Syndrome
DISCLAIMER: I do *not* own DBZ (Hee hee…. Yet… *thinks about plan to take over FUNimation and grins*) or any other licensed stuff (Pop-tarts, the Weather Channel, etc.). Think about it: If I owned it, I'd be too busy counting my money than to write useless stories about an animated TV show! So DON'T SUE ME!
. : : Chapter 5 : She's Back : : .
It had been ten years since the day the girls left them, but Brian and Trunks were still going strong. Brian now had a girlfriend named Alexandra (Alex for short), and was looking forward to enjoying his summer vacation- today was the last day of school. Brian would be a senior at Orange Star High School next year, and his 18th birthday was next month. There was going to be a party at Capsule Corp. for him, and everyone was already making plans. He couldn't wait.
Brian put down his pencil and closed his journal. He'd been given that journal by his father a couple years ago, and he was faithful and wrote in it everyday. Brian uncrossed his legs and swung them over the side of his bed. He stared at the picture on his bedside table of his mom and little sister playing in their backyard. Brian sighed.
"I wish you two could be here to see me now," he said to himself. Suddenly Brian's cell phone rang, and he desperately began searching for it in his messy backpack. "C'mon, c'mon, where is it?!" He hadn't bothered to clean out his backpack yet, but now was a good time to start. "Oh man!" He started pulling out crumbled up pieces of paper, notebooks, and other school things. The phone kept ringing. Finally, after half-emptying his backpack, he found his little red cell phone. Brian jammed the talk button and held it up to his ear.
"Hello?" he asked, out of breath.
"Hey, it's me," answered his girlfriend.
"Oh, hey, Alex," Brian answered cheerfully.
"Lemme guess: it was in your backpack and you had to dump almost everything on the floor to find it?" Brian chuckled.
"You know me well."
"Yeah, well, never mind that. Have you guys been watching the news?" Brian frowned.
"Uh… no."
"Well, go steal the TV from your dad for a second."
"Ok…" Brian walked into the living room where his dad was watching the Weather Channel.
"Hey, Brian," Trunks said, turning around. "Looks like tomorrow's gonna be really hot."
"Dad, hit channel 7 for a sec," Brian said, ignoring his father's weather advice. He didn't see how people could just sit there and watch the Weather Channel all day. "Alex says something's going' on in town."
"Really?" Trunks grabbed the remote and switched to channel 7.
"And we're reporting live from Satan City, where two teenagers with supernatural power are launching an assault on the city as we speak," the reporter was saying. Brian walked around the couch and sat down next to Trunks. The reporter disappeared as footage from the city began to reel. Two teenage people, a boy and a girl, were floating in midair and destroying anything in their path. The boy had short black hair that stood up and slanted back on his head a little. He was wearing a dark blue tank and baggy black pants with a brown leather belt and silver buckle. He had burgundy sneakers with black stripes and black laces, and his right ear was pierced with a ruby-studded earring.
The girl had boy-short red hair, and was wearing a tight black and white tank top that stopped about three inches above her waist. Her jeans were olive green, and a black belt held them at her hips. She had black gloves, brown sneakers, and a golden hoop in each ear.
"Hey, that guy looks like Gohan…" Brian said under his breath.
"What?" Alex asked on the other end.
"Nothing. Hey Dad, maybe we should-"
"Hold on, Brian, let's not do anything just yet. Why don't you call your grandfather on our line?"
"Ok," Brian said, walking into the other room to make the call.
"At the time we do not have any information as to who these individuals are, where they come from, or why they are destroying the city. Stay tuned for more- Hold on!" The reporter stopped short as another figure appeared behind the other two. It was another teenager, a girl, with short lavender hair. She was wearing a light gray, short-sleeved T-shirt over a dark blue, long-sleeved one. The gray shirt had a bright cerulean stripe across the top, and over her heart was a slanted "R". She wore dark gray jeans, black and white tennis shoes, and a pair of black finger-less gloves. Trunks' eyes widened.
"Rienna…?"
"Hey, Dad, Grandpa wasn't ho-" Brian stopped short when his eyes fell on the TV screen.
"Brian, what's wrong?" Alex asked over the phone.
"It's… my sister!"
"What?! Not the same sister that disappeared?"
"No doubt, that's Ri! Dad!" Trunks was already off the couch and grabbing his coat. "Hey, wait for me! Hey Alex, I'll have to call you back."
"No prob."
"Apparently, another youth has joined the two…" said the reporter. "They seem to be talking… what the he- they disappeared!!"
"WHAT?!" Brian and Trunks exclaimed together. They both rushed over to the couch and stared at the TV screen in disbelief.
"No!" Brian cried. "Not again!"
"That's it, I'm calling Grandpa," Trunks said.
"But Dad, he wasn't home!"
"Well see if you can reach Grandma's-" Suddenly, there was a knock on their door. Trunks opened it, and Vegeta and Bulma were standing on the doorstep.
"Mom, Dad!" Trunks exclaimed.
"She's back," Vegeta said.
"I can't believe it," Trunks was saying. He, his parents, and Brian were sitting at their kitchen table. "After all these years, she's…"
"Yeah, we tried everything!" Brian exclaimed. "We have to go find her."
"What was she doing with those other two…?" Trunks asked thoughtfully. "Ri would never-"
"She's not the same Rienna we knew anymore," Vegeta said solemnly. Bulma nodded.
"As much as I hate to admit it, Vegeta's right, Trunks," she said. "She was raised differently than we would have, so she's almost a completely different person." Trunks bowed his head and glared at the table. He clenched his fists as he remembered how half of his family had been taken away from him those ten years ago. The more he thought about it, the tighter he clinched them, until his whole arm began to shake. Someone put their hand on his shoulder, and Trunks snapped out of his angry thoughts and looked up at his mother.
"Trunks," she said softly, "we're pretty sure we know where she went. Maybe there's a chance."
"Really?" Bulma nodded.
"Whoever it was that sent the three of them forgot to remind them to mask their energy levels," Vegeta said with a smirk. "They can run, and they can hide, but even the smartest make mistakes." Brian jumped up from the table.
"Then what are we waiting for? Lets go!"
"Wait, Brian," Bulma said to her grandson. "We need to go into this with a plan."
"And no doubt everyone will want to come," Vegeta said. "Though that's probably not a good idea."
"Yeah," Trunks said, nodding. "But then again, the more people we have, the better chance we stand, right?" Vegeta scoffed.
"We can handle this ourselves."
"But you don't know what you're up against," Bulma warned him. "And besides, you won't be able to keep Adrienne down long," she added with a smile. Vegeta sighed. She was right. And the others would be just the same.
"Fine. But we'd better leave as soon as possible." Brian grinned at his father, who had to smile back.
*We're coming, Ri,* Brian thought.
"We can't take *all* of you!" Vegeta exclaimed. The whole gang was at Capsule Corp. and so far, Goku, Gohan, Pan, Krillin, Leah, Jamie, Darrin, Adrienne, and Goten had all volunteered to go on the rescue mission.
"But we want to go!" all of them chorused.
"We know you guys want to go, and we appreciate the help, but twelve people is way too many!" Trunks said.
"I agreed that a few people could go, not the whole family!" Vegeta snapped. "This is outrageous!"
"Well, I have to go," Adrienne said, crossing her arms. "Nothing you say or do can make me stay here!"
"We know," Vegeta and Trunks said together.
"I'm going, too," Goten said, also crossing his arms.
"I'm definitely going," Jamie said.
"Yeah, me too," Leah said.
