensively, her eyes darting around trying to spot the owner of the voice

"You mean the android?" The voice inquired lazily.

18's eyes darkened.

"If you have done anything to him, you will regret it." 18 growled.

"Behind you, Android!"

18 turned on her heel and saw a girl no taller than herself with a tail that seemed to curl and uncurl absently.

"Who are you?"

"I am known as Ava, and you are?"

**

17 bit his tongue, hard, he couldn't believe this! Vegeta, the prince of all saiyans, was being ambushed by Mrs. Briefs!

She was currently hanging on the saiyan's arm and was babbling in his ear, it was amazing she was still alive.

"I swear! Good-looking men just pop out of the woodwork nowadays! In my day a girl had to search high and low for a suitable man and now that I am a happily married woman, they're being flung at me!" She giggled, squeezing Vegeta's arm for emphasis.

"Vegeta, dear, you must tell me who this young man is, it is incredibly rude for me to have a guest and not know who he is, why I always made sure to tell Bulma to be nice to her guests, though, why she was never nice to you was beyond me! Maybe it was because she liked you and she was just trying to hide it, you know, I always knew you would get together with my Bulma, she always liked dark featured men! Though, Vegeta," a gentle scolding tone, "I haven't seen you around lately, it's almost like you've been avoiding me, though, I know you would never do that, since you are such a dear young man!"

She pinched his cheek.

17 was shaking with laughter that he was desperately trying to keep inside.

Vegeta managed to keep most of a pained grimace off his face though there was a certain guilty air about him. Vegeta's eyes caught the movement of 17's shoulders and he realized he was being laughed at by an android.

Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he become momentarily occupied with thoughts of revenge when the perfect idea came to him. Vegeta smirked triumphantly, he would not suffer alone.

"Briefs woman," Vegeta interrupted her rambling.

"Call me Mom, dear!" Mrs. Briefs gushed. "I'm your mom now, after all, and I would be so happy if I could fill the role your natural mother never got to fill, because, I know that I would feel just awful if I didn't have a mom."

17 was dying with silent laughter.

Vegeta gave 17 a calculated stare and set his jaw to do what must be done.

"Um... Mom..." Vegeta winced when Mrs. Briefs squealed in delight.

"Yes, dear?" She beamed at him.

"Do you remember my sister?" Vegeta inquired slowly, trying to keep the excitable Mrs. Briefs calm.

"Of course, dear, I remember all my children," she smiled.

"Well, that male over there is Ava's mate," Vegeta flicked his eyes to 17 and smirked at 17's growing expression of alarm.

"Mate?" Mrs. Briefs blinked.

"Oh, you mean husband, dear," she informed him playfully, "Oh my! You mean Ava married that handsome young man over there."

At Vegeta's nod she squealed and almost seemed to appear at 17's elbow clamping her hands firmly around his arm.

17 nearly jumped in surprise.

"In that case, young man, we need to become better acquainted, why, that means I am your mom, too! I must meet your parents, when can you set up a date for tea?" She looked up at him expectantly.

"Parents... uh, my parents are..." 17 trailed off, he had no idea what to say to her.

"Dead," Vegeta informed almost casually.

Mrs. Briefs gasped with dismay and patted 17's arm consolingly.

"You, poor dear! I knew it! All handsome men have tragic stories, just look at Vegeta, he didn't even know what a mom was, so I do my best to baby the dear, and now I must expand my talents and give you a motherly shoulder to cry on--"

"But Mrs. Briefs..." 17 interrupted helplessly.

"Tell her about your sister," Vegeta smirked.

"You have a sister, too! What does she look like? Does she have black hair and blue eyes, too?" She bounced on her toes excitedly.

"Well," 17 glared at Vegeta, "she has blue eyes and blond hair."

"Really," Mrs. Briefs gushed and patted her blond hair. "She must get it from her mother! I have such beautiful children!" She giggled.

Vegeta and 17 looked at each other completely perplexed.

"What's your name, dear?"

"17," he winced, not wanting to see the reaction to that.

"17?" She looked at him curiously, "You kids have the strangest names these days. What is your sisters name?"

"18," 17 looked at Mrs. Briefs, interested now in her reaction.

"I should have guessed, well, when you want to tell me your real names I will be ready, though, you should trust me, dear, I'm family! In fact, I want you and your sister to join me for tea so we can get all caught up! Are you hungry?"

17 shook his head slightly.

"No thanks, um, that's our real names, you see, we're androids." 17 studied the woman so intent on babying him.

"Sure, if you say so..." Mrs. Briefs smiled, obviously humoring him.

"No, really they are cold blooded machines," Vegeta put in helpfully earning a glare from 17.

