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 7 : Plenty of Time : : .
"Did you feel that?" Jamie asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Yeah…" Goten said.
"It's Brian," Leah said. "Dad, I can't sense him anymore!"
"You don't think…"
"Nonsense!" Vegeta snapped at his grandson. "He is still alive!" he said, though he didn't quite believe it himself.
"Dad…" Adrienne said softly.
"We have to hurry," Goten said sternly. "Trunks needs our help!" His wife and children nodded.
"Yeah," Jamie agreed. *Hold on, guys. We're coming!*
Aedan and Jaerie neared the labs at tremendous speed. "Almost there," Aedan said, putting on an extra burst of speed. Jaerie gasped.
"Hey, wait up!" she called, also boosting her speed to match his.
"There's no time for that," he said.
"What do you mean!? We don't even know if something really did happen!" Aedan shook his head.
"Something happened, alright. I just don't know what." *And I'm afraid to find out. What if something happened to Dad? Or to Ri?* Aedan shook his head. He shouldn't think like that. Jaerie narrowed her eyes.
*What's going on in that pint-sized brain of yours, Aedan Kinamora?*
Aaron tightened his grip on Rienna's throat and smirked at Rienna's blue-tinted face. "One thing about strangling: it takes a while," he said arrogantly. Tears rolled down Rienna's face as she struggled to grasp even one breath of fresh air. Instead of the kicking they had been doing earlier, her legs twitched with what little energy she had left. She closed her eyes and held them shut tightly, causing a stream of tears to flow down her dusty cheeks, leaving streaks of clear skin among the dirt. "I'm surprised you haven't even lost consciousness yet. You're pretty strong for being of mixed blood."
*Crap,* Rienna thought. *I've got no more energy… Is this the end? Is this how I'm going to die?* She opened her eyes and stared at the fallen fighters around her. Goku, Darrin, Ruben, Trunks, and… Brian. How could this happen? If she hadn't been so weak those ten years ago, none of this would have ever occurred. *Darn it.* More tears fell down her face and dripped onto the floor. *It's my fault…* No, it wasn't her fault. She hadn't been the one who killed her family, Aaron was. And if she could just escape, or beat him somehow, then there was still a chance to save them, as well as Earth.
"Why don't you just give up now and save me the trouble? My arm is getting tired," Aaron told her casually. Rienna stared at him with determination. "No?" Aaron sighed. "Fine, it's your choice." Just then, someone burst through the double doors in front of them and gasped.
"What the heck!?" Aedan exclaimed. "Aaron!"
"What's going on here!?" Jaerie demanded. Aaron narrowed his eyes.
"This girl is a traitor," he said simply. "She must be punished."
"Aaron, put her down!" Aedan told him. "Tell me what happened!"
"Hmph. I was getting bored with her anyway," he said. He tossed Rienna aside like a dirty rag. Aedan rushed over to her.
"Rienna, Rienna! Gosh, are you ok!?" In reply, Rienna coughed and held her sore throat. She nodded weakly and continued to cough.
"What happened here?" Jaerie asked, stepping over broken slabs of concrete and rubble to stand next to Aaron.
"Plenty," he answered.
"Yeah, I can see that…"
"Now tell me what's going on," Aedan said, standing up next to Rienna. Aaron nodded.
"As you wish." He began to walk around the room. "While you were out," he began, "a group of Saiyans raided the lab. They were Rienna's long lost family, and they wanted her back." Jaerie gasped.
"You're kidding!" Aaron shook his head.
"They were captured easily, but escaped and convinced Rienna to come back to them. That's when it happened."
"What happened?" Aedan asked sternly. Aaron turned to him and stared into his eyes.
"They killed your father."
"What?!" Aedan exclaimed. "You're lying!"
"He's lying over there," Aaron said, pointing in the direction where Ruben's body lay. Aedan ran over to him and knelt down to examine him.
"Dad…" Aedan said, lifting his father's head. "No…" Rienna coughed again.
"We.. we did not…" she said hoarsely. "Aaron… did…"
"Quiet, traitor!" Aaron shouted. "Aedan, I'm sorry, but.. they got your mother and brother as well."
"WHAT?!" Aedan stood up. "Mom and Jeremy!?" He turned on Rienna. "How could you!?" Rienna shook her head.
"No…!" she protested feebly. "It wasn't… I didn't…" Aaron walked over to Aedan and put his hand gently on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Aedan. I couldn't stop them."
"Liar!" Rienna shouted as best she could. "You killed them! And my family, too!"
"Nonsense," Aaron said. He glared at Rienna, then turned to Aedan. "Ignore her, Aedan. She's not the same person you used to know."
"No!" Rienna tried to stand up, and leaned against the wall for support. "Aedan, please!"
"Shut up!" Jaerie yelled suddenly. She walked over to Rienna and slapped her. "You just shut up! How could you do something like this!?" Rienna put her hand to her cheek and glared up at Jaerie.
"Darn it! You're in on this, aren't you!? I know you are, you witch!" Jaerie slapped her again.
"I'm not in on anything, you fool," she said angrily. "All I know is that you've abandoned us and everything we stand for." She began to walk to Aedan, but stopped. "You know," she said without turning around. "I'm not surprised you turned on us, Rienna. In fact, I'm glad. At least now I have a *good* reason to hate you." Aaron glared at Rienna.
"Take her to her cell. We'll execute her after the Syndrome has been activated." Jaerie turned around and punched her in the stomach. Rienna's eyes widened, and she fell over with a groan. The last thing she remembered seeing was Jaerie's boots walking towards her…
"Whoa!" Jamie exclaimed, walking into the torn up auditorium and trying not to trip on the rubble. "What happened here?"
"They've definitely been here," Goten said, looking around at the signs of a fight.
"Mom, Dad, over here!" Leah cried suddenly. "It's Darrin!"
"What!?" The rest of the group rushed over to where she was kneeling next to Darrin, his head in her lap. His eyes twitched and he groaned.
"Darrin! Wake up, Darrin!" Adrienne urged. He finally opened his eyes and looked up at Leah.
"What…? Where am I?" Leah smiled at him.