"Krillin," Eighteen said, "I think you're getting a little old for this. Maybe you should stay."
"What are you talking about? I'm as healthy as ever!" Suddenly, Krillin felt a pain in his back. "Oh! Maybe not!"
"We need someone to stay here, in case something happens," Goten said. "Gohan-"
"C'mon, you can't make me stay!" Gohan protested.
"But we really need someone to stay here. What if while we're gone someone attacks the city again?" Gohan whined. He knew his brother was right.
"Oh, alright. Pan, you're staying with me."
"Aw, Dad!"
"No buts! What would Jason say if I let his wife- and my daughter- go off on some dangerous-"
"Ok, Dad, I get the point," Pan said sourly. She crossed her arms and glared at her father.
"Well, that narrows it down to nine…" Brian said, surveying the remaining volunteers.
"Nine seems like a good, even number," Goku said cheerfully.
"Nine is an odd number, you dolt!" Vegeta shouted. Goku frowned.
"You know what I meant, Vegeta!"
"C'mon, now, no fighting!" Chi-Chi scolded. "How are you going to save Rienna if you're fighting the whole time?" Vegeta and Goku glared at each other for a minute, then both of them scoffed and turned away, their arms crossed.
"I don't see why Kakarott has to come," Vegeta said haughtily.
"Because I asked him to," Trunks said with a frown.
"Why'd you go and do that?!"
"DAD!" Trunks screamed at the top of his lungs. Everyone stared at him, dumfounded, as he took a deep breath and tried to calm down. "Why don't we get going?" he asked finally.
"And let's not fight all the way there, either, Vegeta," Bulma said, giving her husband a warning look. Vegeta rolled his eyes.
"'And let's not fight all the way there, either, Vegeta'," he repeated sassily.
"Don't you give me that, Vegeta!" Bulma exclaimed. "You may be a Saiyan, but I'm a woman!"
"Yeah!" Chi-Chi said, stepping next to Bulma. "We give the gift of life, and we sure as heck can take it away!" Both wives stared daggers at Vegeta, and he slowly took a few steps backwards, shocked.
"Y-you're pathetic," he said finally. Bulma laughed.
"Get out of my face already. And bring back my granddaughter!" Vegeta swallowed and nodded.
"We plan on it," he said, having regained his composure and usual haughtiness.
"Don't worry, Bulma," Darrin said, "we'll bring her back."
"Be careful!" Pan called as they all headed out the door.
"We will!" Trunks shouted back. The door closed behind them, and the 9 Saiyans took off into the sky on their mission.
Aaron paced angrily in front of the two teenagers before him. "What on earth possessed you to go take out an assault on the city?!" he exclaimed, glaring deep into their eyes.
"Well, sir," the boy started.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault," Ruben said. He and Rienna were standing behind Aaron. Aaron whirled around abruptly.
"What do you mean, 'your fault'?"
"Well, Aaron, I told them to go and test their skills out on a town." Ruben glared past Aaron at the two. "I did *not*, however, tell them to go attack Satan!"
"We're sorry, Aaron," the boy explained.
"Yeah," the girl agreed. "We should have checked with you, first."
"Thank *goodness* I sent Ri out to stop you," Ruben said with a sigh.
"Well see that it doesn't happy again. *Ever*." Both of them nodded.
"Yes sir," they chorused. Aaron turned to leave. "And Ruben?"
"Sir?"
"Don't ever do that again." Ruben nodded.
"Sir." Aaron turned and walked out the door.
"I'm sorry, Dad," the boy said. "I wasn't thinking, I guess." Ruben sighed.
"That's alright, Aedan. You really should check with me before you go off and do something like that again."
"With all due respect, Mr. Kinamora," the girl said, "you didn't specify a place for us to practice."
"You're right, Jaerie," Ruben answered, nodding. "And I'm sorry for that."
"You guys got off easy," Rienna said.
"Yeah, you were lucky," Ruben said.
"Thanks for coming and getting us, Ri," Aedan said, smiling. "Who knows what Aaron would have done if we hadn't come back." Rienna smiled back.
"No problem."
"Yeah, thanks," Jaerie said, glancing at Aedan. "I guess."
"So where is this place?" Brian asked, zooming ahead of the others to his grandfather's side.
"I don't know," Vegeta said calmly.
"What?!"
"I don't know," Vegeta repeated. "But I know where they are." Brian frowned.
"What?" Vegeta shook his head and sighed.
"I don't know the exact location, but I can tell where they are. What do they teach you in those schools?"
"Lots of stuff!" Brian said. "You've got math, biology, English, history (which I don't particularly care for)…"
"Bah," Vegeta snapped. "Kids these days should be taught how to fight."
"But Grandpa, I can fight! Dad and I spar all the time!"
"Humph."
"No, really! I think I'm actually gaining on him."
"What are you talking about? I beat you up all the time!" Trunks said, gliding up to his son. He grinned. "You just can't handle The Master!" Vegeta smirked.
"Is that why you're scared of your sister, oh great Master?" Trunks' face went red.
"That's different," he said. "She's a girl. And she's all Saiyan."
"Uh huh," Vegeta said sarcastically. Brian laughed.
"That's ok, Dad, I'm scared of Alex."
"Why are there so many wimps in my family!?" Vegeta exclaimed. "Hm… Must get it from your mother." Trunks smiled deviously.
"Yeah? Maybe so… but then why are *you* scared of *Mom*?" Vegeta stopped smiling.
"I'm not scared of that woman!" he declared.
"Sure, Vegeta," Goku said, joining the conversation.
"Shut it, Kakarott! You're scared of a girl, too, so just shut it!"
"'Course I'm scared of Chi-Chi," Goku said good-naturedly. "She's my wife! *And* the strongest woman in the world." Goku paused for a moment. "Plus she wields a frying pan."
"Well, I'm not scared of Adrienne," Goten said. Adrienne glared at him. Goten grinned nervously. "Eh heh… ok, maybe I am!" Adrienne grinned with satisfaction.
"Maybe all Saiyans are wimps…" Goku said thoughtfully.
"NO!" Vegeta shouted, covering his ears with his hands. "I'LL NOT HEAR IT! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!" Leah and Darrin just looked at each other.
"No offense, Leah, but your family, is… odd." Leah sighed.
"Always has been. But I still love them." Darrin nodded.
"Yeah… family's important, and I consider you guys my family. That's why I came."
"Oh… Well, thanks, Darrin!" Darrin smiled.
"Not a problem."
"Hey, guys, the signal's getting stronger!" Trunks called. "Wherever they are, it's right up ahead!"
"Then what are we waiting for?" Adrienne asked excitedly.
"Let's go!" Darrin cheered.
"Let's teach them not to mess with our family!" Jamie yelled.
"Yeah!" Brian said, giving his best friend a high-five. With that, the group sped off into the horizon.
"Hey, Ri?"
"Huh?" Rienna turned around on her perch on the roof to find Aedan standing behind her. "Oh, hey, Aedan," she said. He sat down beside her and crossed his legs.
"Whatcha doin'?" Aedan asked her. Rienna smiled softly.
"To be honest, I'm not sure." Aedan cocked his head at her. "I just felt like coming up here. Like something was drawing me out. Like… maybe there's something I need to see."
"Oh…" Aedan frowned. "I don't get it." Rienna laughed.
"Neither do I."
"Yeah, but not just about this," Aedan said. "Ever since you came to live with us, I've never quite understood you. Almost like there's another part of you I haven't seen yet." It was Rienna's turn to be confused.
"What do you mean? I've always been like you know me now."