"Now, now Vegeta, that's not very nice. Don't let Vegeta hurt your feelings, dear, he gets cranky sometimes." Mrs. Briefs sent a pleading glance at 17, as if begging 17 not to cry.

"Now see here-" Vegeta started.

"Tsk, tsk Vegeta, behave or you'll won't get your dessert tonight," she winked at the flabbergasted saiyan, "You boys can't pull the wool over my eyes, I am not stupid, you know. So, 17 dear, are you sure you're not hungry? There is no need to be embarrassed. Vegeta is never full and it would be no problem to get you something, in fact, I just got some cakes from this new shop..." she trailed off, as if confused for a bit.

"Oh, that's right, I was looking for Bulma," blue eyes turned to Vegeta, "do you know where Bulma is, dear?"

"In her laboratory with Trunks," Vegeta supplied quickly.

"Oh, I should have looked there first, silly me!" She giggled, "I'll see you boys later!"

And she was gone.

There was complete silence between the two males when 17 cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Is it too late to back out?"

All he received was a grim one word reply.

"Yes."

**

"Your death, what have you done with my brother?" 18 snarled and got into a martial arts stance, if it was the last thing she did she was going to kick Ava's ass.

Ava regarded her coolly.

"He's at Capsule Corp. I haven't done anything to him."

18 narrowed her eyes. "Why should I believe you?"

Ava narrowed her eyes in turn. "I could have killed you, you were intruding in my forest."

"Really," 18 growled, "I didn't see your name on it."

"Is that so?" Ava lifted a brow. "Didn't the other humans warn you not to come here, that a ghost lives here and is known to kill intruders."

18 lifted her chin. "Ava... I am leaving. If I do not find my brother at Capsule Corp. I will return to kill you."

Ava gave her a wry smile. "Then I will be waiting for you."

Ava turned lazily and rolled a boulder away from the caves entrance. When she turned back to 18, Ava only had enough time to widen her eyes in surprise as 18's fist connected with her cheek. The saiyan princess fell unconscious to the ground.

"Now we're even," 18 rubbed her fist.

18 picked up the limp saiyan and put her on the furs, returning the favor. 18 climbed out of the cave, rolled the boulder back in place, and took off for Capsule Corp.

She wanted to have a few choice words with her brother.

**

17 twitched and brought his and to his cheek.

"What is it?" Vegeta asked annoyed.

"I'm not sure," 17 answered absently.

"Then let's get on with it!"

"But Vegeta, this is embarrassing!"

"Stop whining!"

"No, you can't make me! You're lying! You never did this!"

"I did, too! How dare you call the Prince of all Saiyans a liar!"

17 frowned in mutiny as Vegeta again had to readjust his vest, since 17 had been half wearing it. That was all he was wearing, the vest and his pants. No shirt, no shoes, no socks, and no jacket.

17 crossed his arms almost self-consciously as Vegeta muttered for the thousandth time. "Gods you're pale."

Vegeta studied him with a critical eye and shook his head. "I guess you'll have to do."

"Why do I have to dance!" 17 fumed.

"Because to saiyans it is the ultimate form of humility. That you even do this, will warm her heart. She knows humans do not consider this a courtship ritual."

17 looked at him curiously. "How do you know she likes tradition?"

Vegeta stopped studying 17 for a moment to look him in the eye.

"Tradition reminds her of home."

**

Ava sat up and put a hand to her cheek. Well, that was unexpected. She shook herself and looked around. She wasn't surprised to find 17's sister gone. In fact, she didn't blame the blond android one bit for attacking her, she would have done the same. She rolled her shoulders and listened to the forest. Good, everything is back to normal.

Ava grinned suddenly. "I think I am going to like 17's sister."

**

17 stood in front of Vegeta somewhat shell-shocked. Home... is reminds her of home. 17 shook his head, not believing how this could have escaped him, no wonder Vegeta and Ava clung to their ways so tightly, it was all they had left of their native planet.

"Is that why she lives in a cave instead of with you?" 17 asked softly.

"Yes. Now enough questions you must meditate and fast for the rest of the day ." Vegeta told him.

"Fast?" 17 blinked at him.

"Yes, fast," Vegeta frowned at him. "You do eat, right?"

"Yes, of course I eat, but I have never fasted before. Why must I fast?" 17 tilted his head.

"Well, the day is over so this shouldn't be too hard to do for the rest of the night. Tomorrow you will be allowed one meal and the day after nothing at all."

"Why?"

"She is preparing a massive feast in your honor, it would be good if you actually ate it." Vegeta lifted a brow in amusement.

17 shook his head in consternation. "Why are you helping me?"

Vegeta looked at him stone faced, "Call it revenge. If I have to feel than she has to as well."