"Good, you're alright!" she said. Darrin sat up.
"What happened?"
"We were hoping you could tell us," said Vegeta, who crossed his arms in disappointment.
"I remember… Rienna. We finally convinced her who we were, and Ruben was there."
"Wait, who's Ruben?" Adrienne asked.
"Rienna's kidnapper."
"What!?" Vegeta exclaimed in rage. "Where is he!?" Darrin shook his head.
"I don't know. I got knocked out after Aaron showed up." He rubbed the back of his neck. "That's all I remember."
"So you don't know where everyone is?" Goten asked. Darrin shook his head.
"No. But Goku should be around here somewhere, he got knocked out before I did."
"There he is!" Jamie shouted, pointing to his grandfather. Leah helped Darrin up while the rest of the group ran over to him.
"Dad, wake up!" Goten said, grabbing Goku by the shoulder and shaking him. He shook his head. "It's no use."
"Leave it to Kakarott," Vegeta muttered under his breath.
"Hold on," Leah said. "I've got some candy in my pocket. Maybe that'll wake him up?" Goten shrugged.
"It's worth a shot," he said. Leah pulled out a pack of Starbursts and opened them. Almost immediately, Goku's eyes began to flutter.
"Do I smell candy…?" he asked, sitting up with his hand on his head. Goten smiled.
"Welcome back, Dad."
"Huh? Goten?" Goku cocked his head. "Whoa, what happened here!?"
"Well, obviously a fight, you moron!" Vegeta snapped.
"Quite a battle, by the looks of it," Darrin said.
"Yeah…" Goku said. "Where is everyone?"
"We don't know, but we're about to go looking," Adrienne told him. Goku hopped up.
"Well let's find them, then! Who knows what Aaron might've done while I was out!" His stomach growled, and he sweat-dropped. "Uh, say, Leah…" She laughed and tossed the Starbursts at him.
"Take them." Goku grinned.
"Thanks!"
Rienna stood all alone in the broken auditorium, rubble and dead bodies scattered around her. She stared at each of them in turn: Ruben, Trunks, and Brian. As she did so, she relived how each had died. Every time, a sharp pain would fill her chest, and each one brought her closer to the ground. Suddenly, she found herself lying on the floor in pain. Someone laughed at her. "Poor Rienna, alone again…" the voice echoed in her mind. "Helpless brat…" Two figures walked into the room, not seeming to notice her. They drew nearer, talking among themselves, though she couldn't make out what they were saying. Soon they were so close she could reach out to touch them, and they still did not notice her. Suddenly, the larger of the two pulled something long and wide out of his coat. The other gasped and stepped back, but by then it was too late; the victim landed on the floor next to Rienna, bleeding and dying. He stared into her eyes, and Rienna gasped as the figure's face became clearer: it was Aedan. "NO!" Rienna's eyes popped open. She had woken herself up from her nightmare.
"Hey, calm down," someone next to her said, sitting on the bed next to her. Rienna jumped.
"W-what? Who-"
"Chill, it's me," said the figure. Rienna narrowed her eyes.
"Aedan?" He nodded in the dark. It was a little hard to see, as the lights were not on and there weren't any windows.
"Yeah, it's me."
"But I thought-"
"You don't think I'd believe Aaron over you, do you?" he asked with a small smile.
"Well, uh…" Aedan almost laughed.
"You're such a dork," he said.
"Hey!" Rienna exclaimed. She tried to sit up so she could smack him, but winced and lay back down.
"Hey, don't try to get up yet," he told her, his smile now replaced with anxiety. "You're still recovering. Aaron beat you up pretty bad." Rienna glared at the ceiling as Aedan prepared some medicine for her.
"Don't remind me," she said softly. "…I'm going to kill him, Aedan," she said after a while. "After what he's done, he doesn't deserve to live."
"I know…" Aedan clenched his fist. "I'm going to help you." Rienna didn't answer. "My family's gone, too. I've got nothing to lose." He turned around and handed her a cup of steaming liquid. "Here, drink this. It'll help you heal faster." Rienna nodded, sat up, and took a sip. She almost spit it back out.
"Ugh! What is that!?" Aedan laughed.
"My dad's special formula. It might taste bad, but it'll make you feel better afterwards." Rienna stared at it in disgust. "C'mon, trust me, it's worth it." Rienna sighed.
"If you say so." Rienna took a deep breath and downed the horrible liquid quickly. She made a face and shuddered. "Nasty."
"At least you don't have to drink it after every bruise or scrape," Aedan said. "My dad makes me all the time." Rienna wrinkled her nose.
"You poor boy."
"Yup." He stood up.
"Wait, where're you going?"
"To gather information. I'll be back for you, I promise."
"………alright." He turned to leave. "But stay away from the auditorium!" she added quickly. Aedan smiled.
"If you say so," he said, closing the door softly. Rienna sighed.
"Be careful." Rienna lay back down. The taste of that awful medicine was still in her mouth. But Aedan said it would help… Come to think of it, she felt a whole lot better already. "Hmm…" she said to herself. "Guess he was right." She put her hands behind her head and began to think. *I wonder where everyone is… Uncle Goten and the rest are probably looking for us. I wonder if they found the auditorium yet…* She felt tears welling up in her eyes. *I hate this place,* she thought angrily. *I hate everything about it! Darn it!* She sat up and looked around. *I'm going to hunt you down forever, if it takes that long!* She hugged her knees and rocked herself back and forth to keep from crying. It didn't help, and the tears started to flow. *Crap.*
"Wow, they really did a number on this auditorium…" Goku said.
"You're telling me," said Goten. Vegeta grunted.
"I've seen worse," he said arrogantly.
"Worse?!" Jamie exclaimed.
"Yeah, we've been through a lot," Goku said. "One day I'll tell you the whole story, beginning to end."
"Cool!" Jamie cheered. "Can't wait!"
"Miss Adrienne," Darrin said softly, "why so quiet?" Adrienne shook her head.
"Just thinking…" What if Brian really was dead? She didn't know how she'd deal with that. The family had been through so much so many times… Leah was walking ahead of them silently. She too was thinking. Suddenly, she looked up and stopped, wide-eyed.