"I know, but still…" Aedan shook his head. "Never mind. Forget I even brought it up." He sighed and stretched out on the roof, putting his hands behind his head. "What a nice day."
"Yeah. It doesn't feel like summer, yet," Rienna said, lying down beside him.
"Yeah… Hey, Ri, uh… I know it's kinda early, but I'm gonna be a senior next year, and… well… I was wondering-"
"Hey, Aedan? Where are you?" Aedan sighed.
"Perfect timing," he muttered under his breath. He and Rienna sat up. "Up here, Jaerie!" Jaerie hovered up to the roof and landed near the edge.
"Hey, there you are! Oh, hi, Ri," she added.
"Hey, Jaer." Jaerie ignored her.
"Look, your dad says he found a good spot for us to practice together."
"Great," Aedan said sarcastically. He glanced at Rienna, who snickered at him. It was a known fact that Jaerie liked Aedan- a lot. "Hey, Ri, why don't you come with us?" he asked suddenly.
"No," Jaerie said. "Kinamora said just us."
"W-w-w-what!?" Aedan stammered in disbelief. "What's he trying to pull?!" Rienna laughed.
"Aedan, maybe you should go talk to your dad," she said.
"Maybe I will," Aedan said angrily. Jaerie grabbed his arm.
"There's no time for that! C'mon, Aedan, we need a little 'alone time'." She gave Rienna a gloating look. Rienna smiled back dully.
"What? Hey, n-no, wait a minute!" Aedan exclaimed, wriggling free of her grasp. "What if I don't want to go?"
"You have to. Ruben's orders," Jaerie said sourly.
"Crap!" Aedan sighed. "I'll talk to you later, Ri. We won't be too long. I hope," he added, with a glare at Jaerie.
"See ya, Aedan," Rienna said.
"C'mon, Aedan, we haven't got all day!" Jaerie said, crossing her arms. "I want to blow something up, and I want to do it now!"
"Be patient!" Aedan exclaimed. "Jeez! Alright, I'm coming!" He waved to Ri, and she waved back. "Bye."
"Follow me, I know exactly where to go!" Jaerie said.
"That's what I'm afraid of," Aedan muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing." They both flew out of sight. Rienna sighed.
"Wonder what he was going to say…"
"Rienna, come with me." Rienna turned around.
"Aaron?" He nodded.
"Just come. I need to talk to you." Rienna stood up and brushed off her pants.
"Ok…"
"What's up, Aaron?" Rienna leaned against the desk Ruben was sitting at.
"I have an assignment for you," he said calmly. "It appears we have some visitors."
"What? 'Visitors'?" Aaron nodded and pulled up a screen on the computer.
"Do you recognize any of these people?" Rienna leaned closer to the group of people flying towards the lab She shook her head.
"No, not really."
"Really?" Aaron typed something into the computer and the camera zoomed in on a middle-aged man with lavender hair. "You should."
"Why?" Rienna asked. She stared closer at the man. "Now that I think about it, he looks kinda familiar. Who is he?" Aaron closed his eyes.
"Well, we know him as multi-millionaire Trunks Briefs, but more specifically…" Aaron paused, and Rienna cocked her head. "He's your father."
"What?!" Rienna jumped backwards in surprise. "You can't be serious!"
"You don't take me at my word?" Rienna thought that over.
"…But he can't be. Sure, I look like him, but……"
"Ri," Aaron said, standing up. He put his hand on her shoulder as she stared at the man on the screen. "He's coming for you. The whole family." Here Aaron hesitated. "Well, most of them."
"But that… that can't be… my family…" Rienna said, pulling away from Aaron and taking a few steps backwards. She shook her head. "No, I don't have a family."
"Yes you do, Rienna," Aaron said softly. Rienna glared at the screen.
"The only family I have is the Kinamoras," she said sternly. "No one's going to take them away from me." Aaron smiled.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"I thought you said this place was right up ahead?" Brian asked impatiently.
"It is," Vegeta said. "Oh, and Kakarott? I'd duck if I were you."
"Huh?" Goku looked back ahead of him and squeaked as he ducked and barely missed a bunch of perturbed geese. Vegeta laughed.
"I like those geese," he said, an evil smile on his face. "They don't like you!" Goku scowled at Vegeta.
"That wasn't very nice!"
"Ignore him, Dad," Goten said. Goku shook his fist at Vegeta.
"One of these days…!" He sighed. "I don't see how you put up with him, Adrienne." Adrienne shrugged.
"He put up with me."
"Hey, Dad, I think I see it!" Brian exclaimed, pointing on ahead of him. "That's it, right?" Everyone looked where he was pointed. A large white, 4-story building stood in front of him. There were no windows, and no signs or anything to mark what it was. Vegeta nodded.
"That's it," he said grimly.
"Rienna's in *there*?" Jamie asked.
"No," someone behind them said. "She's right here." All nine of them whirled around to face the very person they had come for: Rienna.
"Whoa!" A kick from Rienna sent Leah flying into the ground below. Vegeta and Darrin clenched their firsts. "What was that for?!" Leah exclaimed. She flew back up to the others and glared at her cousin. "Don't you remember who I am?! I could kick your butt!"
"Maybe," Rienna said haughtily. "Maybe not. Care to find out?"
"Rienna!"
"Hm?" Rienna raised her eyebrow in Adrienne's direction. "Hey, I know you. You're Trunks' sister, right?" Adrienne nodded.
"That's right. I'm your aunt."
"Hmph," Rienna said, disappearing and reappearing behind the group. "I know who my family is, and I know who you are." She disappeared again and reappeared in her original position. "And you're not my family."
"What are you talking about?" Vegeta snarled. "Of course we're your family."
"Yeah, right."
"Ri…"
"What?!" Rienna whirled around to find Trunks floating behind her. Trunks stared into her eyes for a while. "….Would you stop staring at me already?!"
"You remind me of your mother…" Rienna's eyes widened, then narrowed.
"My mother… my mother's dead. And when I'm through with you, you will be too!" She punched at Trunks' face, but he stopped her without flinching. "Huh? Whoa!" Trunks threw her to the ground.
"Dad!" Brian exclaimed. Trunks flew down to where Rienna had landed.
"We're not here to fight you," Trunks said softly. "We're here for you."
"No! You're not going to hurt me again!" she screamed, jumping up and flying back to the rest of the group. "Who's going to take me on first?! I'll even take all of you!"
"Rienna, stop it!" Brian shouted angrily. She turned and stared at him. He stared back intently at her. He looked so familiar, and yet, so unfamiliar… Suddenly she realized that this was her older brother, and her eyes widened slightly.
"You're…"
"It's me, Brian!"
"B… Brian……..?" As his name escaped her lips, images of basketball games, making cookies, and fighting over mistletoe came flooding back to her. "Brian… no…I don't… have… a family…" Rienna slowly began to float away from them.
"Rienna-"
"No!" Rienna shook her head quickly. "You're all a bunch of liars!"
"Rienna, please," Darrin pleaded. "Hear us out!" She shook her head again.
"NO!" Without warning, several drones with mechanical arms came streaming out of the building below and swarmed around the group.
"What the-" "Hey!" "The heck is this?!" Someone below them laughed over what sounded like a loudspeaker.
"Well done, Rienna," said the voice. "Just like I planned."
"Aaron!" Vegeta growled. The voice laughed.
"Hello, Vegeta," he said craftily. "I hope you like my drones. Their arms are made of my own special metal: you can't break it, and you can't move through it."