"What is it, Leah?" Jamie asked, running up to her. She didn't respond. They all followed her gaze to where Brian lay.
"Oh my gosh! Brian!" Adrienne cried, rushing over to him. The others weren't far behind. She knelt down beside him.
"Is he alright?" Vegeta asked anxiously. Adrienne shook her head.
"No!" Leah cried. She burst into tears. Darrin pulled her into a hug and tried to comfort her.
"Oh no…" Goku whispered to himself. Vegeta backed away and stared at his grandson as the thought sank in. He finally couldn't stand it anymore and turned around, hoping no one would notice him crying. Jamie stared at his feet.
"He wasn't just my cousin, he was my best friend," he said as he started to cry. Goten hugged him.
"I know, Jamie, I know." Adrienne stood up.
"Aaron's gonna pay for this," she said tears in her eyes. Vegeta wiped away his tears and turned around.
"Let's keep going," he said. "There's nothing we can do here."
"Come on, Leah, we have to go," Darrin told her, wiping a few tears away. Leah sniffed and nodded.
"Ok."
"There's no way we're gonna let him get away with this," Jamie said. "Just no way!" Goten nodded.
"Don't worry, Jamie, we won't. No way in the world."
Aedan soon returned with news straight from Aaron's mouth. "He's definitely unleashing the virus in an hour," he told Rienna, who was listening intently. "We've got to stop him before he does."
"An hour? Plenty of time," Rienna said with a smile. Aedan smiled back at her.
"You're something else, you know that?" She grinned.
"Yeah." He laughed.
"So how are you feeling?"
"Much better, actually," she said cheerfully. "Your dad sure knows his stuff."
"What'd I tell ya?" Rienna stood up.
"I'm ready to go when you are. But…"
"But what?" Rienna hesitated.
"Have you heard anything about my dad?" she asked finally. Aedan shook his head.
"No. I'm sorry." She shook her head.
"That's ok… I probably wouldn't want to know anyway." Aedan put his hand on her shoulder.
"Why don't we go check? After all, we have to stop Aaron sooner or later." Rienna nodded.
"Ready when you are."
Both of them crept out of the cell and into the hall quietly. "C'mon, this way," Aedan said, motioning for her to follow him. She nodded, and they both walked along the hall as softly as they could. He finally stopped at an automatic door with a "Notice: Personnel Only" sign on the front. He turned around. "I think they've got him in here," Aedan said, pointing with his thumb over his shoulder. Rienna nodded. "You sure you want to do this?"
"I have to know, Aedan." He nodded.
"Ok." Aedan turned back around and was about to punch in the passcode when they heard yelling inside. "Huh?"
"What?! No! How can you be moving!? You're supposed to be- wait! No, stop! Aaaaaaaaaaahh!!!" A large explosion blasted the door wide open and smoke came streaming out of it. Rienna and Aedan fell backwards as the explosion rocked the ground beneath them.
"What the heck!?" Aedan exclaimed. Someone ran through the smoke towards them, coughing, keeping their head down low and their shirt over their mouth.
"Dad!?" Rienna exclaimed. He looked up.
"Rienna!?"
"Dad!" She ran forward and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're ok! I thought you were a goner!"
"So did I!" he exclaimed. Rienna took a step backwards so she could look him in the face. There wasn't a scratch on him.
"Dad, what happened?" she asked. "You look perfectly healthy!"
"I don't know!" Trunks admitted. "One minute I felt like I was gonna puke, and the next I was completely re-energized!"
"So you escaped," Rienna said.
"Naturally," he replied with a laugh. "I think I gave that girl quite a scare."
"Girl?" Rienna asked. "What girl?"
"Ri, that doesn't matter," Aedan said. "We need to go."
"Huh?" Trunks looked past his daughter at him. "Who are you?"
"A friend," Rienna said. "Dad, meet Aedan. He's Ruben's son." Trunks crossed his arms.
"He looks like Gohan," he said with a smirk. Rienna nodded.
"Yeah, he does, but never mind that." Aedan frowned and crossed his arms. Gohan? Who was Gohan? "Listen, Dad, we have to stop Aaron. He's gonna disperse the Syndrome in less than an hour!" Trunks raised his eyebrows.
"An hour? That's plenty of time!" Rienna crossed her arms.
"That's what I said." Trunks smiled.
"Well at least we're all on the right track."
"C'mon, we need to get going," Aedan said. "I don't know how much time we have left." Trunks nodded.
"Right." Another figure appeared in the smoke, coughing and feeling her way along the wall.
"Dang… how could he have escaped?" she said to herself. "He's supposed to be dead!" She coughed again. "Blast this smoke!"
"Jaerie?" Rienna asked. The figure stopped.
"Huh? Who's there?" She walked along the wall and finally emerged from the smoke. The first person she saw was Trunks. "You!" Trunks smirked at her.
"Hello, there."
"You're supposed to be dead!" she exclaimed, pointing at him accusingly.
"Well, I'm not," Trunks said plainly. "Obviously."
"Jaerie!"
"Huh?" Jaerie looked past Trunks at the other two. "Aedan!" She glared at Rienna. "And you." Rienna crossed her arms.
"Yeah, it's me."
"Jaerie, we have to talk to you. We need your help," Aedan said.
"Help?"
"Yeah, we're trying to stop Aaron. He's going to kill off the planet!" Jaerie smirked.
"Ooh, sounds exciting."
"Then you already know?" Rienna asked.
"Of course I know, you fool! I'm 'in on it', remember?" Rienna narrowed her eyes.
"You double-crossing-"
"I'm afraid it's you that's the two timing schemer, Rienna," Jaerie told her. "I'm just going with the flow."
"Well 'the flow' is going to take you straight to your own end!" Rienna shouted, going into her fighting stance.
"Jaerie," Aedan said, "don't be like this. We don't wanna fight you." Jaerie nodded in Rienna's direction.
"Apparently she does." Aedan shook his head.
"C'mon, Jaer, come with us," he said. "Leave Aaron. He'll never share the glory anyway." Jaerie shook her head.
"You're wrong. He wouldn't neglect his own daughter, would he?" Aedan's eyes widened, and Rienna's stance relaxed.
"His d-daughter?" he stammered.
"You heard me." Trunks shook his head.
"You can't be his daughter. He only has two." Jaerie smirked.
"Two of full flesh, maybe, but all three are his own."
"You're not making sense!" Rienna said. Jaerie laughed.
"Don't you get it?"
"You're an android…" Aedan said with sudden realization. She nodded.
"That's right," she said proudly. "I always knew you were the smart one." Jaerie began to pace the hall. "I'm his daughter in the fact that the flesh I'm made of is his. However, I have no mother, so the other half of me is machine." Rienna narrowed her eyes.
"I always knew there was something odd about you. You just didn't seem… human."
"Because I'm not." Jaerie stopped pacing and stared at her rival. "I surprised no one figured it out before."
"Well, father or not, Aaron doesn't share power," Trunks told her. "Only with Adrienne."
"Ha!" Jaerie shouted. "That's what you think."
"Because I know it's true," Trunks said. "Trust me, I know this guy."
"So do I!" Jaerie shouted. "And I'm not going to listen to any more of your lies!" She went into her fighting pose. "And if you're going to stop Aaron, you'll have to go through me!"
"Jaerie, stop!" Aedan protested. "We don't have time!"
"Fight me, Kinamora!" she yelled, hatred in her eyes now. "You've taken me lightly one too many times! It ends now!"
"Dad, see if you can find another way. Aedan and I can handle this," Rienna told him, going into her fighting stance again. Aedan did the same. Trunks nodded in response.
"Alright. Be careful, Ri." She nodded. "Hey, you!' Trunks said suddenly. Aedan pointed to himself.
"Me?" he asked.
"Yeah. Aedan, right?"
"Yeah." Trunks grinned.
"Take care of your girlfriend." Aedan blushed, and Rienna shot her father a dirty look.
"Dad!" Trunks shrugged.
"Sorry, Ri, had to do it," he said. "Brian gets it all the time. Fair is fair."
"Sh- she's not my girlfriend," Aedan finally stuttered. Trunks smiled.
"I know. Not yet, anyway." Rienna's face went red.
"DAD!!"
"Hel-LO?! Very ticked-off android over here!" Jaerie shouted, crossing her arms. Both Rienna and Aedan turned around as Trunks flew off in the other direction.
"You left out 'psychotic'," Aedan said with a sneer. Jaerie shot daggers at him.
"Ooh, you'll pay for that one, jackass!"
"Yeah, whatever," Aedan said. "Let's just get this over with."
"Yeah, we're kinda in a rush," Rienna said. "Gotta save the world, ya know." Jaerie snickered.
"Doubt you'll make it that far," she said. She leered at them. "If you land a punch, I'll be surprised."
"Then you'd better prepare for the shock of your life," Rienna shot back, "'cause we're gonna kick your butt!"
"Couldn't you think of a better comeback?" Jaerie asked haughtily. "That one wasn't cheesy enough."
"Enough of this!" Aedan shouted, a little ticked off. "Are we gonna fight or not?"
"I don't know, ask your girlfriend." Aedan glared at her.
"You disgust me."
"The feeling's mutual." Rienna glared at her.
"Let's just get on with it," she said.
"By all means."
Trunks flew down the hallways, listening for any sign of Aaron or his disseminating machine. "Where are you…?" he whispered to himself.
Jaerie grinned at them, and started to snicker.
"What's so funny?" Aedan asked. She laughed and her eyes flashed green.
"You!?" Rienna exclaimed.
"That's right, moron," Jaerie told her.
"But how!?"
"You don't know?" Jaerie laughed. "Come on now, can't you simpletons figure it out?"
"But you're an android!"
"Correct. But the other part of me isn't human."
"Yeah, but-"
"Face the music, Ri!" Jaerie said, turning Super Saiyan. "I'm only a glimpse of things yet to come!"
"You're insane!" Aedan exclaimed.
"Thank you," Jaerie said, cocking her head and winking at him. "Aedan, leave her," she added with a nod in Rienna's direction. "Come with me so I don't have to kill you." Jaerie sauntered up to him and put her hand on his cheek. Rienna narrowed her eyes until they were almost closed and glared at Jaerie so hard that Vegeta would have been proud. "Don't throw your life away." Aedan jerked away.
"Wake up and smell the coffee, Jaer!" he shouted. "What makes you think I'd go with you!? I've never liked you!" Jaerie backed away in surprise, and Rienna began to grin.
*You tell her, Aedan!*
"I tried my best to get along with you, but it's hard when someone's a stuck-up, self-centered brat!" Rienna grinned even more. This was getting good. Jaerie gasped and took another step back.
"W-why you-" Aedan grinned.
"And you know what?" Jaerie stared at him, wondering what else he could say to hurt her or her pride. "Rienna's a better fighter than you any day." Rienna stared at Aedan in surprise. She felt her cheeks flush.
"I- I am?" Jaerie gasped and narrowed her eyes.
"I'll show you who's the better fighter!" she screamed. She lunged at Rienna, who went SS and blocked her attack. Jaerie began to hammer her with a barrage of punches, all of which Rienna avoided.
"Darn it, Jaerie, why do you have to be so dang sensitive!?" Rienna demanded, blocking an attempted punch in the face. Jaerie responded with another series of attacks. "What is it you're fighting for?! Do you even know!?"
"I'm protecting my father and destroying you!" she kicked out at Rienna, who blocked and slid backwards a little.
"But why?! Why are you going to kill millions of innocent people!?"
"Because those weaklings don't deserve to live on such a wonderful planet!" Rienna glared at her.
"Who are you to decide who lives and who dies?!" Jaerie laughed.
"It's simply history repeating itself. The strong survive, and the weak are conquered and perish! That's how it's been throughout the ages! Why disrupt the course of history?"
"Because these people, deserving or not, are here for a reason! Every life means something, and you're just going to end them because they can't fight back?!"
"That's the just of it, yes," Jaerie replied.