"What about instant transmission?" Goku said, as he disappeared. "OW! Dang it!"
"Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention the anti-transmission field," Aaron said, laughing again. "Take them to their cells," he said to the drones. "But make sure Adrienne goes to the 'guest chamber.'"
"What?!" Vegeta exclaimed.
"No!" Goten shouted, struggling to break free from the small but strong robots.
"Mom!" Leah cried. "Miss Adrienne!" Darrin yelled at the same time.
"Adrienne!" Vegeta tried desperately to get away and save his daughter as the drones took her away. She, too, was struggling.
"Don't worry about me," she called, "I'll be fine! Just save Ri!"
"I don't need saving," Rienna said, crossing her arms. "Take them away," she said to the robots.
"Roger," the leader said mechanically.
"Rienna!" Brian cried, struggling to break free. "Ri, don't do this!"
"Zap them," Rienna said calmly, ignoring her brother's pleading.
"Ma'am," confirmed the robot. He signaled the others, and together they sent an electrical shock throughout their captives' bodies, causing them all to pass out.
"Ri…" Brian was the last to give out. He stared up at his sister with tears in his eyes and finally succumbed to the shock.
When Trunks woke up, he was in a bright, metal room. The walls seemed to be made of glass, and he could see his reflection very clearly. Someone beside him groaned.
"Dad…?" Brian sat up with his hand on his forehead. "Where are we?"
"I don't know, Brian. Probably in their prison area."
"Oh great," Brian said sarcastically. "How are we going to save Ri if we're stuck in a cell somewhere?!" He began to pull on his hair in frustration.
"Calm down, Brian, don't hurt yourself," Trunks said with a hint of humor in his voice. "We'll get out of here."
"How did I get stuck with you?!" Vegeta exclaimed. "You, of all people!"
"Maybe you're just lucky," Goku replied with a grin.
"ARGH!" Vegeta hit himself in the head. "Is this some kind of cruel joke, Aaron?!" he yelled at the ceiling.
"Not originally, but it works," Aaron answered out of no where.
"Darn it!" Goku stood up and walked over to the vent in the wall.
"Hello?" his voice echoed, and he grinned. "Hello hello! Hel-looo-"
"Would you stop that?!" Vegeta screeched.
"Sorry…"
"Dad?" came Goten's voice.
"Goten!"
"Thought that was you. I've got Jamie here with me. Who else can hear us?"
"We can," came Trunks' voice. "I've got Brian."
"And we're here, too!" Darrin called.
"Mom's not here, is she?" Leah asked.
"I don't think so, Leah," Goku replied. Vegeta growled.
"When I get my hands on that filthy disgraceful imbecile I'm going to-"
"Vegeta, that's enough," Goku snapped. His patience was wearing thin with Vegeta's constant ranting. Vegeta stared at him, surprised. "We need to get out of here if we're going to do anything."
"That you won't be doing anytime soon," Aaron said. "Try if you must." Vegeta snarled at him.
"I'll show you!" In his rage, Vegeta blasted the wall with a large Ki blast, and was surprised when it bounced off the wall back at him. "AH!"
"Whoa!" Goku ducked just in time as the blast missed Vegeta and bounced over his head. Soon both Saiyans were dodging the Ki as it bounced faster and faster around the cell. Goku soon found himself in a corner in front of Vegeta, and instinctively, he ducked. The blast missed Goku but went on to hit Vegeta. The smoke cleared, and Vegeta was standing there, a dazed look on his face, with his clothes torn and his hair smoldering. Aaron began to laugh hysterically, and Vegeta snapped out of his confusion.
"Darn it, Aaron!"
"How do you like my Devil's Reflection alloy?" Aaron asked slyly. "Made it myself."
"Well you've been busy," Trunks said sarcastically.
"Of course I have. You don't think a man of intelligence such as myself would ever stay idle for too long, do you?"
"Intelligence my a-"
"Of course you wouldn't know, Vegeta," Aaron said, all amusement gone from his voice.
"Why you-"
"Well, I'll leave you to your thoughts," Aaron said casually. "I just hope you stay sane long enough for me to torture you for a while." He laughed maniacally. "Oh, and Vegeta?"
"What?!"
"I'll take good care of your daughter for you, since you can't be there to do it yourself." Vegeta snarled and glared daggers at the ceiling as Aaron's laughter faded away. Goten shook his fist at the ceiling.
"If you touch her, Aaron, I swear I'll kill you!" Jamie put his hand on his father's shoulder and Goten sighed. "If anything happens to her…"
"It won't, Dad, it won't. Mom'll be ok." Goten nodded.
"Guess you're right."
"So how are we going to get out of here?" Darrin asked. "We can't blast our way through, that's for sure."
"Maybe I can transmit?" Goku suggested.
"I doubt it, Dad, but you can try," Goten said. So Goku did try- but it didn't work.
"He just thought of everything, didn't he?"
"We'll just have to try something else," Brian said.
The drones carried a struggling Adrienne down the dark hallway to a room with hardly any light at all. "Let me go, you piece of junk!" she cried, kicking her foot as hard as she could. It was no use. Still, she struggled as they dropped her into a large metal box and shut the lid. It was pitch-black inside, but Adrienne didn't need to see to know that the walls were closing in around her. The box was alive! She could feel the thick metal engulfing her body. It was like a liquid, and yet it was very much a solid. She pushed against the encroaching walls, but the harder she pushed, the harder they pushed back. She screamed as the liquid-metal surrounded her and pressed against her body. "Goten!"
Goten's ears pricked. Had he heard Adrienne calling him just now?
"What is it, Dad?" Goten shook his head.
"Nothing, Jamie." He stood up and glared at the wall. "I have to get out of this cell!"
"We'll get out, Dad," Jamie reassured him. "And we'll save Mom and Ri!"
"I know."
"Hey, Goten!" Goku called through the vent.
"Yeah?"
"Are you bored?" Goten thought about it for a minute.
"Yeah, I guess so."
"How about a round of our favorite song?" Goten grinned.
"Sure, why not?" In their separate cells, Vegeta and Trunks' eyes went wide. Not the song! The way off-key singing was bad enough, but not-
"John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt! His name is my name too!" Both Saiyans sang. Trunks whined pitifully and curled up into a little ball on the floor. Brian plugged his ears and began to beat his head against the wall. Darrin and Leah groaned and leaned back against the walls of their cell.
"Hey, Jamie, sing along!" Goku called. "Whenever we go out!"
"The people always shout: JOHN JACOB JINGLEHEIMER SCHMIDT! DADA DADA DADA DA!"
"SHUT UP!!!!!!!" Vegeta yelled at the top of his lungs. Everyone froze. "THAT'S ENOUGH! I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!"
"But we only sang it through one time," Goku protested.
"Once is one time too many," Trunks muttered under his breath.
"We are not going to get out of here singing a children's song!!!!" The group was silent for a minute.
"…Maybe we can break the walls down with the vibrations in our voices like Pic-!"
"NO!" Everyone screamed together. Goku crossed his arms.
"Everyone's a critic."
Rienna walked down the hall, alone, and thought about the last few moments of her life. She'd met her father, and a lot of her family, too, and they wanted her back. They claimed they were such a loving family, and they did seem to be… But no, her family had abandoned her as a child. What did they want with her now? There was still a shadow of doubt tugging at her heart. Why, when she looked in her brother's eyes, why did she suddenly have all those memories that were supposed to have never existed? Memories of cookies, and Christmas parties, and basketball games… How could she remember such things if she never knew her family? Rienna shook her head. It was all so confusing.