"Well it's not gonna happen today!" Rienna launched herself at the other girl with a yell and they began to fight each other once more. Aedan watched them with wonder.
*Wow* he thought, *both of you have something you're fighting for, and you're giving it your all.* He looked at his hands. *What have I done? What am I going to fight for? When the time comes to take a stand, where will I be?* He looked back up at the two girls. Suddenly, something his father had told him as a child came flooding back to him.
"Aedan, listen to me," Ruben said, putting his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know this might be a little hard for you to understand, but life is precious. Don't waste it doing useless actions, or it will come back to haunt you." Little eight-year-old Aedan nodded.
"I dunno if I get it, but ok, Dad," he said. Ruben laughed.
"Well, lemme put it this way: If you died fifteen years from now, and looked back at the stuff you did, would you say it was worth it?"
"Uh…" Aedan thought for a moment. "I dunno. I guess," he said, scratching his head. "I haven't done anything important, but I plan to." Ruben smiled.
"That's what I'm talking about. Try to make your life count." Aedan grinned.
"Oh, I get it now."
"Good. Ready for that ice cream I promised?"
"Yeah!"
*"Would you say it was worth it…*" Aedan looked back at his hands and shook his head. So far, so much of his life had been wasted doing Aaron's dirty work. He looked back up at the girls a second time. "Time to make up for that." Suddenly, Aedan felt some sort of energy surging inside him. "What the…?" Jaerie finally found an open spot and kicked Rienna across the floor, sending her sliding to a halt near Aedan's feet. "Ri, you ok?" Rienna groaned and sat up.
"Yeah, I'm ok." Aedan glared at Jaerie, who was gloating over her last hit.
"Ha! Who's the better fighter now?" He clenched his fists, and the energy inside him seemed to triple.
"Enough!" he shouted. Jaerie stopped laughing at looked at him curiously. Rienna did the same; she had never seen him so fired up. "You want a fight, you've got one! You're dealing with me now!" His power level sky-rocketed, and both girls watched in shock as Aedan, for the first time, went… Super Saiyan. He looked down at himself, half in disbelief, half with pride. *So that's what that was…*
"Y-you can go Super Saiyan too?" Jaerie stammered. Rienna smiled.
"Aedan, you did it!"
"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" he replied with a grin. Jaerie shook her head.
"It doesn't matter, you'll still lose! Everyone falls at the feet of Aaron!"
"We'll see about that," Aedan said. "Are you finished, or is the rest of your speech going to put me to sleep?" Jaerie narrowed her eyes.
"The only speech you'll hear today is your own funeral!"
"Oh my, I'm really scared now," Aedan said, rolling his eyes. Jaerie glared harder at him.
"Mock me while you can, Kinamora, 'cause you won't be talking much longer!" Again, Jaerie charged her opponent. Aedan calmly waited for her to draw closer, then disappeared, reappeared, and punched her back into the wall. Jaerie peeled herself off of it and gaped at him.
"Don't look so surprised," he said. "That was rather predictable."
"Shut up and fight me face to face!" she shouted.
"You're just mad 'cause I threw you into the wall," Aedan said with a smirk. Rienna had to snicker. Jaerie glared at her.
"Shut up, both of you!" she shouted, firing a huge blast that filled the entire hallway. When it disappeared, Rienna and Aedan were no where to be found. She narrowed her eyes.
"I know you're not dead!" she shouted at the ceiling.
"You're right," Rienna said from beside her.
"We're not," Aedan finished. Jaerie jumped up to escape both of their attacks and the two Ki blasts cancelled each other out.
"Careful, or you might blast each other," Jaerie warned them.
"No, I don't think we'd ever stoop to your level of stupidity," Rienna said, crossing her arms. Aedan grinned.
"So are you going to come down and fight, or can we leave now?" he asked her. She narrowed her eyes in response.
"Next time you won't be so lucky!" she declared before disappearing.
"Hey!" Rienna shouted. Aedan sighed and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Whew," he said, going back to normal. "I hate to admit it, but that was quite a workout." Rienna frowned and also went into her normal form. "Hey, Ri, what's wrong?"
"She's gone…"
"Come on, Ri, we beat her!" Aedan exclaimed. "Lighten up!"
"Aedan," she said, "what if she went to warn Aaron?" Aedan's smile faded.
"Uh oh." Rienna nodded.
"Big uh oh."
Jaerie flew through the hallways at her top speed, furious with herself. How could she have been defeated so easily? Aaron definitely wasn't going to be happy when he found out. Jaerie narrowed her eyes. Those two idiots had ruined her reputation!
*I'll get you two next time,* she vowed. *Because next time I'll have my secret weapon.* She laughed to herself. "Prepare to be exterminated!" She flew off down the hall with renewed confidence to fetch her "secret weapon," laughing the whole way.
Adrienne and the rest of the group were still searching for any sign of Trunks or Rienna. The small group of jail-breakers walked down the hall in silence, deep in thought. Where could they be? Had they been captured- or worse, killed? Or maybe they were fighting Aaron right now. Speaking of Aaron, what was he up to? He'd mentioned something about protecting Adrienne, and keeping her "safe." What did he mean? Was he referring to that virus he had mentioned? Whatever he meant, it couldn't be good, and the group was determined to stop him at all costs. Hopefully it wouldn't come down to that…
Vegeta crossed his arms. He was getting tired of all these mysteries. And what was the point of solving a mystery when you don't have all the clues? He sighed and tried to think of something else.
"Dad, what's wrong?" Adrienne asked, slowing her pace to match his. He looked up at her questioningly.
"Hm? Oh, nothing," he answered, shaking his head. She stared at him.
"I don't believe you," she said plainly. Vegeta looked ahead of him and didn't answer. Adrienne rolled her eyes. "Why are you so stubborn!?"
"You're one to talk," he replied. Adrienne crossed her arms.
"Fine, have it your way." She quickened her pace again and walked next to Goten. Vegeta shook his head. He felt a little guilty, but how could he tell her he was… scared? Was that it? Was he scared of what he might find when they finally located his son? Vegeta shook his head again. No, he decided. He was the Saiyan Prince, Vegeta: and Vegeta doesn't get scared.