"Maybe I'll go talk to Ruben," she told herself. "He'll know what to do." After all, Ruben had been the one to take her in when no one else wanted her, right? He wouldn't lie to her. He was a father to her- the father she never knew. And Aedan was her older brother. Or was he? Lately, there had been something else, some other feeling toward him that she hadn't felt before toward anyone. Life was changing so much these days… Rienna sighed. She just wanted to go home and spend time with her family, her real family. She could play with Jeremy, Aedan's six-year-old brother, in the backyard, and Mrs. Kinamora could make cupcakes for them all. Or maybe they could go out for ice cream… Ri smiled. Now she was letting her imagination get the best of her. The family hadn't gotten together for several weeks now. Ruben was even beginning to distance himself from her and Aedan. Maybe visiting him right now wasn't such a good idea. Rienna turned the corner and headed for her temporary bedroom. "I'll just lay down for a while," she said, opening the door and walking into the room. "I need a nap…"
"Everything is right on schedule," Aaron said gleefully. "Adrienne is safely away, I have Vegeta and rest of those idiots in my hands, and the formula is almost complete!" Ruben nodded.
"All our work has finally paid off."
"Yes it has," Aaron said, holding up a vial of bubbling pale blue liquid and staring at it excitedly. "I can't believe we're so close! I'll finally have my revenge on Vegeta and the rest of the world!" Aaron laughed. "And what's more, no one will ever see it coming!"
"Yes, this has really been a thrilling project."
"Are you kidding? This is so perfectly corrupt that only I could think of it! Of course it's been thrilling!"
"You're right, I'm sorry," Ruben said.
"Well, should we test it?" Aaron asked, holding the vial up again and admiring his handiwork.
"Not quite," Ruben said quickly. "There's still one, uh, minor problem."
"What do you mean?" Aaron asked sternly, putting down the vial.
"Uh, it, uh… The, uh, anti-Saiyan gene isn't, er, fully developed. Give it about two hours and it should be done."
"Hm… very well. Make sure it's done in two hours."
"Yes sir." Aaron left, and Ruben quickly switched the vial with another one, almost identical to the original. "There. Now if I can just find Ri…"
Brian began to pace in front of his father, an impatient glare in his eyes. "If we don't get out of here soon, I'm going to go crazy!" he yelled, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. Trunks stared past him at the wall, deep in thought, and didn't respond. "I mean, if we can't get out, and Ri's on the outside, then there's a little bit of a problem, wouldn't you say?! Dad?" Brian stopped pacing and stared at his father. "Dad? Da-ad. Hello? Earth to Dad!" Trunks seemed to ignore him. "Ugh! Fine!" Brian stomped over to the nearest wall and dropped down with a thud on the floor. He leaned his head back and rested it on the cool metal behind him. He sighed.
"Hey Jamie?" he yelled without shifting at all.
"Yeah?"
"Are you going insane over there, or am I the only one?"
"I think Grandpa is…"
"Which one?"
"Oh, right. Vegeta," Jamie said, almost laughing. "I think Goku's driving him crazy."
"At least I'm not alone." Jamie laughed.
"Yeah, we'll probably join you sooner or later."
"Probably." Brian paused. "Hey, I haven't heard anything out of Leah or Darrin for a while, have you?"
"Nah," Jamie said. He stood up in his cell and walked over to the vent. "Hey, Leah!" he called, cupping his hands over his mouth.
"She's asleep," came Darrin's reply.
"Oh, really?"
"Mm hm."
"Did she fall asleep herself or did she pass out because you squeezed her too tight?"
"Very funny."
"Snuggly soft!" Jamie and Brian teased.
"Shut up!" They both started snickering. "And for your information, she *is*."
The two went silent.
"Darrin, you blasted little-" Vegeta started.
"KIDDING!!"
"Hey, Dad?" Trunks asked suddenly.
"What?!" Vegeta snapped.
"What happened when you fired that blast earlier?"
"WHY?!"
"It bounced off the wall and hit him in the face," Goku said plainly. Vegeta growled and glared at Goku.
"That's what I thought," Trunks said. "Did you try aiming for the wall dead on, or were you at an angle?"
"I don't know!" Vegeta shouted. "Am I supposed to?!"
"I think he was at an angle," Goku suggested.
"Uh huh…" Trunks stood up and walked over to one of the walls.
"What's up, Dad? Got a plan?"
"I think so…" Trunks walked back to the opposite wall, then turned around and examined the path he'd taken. "You think that's straight?"
"Uh… yeah, I guess," Brian said. "Why?"
"You'll see." Trunks went into one of his fighting poses. "Stand back."
"Dad, what are you-"
"HA!" Trunks blew a large Ki blast at the wall opposite him, and immediately jumped out of the way as the blast reflected off one wall and bounced back at him.
"Dad, are you nuts?! I coulda told you it was going to bounce off!"
"I know," Trunks said. "I was counting on that."
"What?" Brian watched the ball of energy as it bounced back and forth.
"If it bounces in the same place enough times, it'll weaken the wall and eventually break through it."
"Oh, I get it. But what if the blast doesn't last that long?" Trunks grinned.
"We make another one." Brian grinned back.
"Alright!"
Aaron calmly walked into what he called the "guest room" and over to a box of liquid metal. "Hello, Adrienne," he said to the box. Inside, Adrienne stopped squirming and listened. "I know you can hear me, even though I can't hear you." Adrienne glared in the direction of his voice. There was no use shouting at him, if he couldn't hear her. "I see my special cell has done its work. Wonderful, isn't it? You can breathe, and move- well, a little." At this point he laughed and she narrowed her eyes. "However, you can't move through it, or transmit out of it. It's the perfect place for your protection."
Protection? What did he mean? What was he protecting her from? Aaron continued. "Once the virus has died down, I'll let you out, and you'll be free to do whatever you want." Virus? Free? Adrienne listened harder. "Of course, by then, it'll be just you and me."
"What are you talking about?!" Adrienne yelled, forgetting that her voice couldn't penetrate the metal surrounding her.
"Just you and me," Aaron repeated. "I can't wait to see the look on Vegeta's face when his whole family is destroyed before his own, weak eyes." Aaron chuckled. "And he'll be helpless to do anything!" Aaron turned around. "Good-bye, Adrienne," he said. "Don't worry, it'll all be over in an hour. And I mean all." His chuckle turned into a laugh as he left the room.
What in the world was he talking about? Did this have something to do with that virus? Adrienne tried to gather enough energy to push the liquid far enough away from the top latch to escape, but it was no use. She had to get out of here! The fate of the world would be decided in one hour and she wouldn't be there to hear the final ruling. A frustrated tear slid down her cheek as she sat there, helpless. "Goten, where are you? Leah, Jamie! Goten!" She called out, but there was no answer. "Help me…"
A small explosion blew a hole through the cell wall, and Leah and Darrin ran out through it. "Great idea, Dad! I never would have thought of that!" Brian exclaimed, patting his father on the back. Trunks smiled.
"When your mom's a genius, you're bound to be at least half-genius."
"But wouldn't Vegeta's half cancel that out?" Goku asked with a grin. Vegeta growled at him and clenched his fists.
"Alright, Kakarott, that does it!" he declared. "You've gone too far this time! You want a fight?! Well you've got one!"
"Dad!" Trunks groaned. Goku shook his head.
"I don't want to fight you, Vegeta. C'mon, we have to find Adrienne and Rienna and get out of here." Vegeta sighed in frustration and crossed his arms.
"Fine! But only for Adrienne!" Goku smiled.