"C'mon, Rienna, we have to hurry!" Aedan called. She glared at him.
"You think I don't know that?!" she snapped. "It's not my fault you fly faster than me!" Aedan laughed. "What's so funny?!"
"You," he said, slowing down a little to match her speed. "I'll carry you if you want."
"No," she said sternly. "You're not carrying me anywhere!"
"Fine, but if the world is destroyed because you can't fly fast enough…" Rienna yelled in frustration.
"You're so aggravating, you know that!?" Aedan grinned.
"Yeah, people tell me that all the time." Rienna laughed.
"You idiot."
"What?" She laughed again.
"You're such a dork!"
"I am not!"
"Yes you are!"
"Yeah, well if I'm such a dork, and I can fly faster than you, what are you saying about yourself?" Rienna thought for a minute.
"That I'm an educated slow person?" It was Aedan's turn to laugh.
"Slow, I agree with, but educated… hm, I dunno." Rienna hit him in the head. "Ow! Hey!"
"Sorry, hand slipped," she said with a smirk. "Hard to keep under control at this speed, ya know."
"Well, in that case," Aedan said, increasing his speed again, "I'll stay up here." Rienna shook her head. "Ya know, I'll still carry you if you want." Rienna's eyes almost bugged out.
"AEDAN!"
"Alright, alright!" he said with a laugh. "Just letting you know the offer still stands."
"Well, so does the refusal," she said. Aedan shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
"I will, thanks," Rienna said softly.
"Wha?"
"Nothing! Just shut up and fly!" Aedan shrugged again, and was silent for a while.
"You know, in all the time I've known you, I don't think I've ever seen you this anxious."
"Well, yeah, fate of the world resting on your shoulders kinda makes you uneasy," she answered.
"Guess it does." He looked back at her. "You ok?"
"Yeah," she said quietly. Aedan stared at her with concern.
"You sure?"
"I said yeah, ok? I'm fine!" He looked at her in surprise. Something was definitely wrong. Rienna never acted this way. She noticed him looking at her and sighed. "Hey, I'm sorry, Aedan. I'm a little worried about my family, that's all. I didn't mean to take it out on you." He smiled.
"Hey, it's no big deal. I'd be worried, too." She smiled back at him. It was good to have a friend that was so understanding.
"You know," she said with a smirk, "I might take you up on the offer soon, I'm getting tired." Aedan laughed.
"No, you refused me one too many times," he said, shaking his head. "You'll have to fly all the way there yourself."
"Jerk," she said in mock anger.
"Hey, enough with the name calling!" They both laughed. "How would you like it if every fifth word that came out of my mouth was an insult?"
"I'd find it hilarious," Rienna said with a smile. "I didn't know you were capable of insults."
"Wha!?" Aedan sweat dropped. "Hey!" Rienna laughed.
"You are so pathetic."
"Am not!" Suddenly, Rienna was thrown forward as a silver blur rammed her from behind. She and the blur flew headfirst into the wall, creating a cloud of dust. "What the-!?" The dust finally cleared and Rienna was lying on the floor. "Ri!" Aedan flew over to her and knelt beside her. "Ri, are you ok?" Rienna didn't respond- she was out cold. "C'mon, Ri, snap out of it!" Aedan sat back on his feet and put his hand to his head. "Oh man…" he muttered. "Her dad is going to be kill me…" Laughter came out of nowhere.
"Ah ha ha ha ha! What a wimp! Out already!!" Aedan glared at the ceiling.
"Come out where I can see you, Jaerie!" Jaerie laughed in response.
"No, I don't think I will. Sneak attacks are much more fun." Aedan narrowed his eyes and stood up.
"Afraid then?"
"Ha! Afraid?! Not at all!" she answered, a hit of annoyance in her voice. "If anyone's scared, it's you, Aedan. At least," she said, appearing behind him, "you should be." Aedan whirled around and his eyes widened. There stood Jaerie, except it almost… wasn't. She was completely covered in metal!
"What the he-"
"It's the new and improved me!" she declared proudly. "I think the color's a bit drab, but then again, I'll look good kicking your butt anyway."
"W-what happened!?" Aedan demanded, still getting over the initial shock.
"Aaron simply enhanced my already immense power," she said plainly. "Now I'm even stronger than before!" Aedan took a step backwards. Stronger? "What's the matter, Aedan?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips in satisfaction. "Scared that I might beat you? Or are you scared of what I might do to your girlfriend after I beat you?" He narrowed his eyes.
"Don't jump to conclusions," he said, shaking a finger at her.
"Then you're not scared?" Aedan rolled his eyes.
"Moron," he muttered. Jaerie clenched her fists and glared at him.
"I heard that!" she shouted.
"Then why don't you do something about it?" he asked her, going into his fighting stance.
"I'm getting to it," she said, scoffing at him. She looked down at Rienna, who was still lying on the floor unconscious. "Hm…" Jaerie disappeared and reappeared next to her. Aedan's eyes widened as a sudden pang of fear swept over him.
"Hey, what do you think-"
"Chill, Aedan, I'm not going to hurt her. …Yet," she added with a sneer. "Out like a light, isn't she?" Aedan didn't respond. "She should wake up in about 15 minutes. I only tapped her, after all." Jaerie walked around to her other side and knelt down next to her. "Nasty cut her on her cheek, though. That'll probably leave a scar." Jaerie sighed. "What a shame."
"What are you getting at?" Aedan asked impatiently. Jaerie stood up and stared at him.
"Just giving you a simple assessment of what I can do even at this low level."
"Hmph. I'm not scared of you," Aedan said. "Now let's get this over with," he added, going into his fighting stance. Jaerie went into her pose as well.
"You don't know who you're dealing with," she said with a smirk. "I'm gonna walk all over you!" Aedan laughed.
"We'll see about that."
"Just remember, Aedan," Jaerie added haughtily, "after you're beaten it'll be too late to ask for forgiveness."
Aedan went SS and jumped out of the way as Jaerie tried to slam him in the face. She missed and created a crater in the wall where he'd been standing and bounced off of it, determined to destroy him. "Crap! Get back here!" she shouted at him. He laughed.
"You think I'll just stand there and let you attack me? You're more stupid than I thought!"
"I'll show you!" she exclaimed, pointing at him accusingly. She jumped forward with a war cry and beat him with a blast of attacks. He blocked them all and countered with one of his own, sending her flying. Pain shot through his fist and he looked down at his hand. His knuckles were beet-red. Jaerie recovered from the blow and smirked at him.
"Don't look so surprised. I'm metallic, after all." Aedan tried to ignore his throbbing hand and attacked her again. He missed when she disappeared and reappeared behind him. He kicked out at her, she dodged, and Jaerie grabbed his foot and threw him into the floor.
"Darn… that one hurt…" he muttered to himself, pushing himself up off the ground and back into fighting stance.
"Ready for more?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips and sneering at him. "Ok then, show me what you're made of! I hope it's better than last time. I could use a challenge for once!"
"You have to remember, though," Aedan retorted, "who beat you last time." Jaerie's smirk faded into a glare and she clenched her fists.
"Shut your big mouth and fight!" she yelled, lunging at him again. "I want to get this over with!"
"Same here," he said, again blocking her attack.
"Then give up!" she yelled, attacking him some more. "I promise to make it as painless as possible!"
"Forget it, you freak!" he shouted back, blasting her with a large beam. The beam faded away, and Jaerie stood there, unfazed.
"Ouch, that one hurt a little," she said with a leer. "Care to try it again? You might bruise me next time."
*Darn it… She's right. How am I supposed to beat her?* Aedan thought. *There has to be a way… everyone has a weakness… I just have to find it!*
"Are you wondering how to beat me?" Jaerie asked him. She was feeling quite confident now that she had the upper hand. "Just to let you know," she said, cocking her head, "I don't have a weakness."
*Crap! Now what!?* Aedan narrowed his eyes. *There just has to be some way to beat her!!*
"There is no way to beat me, Aedan. Join me or die!" she declared. "Either way," she added with a demonic smile of satisfaction, "I win."
"Shut your mouth, dang it!" he shouted at her. "Just shut up! You and Aaron are going to pay for everything you've done!" Jaerie laughed.
"Of course we will, you fool!" she declared. "But not like you think!" She disappeared and reappeared behind him. "We're going to rule this wretched planet!" She laughed again. Aedan gritted his teeth and prepared for another attack.
*Crap…*
"Quick, this way!" Jamie yelled, running off down the hall. "It's coming from down here!" The rest of the family followed him as quickly as they could.
"I thought I heard an explosion!" Leah exclaimed.
"There's a fight going on all right," Goku said to Vegeta. He nodded in response.
"Maybe it's Trunks!" Adrienne added hopefully.
"Or Rienna," Darrin said.
"I hope so," said Goten. They all heard laughter as they ran around the corner. Jamie cried out as something large flew passed him and skidded across the hallway.
"What was that?!" Adrienne exclaimed. Whatever it had been groaned and tried to sit up.
"Hey, it's a person!" Goku shouted in surprise. The group rushed over to him- Darrin reached him first.
"Ugh… not again… this is so not working…" the person muttered.
"Are you ok?" Darrin asked him. The fighter was pretty beat up- his lip and left shoulder were bleeding freely, and the rest of his body was decorated with bruises and smaller cuts.
"Yeah," he muttered. "I guess so." He tried to stand up, but his leg collapsed under him.
"Hey, don't try to get up, you're hurt!" Leah told him. Aedan muttered something and relaxed on the ground reluctantly.
"You look familiar," Goku said, cocking his head.
"Dad," Goten said with a sigh, "he looks like Gohan."
"Oh, yeah!" Goku said cheerfully.
"Gohan…?" Aedan recognized the name.
"Yeah, he's my son," Goku replied. "By the way, what's your name?"
"Aedan…" he answered softly.
"Aedan, huh?" Vegeta asked, crossing his arms.
"Yeah…" Aedan looked up at him. "Please, help Rienna…"
"Rienna?" Adrienne asked. "You know her? Where is she?"
"Over there," he said, pointing down the hall. "But look out for Jaerie."
"Who's Jaerie?" Jamie asked. Before Aedan could answer, a metallic being walked calmly down the hallway towards them.
"Metal Cooler?!" Goku and Vegeta exclaimed together.
"No," she answered with a sneer, "but close."
"Metal Cooler's daughter!!" they exclaimed again. Jaerie's eye twitched, and her face fell.
"No," she said again. "Metal Jaerie."
"So you're Jaerie," Goten said.
"Yeah, that's me," she said proudly. "You've heard of me?"
"Only just now," Vegeta answered with a sneer. Jaerie frowned. "What is it you want?"
"To rule the world," she said plainly. "But right now I just want to destroy him." She pointed at Aedan, who was nursing a few minor cuts on his arm. He glared up at her.
"Sorry, the boy's with us now," Vegeta told her.
"Hmph. And what's to keep me from destroying you all right now?" she asked.
"Well, for one thing, we're not your average Saiyans," Goku said proudly.
"Apparently you don't know who we are," Adrienne said. Jaerie shrugged.
"Who cares?"
"You will, once you find out," Goten said.
"But by then it might be too late," Darrin said with a sneer. Vegeta stepped forward.
"I'm Vegeta," he said with a smirk. "Maybe Aaron's told you about me?" Jaerie gasped.
"Y-you're Vegeta?!" Vegeta nodded and smirked even more.
"That's right," he said. "Care now?" Jaerie took a step backwards and shook her head.
"I- it doesn't matter!" she said, clenching her fists. "I'll take you on right here, right now!"
"That wouldn't be too wise," Vegeta said, crossing his arms.
"I don't care!"
"She never was too bright," Aedan muttered under his breath.
"I heard that, Kinamora!" Jaerie shouted at him angrily.
"So what?!" Aedan shouted back at her. He stood up and leaned against the wall. "You gonna do something about it?"
"Kinamora…" Adrienne muttered under her breath. "Isn't that the name of the scientist that disappeared several years ago?"