"Good."
"Well, now that we've got that settled, what do we do?" Darrin asked.
"Yeah," Jamie said. "We don't know where to start looking!"
"Where do we start?" Leah asked. "This place is huge!"
"I guess we just have to split up," Goten said. "One group looks for Adrienne, and the other for Ri."
"Suppose you're right, Goten, but who goes where?"
"Well, I'm looking for Adrienne," Vegeta said.
"We figured," Trunks and Brian chorused. Vegeta narrowed his eyes at them.
"And obviously, Trunks and Brian are going after Ri, right, guys?" asked Goten. Trunks nodded solemnly.
"You bet."
"Alright, that leaves the five of us," Darrin said.
"Well, I want to go look for Mom," Leah said.
"Me too," said Jamie. "Uh, no offense, Uncle Trunks." Trunks smiled.
"That's ok, I understand. I wish we could come, too." Brian nodded.
"Yeah."
"Then it's us left," Goku said. "I guess I'll go wherever I'm needed."
"Me too," Darrin said.
"Well, Goten?" Goku asked his son. Goten frowned. He didn't want to leave his best friend hanging, but what about Adrienne?
"Go on, Goten," Trunks said. "I know you want to."
"What? Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Go find my sister." Goten nodded and smiled.
"Will do."
"Then how about you and I go with Trunks?" Goku asked Darrin. He nodded in response.
"Sounds good to me."
"Alright, let's go!" Brian exclaimed.
"You sure you're gonna be ok?" Goten asked.
"Would you go already?! We'll be fine!" Trunks exclaimed. "Jeez! I mean, c'mon! We've got me, your dad, Darrin, and Brian! What could happen?" Goten smirked.
"Where have I heard that before?"
"Hey!" Goten laughed.
"Ok, I'm convinced." He looked the group over. "Well, sort of."
"GOTEN!"
"Alright, alright! I'm going!"
"Better be," Trunks said, crossing his arms.
"C'mon, Dad!" Leah called. "We gotta find Mom!"
"Coming!" Goku laughed.
"I don't remember him giving anyone that much trouble when he was a kid."
"Hanging out with my Dad too long," Brian said matter-of-factly.
"Brian Alex-"
"Just kidding!" Brian started off down the hall. "Jeez, some people just can't take a joke."
"Hey, I can take a joke!" Trunks protested. "And I can dish out a pretty mean one, too!" Goku laughed as they disappeared down the hallway.
"Trunks hasn't changed one bit."
"What do you mean?" Darrin asked.
"He's still the little kid I used to know."
"Rienna, time to get up!" called a bright, female voice. A little boy's followed it.
"Yeah, Ri, you gotta get up! We gotta go to school!"
"Rienna Morgan, you get up right now or you'll miss the bus!"
"Ri, come on!"
"Huh?" Rienna opened her eyes and stared up at the ceiling. "Hm… must have been a dream." She sat up and looked at her watch: 6:30 PM. "Huh… sure didn't sleep long." Rienna stretched her arms and while she was, she noticed her hand was still red where her would-be father had stopped her punch earlier. That Trunks guy had quite a grip. Ri shook her head. She was glad she didn't have to deal with that again. Someone knocked lightly on her door.
"Rienna, are you awake?"
"Yeah. Come on in, Ruben." The door opened and Ruben walked into the room. "What's up?"
"Bad news," he said, sitting down on the bed next to her. "The prisoners have escaped."
"WHAT?! You're joking, right!?" Ruben shook his head.
"Afraid not. Just thought I'd tell you to be on the lookout." Rienna nodded.
"I will. And thanks."
"No problem."
"Hey, uh, Ruben, there's something-"
"Ruben, report to the lab immediately." Ruben sighed.
"I guess it'll have to wait," he said sadly.
"That's ok. It… it wasn't that important anyway."
"Ok." Ruben stood up. "Guess I'd better go."
"Guess you should." Ruben smiled.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, Aedan and Jaerie should be back soon. I told them to be back by 5:00."
"Oh, good!" That would give her someone else to talk to. Of course, she didn't see why Ruben had told her to stay in the first place, but that was ok. "See ya later, then."
"Later." Rienna watched as he left the room, then sighed.
"So much for that."
"Are you sure we're going the right way, Dad?" Brian asked.
"No," Trunks said plainly.
"Then how do we know we are?"
"We don't."
"But Dad-"
"Brian!" Trunks yelled in frustration. Darrin and Goku stopped behind them and stared. "Look, I'm just as anxious as you are, but we can't worry about every little thing that we run into! We just have to try our best and do what we can!" Brian hung his head.
"I'm sorry, Dad," he said quietly. "I guess I'm just a little worried. I mean, I haven't seen her in so long, and last time we got thrown in a cell, and I don't know if she's ever going to come back, and…" Brian gulped and held back tears. "And I don't wanna lose her again…" Trunks' expression softened and he put his hand on Brian's shoulder.
"I know, and I don't either. We're going to get her back," he said, though he was unsure of it himself. What if Brian was right, and she didn't come back? Why did she hate them so much?
"Hey, guys, I think someone's coming!" Goku said suddenly. A faint shadow was moving along the wall of the corridor that crossed theirs.
"Quick, hide!" Trunks hissed. Everyone dashed into the nearest room and peered through the shutters on the window. They could hear the person humming as they rounded the corner. Brian gasped.
"Ri!"
"Guess we were going the right way, after all," Darrin said.
"Definitely in this wing," Vegeta said, scanning the walls for any doors.
"Yeah," Jamie said. Goten nodded.
"I can feel her," Leah said. "She's definitely close."
"At least we're going in the right direction."
"Yeah."
"One thing bothers me, though. Why does he want her this time?" Goten asked. Vegeta growled.
"I don't know, and I don't care. I just want to get her out of here." Goten nodded.
"Me too."
As soon as Rienna rounded the next corner, the four Saiyans crept out of the empty lab room. "C'mon, let's follow her," Darrin said. "See where she goes." Trunks nodded.
"Yeah." The four of them tiptoed down the hall after her. She rounded yet another corner and walked into a room through a set of swinging double doors.
"C'mon!" Brian said, walking ahead of the group.
"Brian, wait!" Goku whispered. But he'd already gone through.
"Huh?" they heard him say. "Where'd she go?"
"What?" Trunks pushed the doors open and ran inside, the others following. The room turned out to be a large auditorium. The ceiling had to be at least 30 feet up.
"She's gone!" Brian exclaimed. "Just disappeared!"
"No she's not," Darrin said. "She's here, alright. I can sense her."
"Good to see there's still a Saiyan left with sense," Rienna said from above. They all looked up and found she was floating almost directly above them. "I see you found your way out."
"Wasn't too hard," Goku said.
"Ha! Took you long enough. Ruben told me you'd escape sooner or later."
"Ruben?" Trunks asked. "Who's Ruben?"
"My father," Rienna said haughtily.
"Rienna, I'm you're-"
"No, you're not," Rienna said sternly. "And nothing you say can make me think otherwise."
"Rienna, please, just hear us out," Darrin said.
"No, you listen! Since before I can remember I've lived with the Kinamoras because someone decided that they didn't want a stupid little girl!" she exclaimed with tears in her eyes. "I was probably just another mouth to feed for them, but Ruben brought me home with him one day and since then I've been happy! I have a family, and I don't need you to mess things up for me! So leave me alone!"
"That's not true!" Brian yelled. "That's not true at all! We love you, Ri! I love you!"
"You're not gonna trick me with your little mind games anymore!" she shouted at him. "How can you abandon me and then try and take me back!?"
"We didn't abandon you, Rienna!" Darrin yelled. "You were taken from us! I know, I was there!" Rienna shook her head.
"No! That isn't true!"
"Yes it is!"
"Enough!" Rienna said, clenching her fists. "I'm not going to listen to your lies!"
"They're not lies," Trunks said. "Your name is Rienna Morgan Briefs. You were born December 22, three days after your mother's birthday. Your favorite color is green, but blue's nice too." Rienna narrowed her eyes. "You like to fight, and a good argument, but you get along well with people. And you like to sing in the shower," Trunks added with a grin. Rienna's face went red.
"H-how did you-"
"If we had really abandoned you, do you really think we'd remember stuff like that?"
"…L-lucky guess."
"Rienna…"
"Huh?" Rienna spun around in midair. Ruben was standing behind her. Darrin clenched his fists and glared.
"YOU!" he cried angrily.
"WHAT??" the other three exclaimed.
"You're-"
"Yes, it's me," Ruben said. "I wasn't sure if you'd remember."
"I'd never forget your ugly face, you jerk!" Darrin said arrogantly.
"What are you talking about?!" Brian exclaimed.
"He's the moron that took Rienna in the first place!"
"WHAT?!?!" Trunks, Goku, Brian, and Rienna shouted together.
"You dirty-"
"Ruben!" Rienna yelled accusingly. "What is he talking about?!" Ruben closed his eyes.
"I didn't have a choice." Rienna gasped.
"No…" She slowly drifted down and landed softly on the floor. She stared at the floor thoughtfully. "How… can this… be…?" Ruben didn't answer. Instead he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring on a chain.
"Ruben is that formula-" Aaron stopped when he found the lab empty. He narrowed his eyes. "Hmm…" Aaron stood there for a moment, then disappeared.
Trunks narrowed his eyes. "Where did you get that?"
"We found it on her when I first brought her here," Ruben answered. "It belonged to her mother, am I correct?" Trunks narrowed his eyes even more.
"How did you know that?" Ruben didn't answer right away. "What do you know about Chloe?! Hey, I'm talking to you!" Ruben shook his head.
"I'm sorry. For everything."
"That doesn't answer my question!"
"…It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does!" Trunks shouted angrily. Rienna stared at the ring in Ruben's hand.
"Mom…"
"Huh?" Everyone stared at her as she stepped closer and picked up the ring.
"I… I remember, now… The Christmas party… everyone was there. We… made cookies… with Adrienne…" Ruben nodded.
"Try to remember."
"Mom… died…" Rienna looked over at Trunks. "And Dad gave me this ring." Trunks stared back at his daughter.
"You remember!" Brian exclaimed happily.
"Brian… I remember you the most." Brian smiled.
"I'm not an easy person to forget," he said. Rienna smiled, and a tear fell down her cheek. She continued.
"I remember falling asleep on the couch next to you… after Dad left." Brian nodded.
"Yeah."
"You were so warm…" Rienna stared at him as those forgotten memories came back to her. She remembered how no matter how much they fought, that Brian always stuck up for her. Tears filled her eyes and her lip began to tremble as she stared into his bright blue eyes. "Oh, Brian!" She almost fell into his arms and hugged him. At first it stunned him, but he quickly overcame his shock and hugged her back.
"Hey, it's ok," he said, ruffling her short hair.
"Good thing it's not as permanent as 'he' thought," Ruben said to himself.
"What?" Rienna asked, letting go of her brother and turning to face him.
"What do you mean?" Darrin asked.
"Memory composition. Creating memories that were never there to replace the real ones. It's not as effective as Aaron thought."
"You mean you erased her memory?!" Brian exclaimed.
"Calm down, I didn't erase it," he said. "As you can see, I just covered it up."
"Ruben…" Rienna said softly. "Why-" He closed his eyes.
"He was going to kill you," Ruben said. "It was to save your life…" He looked up at her. "I'm sorry."
"Someone explain to me what's going on here," Goku said. "Why did you take Rienna in the first place?"
"That's a good question," Ruben said.
"She's unquestionably closer, now," Goten said. "I'm sure we're going the right way."
"We have to be," Leah said. "I can't imagine what would happen if…"
"Don't talk like that," Vegeta said quietly. He didn't want to think about what would happen if they didn't find her. Why had Aaron taken her, anyway? Maybe he needed her to power some new machine of his. Or maybe it was just for revenge on Vegeta. He shook his head. "Don't talk like that," he repeated to himself.
"When did this all start?" Ruben asked himself. "Well, let me see. I guess it's best if I tell you the whole story."
"That would be a good place to start," Trunks said. Ruben nodded.
"Yes. Ok, hm… I suppose it all started when I was born." He began to pace in front of them. "I never knew my father. My mother told me his name was… oh, darn, what was his name…? Raditz!"
"RADITZ?!" Goku nearly had a heart attack. "You've gotta be joking!"
"You can't be serious!" Trunks exclaimed. Ruben frowned.
"You… know him?"
"Know him?! He's my half-brother!" It was Ruben's turn to be shocked.
"WHAT?!"
"Whoa, how weird is that?" Brian asked.
"Then you're… Goku?" Goku nodded.
"You betcha." Ruben shook his head.
"This is… so… strange. Aaron told me about you. When I first met him."
"You know Raditz is dead, then?" Ruben nodded.
"Yes."
"If you don't mind me asking," Goku said, "how did it happen?" Ruben sighed.
"My mom was young and ignorant, and he tricked her into it. Then he disappeared, and my mother never saw him again. Of course, then I was born."
"Oh…"
"I suppose that makes sense," Darrin said.
"So I grew up, with just my mom. I got married, found a job at one of the Capsule Corp. factories, and later had my son, Aedan."
"Aedan…" Rienna repeated softly.
"Soon after, I was visited at work by a man who, though he was much older than I was, didn't seem to be aging at all. He told me the history of Saiyans, and told me my own history. At first I didn't believe him, but he soon proved me wrong. So he invites me to join him in a plan to take revenge on another Saiyan named Vegeta by completely devastating the planet. Of course I refused, but when he threatened to kill my family, I had no choice but to join him."
"What do you mean, devastate the planet?" Trunks asked.
"The virus…" Rienna whispered.
"What? Rienna, do you know what he's talking about?" Brian asked her. She nodded.
"It was Aaron's plan… to cripple the entire planet through a disease he calls The Syndrome. There would be none to resist him, because all people would be helpless to do anything. Aaron insisted on testing the formula, and it worked… a little too well. He had lied to me: he didn't want to cripple the planet, he wanted to kill it. The experiment succeeded, relieving the world of a certain young woman named Chloe Briefs. I believe you know her."
"Chloe…!" Trunks clenched his fists. "So that's what happened…" He glared at the floor as he mentally relived the night his wife had died.
"How could you do that?!" Brian cried.
"I had no choice. My family-"
"So it's ok to kill someone else's wife to save your own?!" Trunks shouted angrily.
"That's not what I'm saying. I'm sorry I ever got involved."
"You'd better be!" Brian exclaimed.
"Do you know the pain you've put my family through?!" Trunks yelled.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't… I don't… know…" Rienna looked down at the ring in her hand.
"Hey, Rienna-" Darrin said, noticing her thoughtful silence.
"Mom…" she said quietly. "This is all Aaron's fault…" She narrowed her eyes. "All his fault…"
"So why did Aaron need Rienna?" Ruben tried to ignore Trunks' piercing glare and continued with his story.
"There was just one problem with the formula: it wouldn't affect Saiyans, the ones he wanted to bring down the most. He needed a special kind of Saiyan cell to make effective, a cell that makes up part of a young Saiyan's immune system. But the only Saiyans he could find were too old. Once a Saiyan reaches the age of 7, that cell deteriorates."
"That's why he needed me," Rienna said, looking down at her hand. "I was the only one young enough." Ruben nodded.
"Afraid so."
"So you kill my wife, kidnap my daughter, and then try to destroy all life on the planet!?" shouted Trunks.
"Dad…" Rienna's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes, but-"
"But nothing! You are the most inconsiderate, dirty jackas-"
"Dad, stop it!" Rienna shrieked. Her body was trembling and tears streamed down her face. "Just stop it…"
"No, Rienna, it's alr-" Ruben was interrupted by her protests.
"No it's not, Ruben! This isn't his fault, Dad! Yeah, what he did was wrong, but he didn't have a choice! And you would have done the same thing!" Brian thought about what she was saying. Would his dad have done the same thing? "Aaron is the one behind it all, don't you see?! And I owe Ruben. A lot. In fact, if it weren't for him, I wouldn't be standing here right now!" Trunks stared at his daughter in disbelief.
"But Rienna, he-"
"I know what he did, Dad, and I don't want to hear it! And I'm sure he doesn't want it repeated. What's done is done, and we can't change it." A long silence followed her statement. Brian finally put his hand on her shoulder.
"Alright, Ri. We give."
"I'm not going to say you've been forgiven, but for now… thanks," Trunks said. Ruben shook his head.
"Don't thank me. I've hurt your family so much."
"Yeah, you have." Trunks turned his back on him.
"Dad…" Rienna looked after him sorrowfully.
"So what do we do now?" Darrin asked.
"Obviously, we have to stop Aaron and free my sister," Trunks said, crossing his arms.
"Adrienne? I can take you to her."
"You won't be going anywhere, traitor!"
"Aaron!" Goku exclaimed.
"Hey, Aedan!" Aedan rolled his eyes and turned around.
"What? AH!" Aedan reflected her energy blast and glared at her. "What was that about?!" Jaerie grinned.
"Just seeing if you were on your toes."
"Uh huh." She had been flirting with him since they arrived at the field, and he was getting tired of it. "Hey," he said, looking at his watch, "shouldn't we be heading back? Dad said to be back by 5:00." Jaerie flew over to him and smiled.
"Forget what your dad said, Aedan. C'mon," she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him closer, "live a little." Aedan pulled away from her.
"No, he'll be looking for us. We shouldn't keep him waiting."
"Don't you want to spend more time with me?" she asked.
"It's not that, Jaer, it's just-"
"Oh, I get it now," Jaerie said, crossing her arms. "You have to get back to little miss Ri." Aedan's face went pink.
"N-no, I just-"
"Listen, Aedan, she's nothing but trouble for a guy like you. She's too… bright."
"What are you talking about? She's been my friend for years, and never done me wrong."
"Alright, have it your way," Jaerie said, turning around. "But remember, even the moon has a dark side."
"What?" Jaerie sighed in frustration.
"Never mind! Let's just get out of here. I was getting tired of blowing up hay bales anyway."
*Yes!* Aedan thought. Maybe there was hope after all…
"Hey, someone help me find the light switch in here!" Jamie called from one of the dark labs. "I can't seem to find it myself!"
"Sure, Jamie," Goten said. He and his son searched the walls in the darkness until: "Hey, here it is!" Goten flipped the switch and the bright overhead lights snapped on. Both of them shielded their eyes as they slowly became accustomed to the light.
"Hey, where'd you guys go?" Leah walked into the room and found them both standing there. "Hey, you ok?"
"Yeah, gimme a second," Goten said.
"Those lights are bright!" Jamie exclaimed, finally putting down his arm. He began to look around the room. "What's that?!" He pointed to a large clear box with squirming black goo inside.
"I dunno…" Leah admitted.
"Where is everyone?" Vegeta growled from outside. "Jeez, I leave them alone for a second and-"
"In here, Vegeta," Goten called. Vegeta stuck his head inside the door and frowned.
"I can't leave you alone for one minute, can I?!"
"Grandpa, what do you think it is?" Jamie asked.
"What?" Vegeta looked up at the box. "We found her!"
"Huh??" Jamie and Leah gasped.
"Mom's in there!?"
"She can't be!"
*Adrienne… I knew you were close…* Goten thought. "Adrienne! Adrienne, can you hear me? It's me!"
Inside, Adrienne woke up from her deep sleep. "Huh?"
"Adrienne!" Vegeta yelled.
"Dad! Goten!" Adrienne shouted.
"Maybe she can't hear us," Jamie said.
"Jamie!"
"Or maybe she can, but we can't hear her!" Leah suggested. Vegeta walked up to the box and examined it.
"There's a latch on the lid, but it's an electronic lock. And I don't dare try to blast it…"
"Yeah, we might hurt Mom," Jamie said.
"There has to be a code hidden around here somewhere… Maybe it's stored in one of these computers," Goten said.
"But there are so many!" Leah exclaimed.
"How do we know when we find it?" Jamie asked.
"We just have to try and see." Vegeta growled.
"We don't have time for this!"
"But Grandpa-"
"My daughter's in there, and I'm not going to waste my time look for a stupid code! Adrienne!" Inside, Adrienne struggled to let them know somehow that she could hear them. She finally gathered enough strength and thrust her hand through the goo and against the box's side in Vegeta's direction. "Huh? It's Adrienne!" Vegeta pressed his hand against hers. "We're gonna get you out, Adrienne! I promise!" Adrienne balled her hand into a thumb's-up. Vegeta smiled. "That's my girl." Adrienne smiled. She knew they'd find a way.
"Aaron!" Ruben exclaimed. "I'm no traitor! I was never with you in the first place!"
"Fool! You should have been! Now you're going to pay, and when I'm through with you, I'm going to kill your son!"
"You leave Aedan out of this!" Rienna screamed. Aaron smirked.
"Ah yes, the real traitor. I always knew you'd turn on me someday."
"I was wrong to ever believe you in the first place!" she yelled back at him.
"Hmph. I should have killed you when I had the chance."
"You won't be killing anyone today, Aaron!" Goku shouted, going into his fighting stance.
"Yeah!" Darrin said, also going into his fighting pose.
"We're gonna kick your butt!" Brian yelled.
"Are you, now? Well there's something I'd buy tickets for," Aaron said.
"Aaron, you've taken my sister, tried to kill my father, murdered my wife and brainwashed my daughter! Now you've got to deal with me!" Trunks declared angrily. Aaron laughed.
"Well, now, that's not much of a challenge. But if you insist…" He snapped his fingers, and suddenly both Darrin and Goku heard an awful high-pitched noise. They both clutched their heads in pain and passed out on the floor.
"What did you do to them?!" Ruben demanded.
"I want this to be between the five of us. Those two are no concern of mine, and would only get in the way." Trunks, Brian, and Rienna went into their fighting poses.
"Alright then," Brian said, "bring it on!"
Wheeeeeee!!! Moving right along, aren't we? *grins REALLY wide* I can't believe how fast this is moving! Ha ha! I'm so proud of myself. I don't think I've ever made it this far into a story before. *remembers DF and NF, her GW and Digi fics that she has left to die* ...*ahem* THIS ONE'S DIFFERENT!!! ^^; So, please r/r. The more motivation I get, the more I write! ~_^