"Yeah," Aedan said. He hung his head. "…He's… my dad."
"You mean he was!" Jaerie laughed. "Stupid old fool!"
"Shut up, Jaerie!" Aedan shouted at her. "My dad was three times better than you'll ever be!" Jaerie just laughed and stuck her tongue out at him.
"You're his son?" Adrienne asked.
"Yeah… Look, it's a long story."
"Sure is," Jaerie said. She yawned. "Long and boring." Aedan growled at her.
"And we don't have any time," Vegeta said impatiently. "So get out of our way or we'll have to kill you."
"Uh huh," Jaerie muttered. "Well, you'd better kill me then, 'cause I'm not letting you through otherwise!"
"Goten, we don't have time," Adrienne told him. "We have to help Rienna and find Aaron."
"I know," Goten said. "I know…"
"Why don't you let us have a shot?" Leah asked. "I've been waiting for a decent fight since we got here!"
"Me too!" Darrin said.
"Yeah," Jamie agreed.
"I dunno…" Goten said.
"Darn it, Brat, let them go!" Vegeta snapped. "We don't have time for this! They can take care of themselves!" Goten glared at Vegeta. What right did he have to tell him how to raise his kids!?
"Dad's right, Goten," Adrienne said. "The kids can handle this on their own." Jamie grinned.
"Thank you, Mom!" Adrienne smiled at him.
"Come back in one piece, guys," Goku said with a wink.
"No problem, Goku," Darrin said, giving him a grin. The adults all prepared to take off. Just before leaving, Vegeta turned around and yelled at him.
"And don't you *dare* let Leah out of your sight!" Darrin's cheeks turned slightly pink. Leah laughed and deliberately ran off around the corner.
"H-hey!" Darrin shouted. "Where are you going!?"
"Yeah!?" Jaerie demanded. "I want a fight!" Leah walked back around the corner and stared intently at Jaerie.
"Oh, you'll get one alright," she said. She smirked. "You don't know who you're dealing with."
"Oh, really? Then tell me, Princess Prissy." Leah growled and clenched her fists. "Or will your boyfriend have to tell me?" Jaerie said, gesturing towards Darrin.
"That's it!" Leah yelled.
"No, Leah!" Darrin held her back and Jaerie looked over at Jamie.
"You know," she said, looking back and forth between Jamie and Darrin, "you're both kinda cute. Especially with the tails." Jamie blushed and his tail ducked behind his back. Darrin did the same.
"Yeah, well, uh…" he stuttered. Leah growled again.
"Yeah, you used to think I was cute, too," Aedan said. "'Til I kicked your butt."
"You say you kicked my butt, but looks who's been beaten to a pulp," Jaerie shot back.
"I'm still alive, aren't I?"
"Not for long." Jaerie gestured to Jamie, Leah, and Darrin. "Once I kill off these pests, it's the Otherworld for you!" Aedan scoffed.
"Well *someone* seems a bit over-confident," Darrin said. Jaerie shrugged.
"The cute ones are always the weakest." Aedan was about to open his mouth to say something smart, but Jaerie shot him a dirty look. "Excepting me, of course." She disappeared and reappeared behind Darrin. "Too bad I have to kill you," she said, tugging his tail gently. Darrin sweat-dropped and blushed.
"H-hey!" Leah growled again.
"Hands off, witch!" she shouted. Jaerie disappeared and reappeared next to Jamie. Jamie also sweat-dropped and took a step away from her. She approached him slowly.
"You know, if you surrender and ask for forgiveness I might just spare your life," she told him in a sweet, seductive tone.
"N- no way!" Jamie said, shaking his head. Jaerie sighed.
"Fine…" She disappeared and reappeared in her original position. "Too bad, though…" she said, looking both boys over again. "Our kids would have been so cute…" Leah growled and went Super Saiyan.
"Ok, *that's* it, you flirty old hag!" she shouted angrily.
"*W-w-what* did you say!?" Jaerie demanded, her eyes flashing with rage.
"You heard me! Now come fight me face to face before I *really* get mad and just blow you to pieces!"
"Gosh…" Aedan said. "She's really mad." Jamie nodded.
"No kidding."
"Her power-level is enormous!" Aedan exclaimed. He glanced over at Darrin. "Lucky guy. Too bad I hadn't met her sooner."
"Hey!" Darrin yelled. Aedan smiled.
"Just kidding," he said with a wink. Darrin blushed slightly and didn't answer. Aedan's smile faded.
"I need to check on Rienna…" he said softly. "Can one of you fly me over?"
"I will," Jamie said, nodding. "You and Leah can handle her for now, right, Darrin?" Darrin grinned.
"Are you kidding? C'mon, Jamie, think about who you're talking to." Jamie smiled.
"Thought so. C'mon," he said to Aedan. "We can just transmit."
"Transmit?" Aedan asked. Jamie nodded and held out his hand.
"Here, take my hand."
"Ok…" Immediately, both boys disappeared and reappeared next to Rienna. "Ok, that was weird!" Jamie laughed.
"The first time it is, but you get used to it." He knelt down next to Rienna. "What happened?"
"Jaerie knocked her out while we weren't looking," Aedan said. He too knelt next to Rienna. "C'mon, Ri, wake up…"
"So how do you know Ri?" Jamie asked. Aedan didn't look up.
"We grew up together," he answered, flipping Rienna over and lifting her head. "She's my best friend."
"Just a friend?" Aedan didn't answer.
"So how do *you* know her?" he asked instead.
"She's my cousin," Jamie answered.
"…Oh." He was silent for a minute. "Hey, Jamie, right?"
"Yeah."
"Tell me something, Jamie… …Who's Gohan?" Jamie frowned.
"Gohan?" He eyed Aedan suspiciously. "Why?"
"Well, everyone says I look like him…" Jamie laughed.
"Gohan's my uncle," he said. "Funny guy. Kinda weird, though, you do look a lot like him."
"Yeah, odd…" Jamie shrugged.
"Oh well," he said. "It's not important." He looked down at his cousin. "How is she?"
"She's ok," Aedan said, "just unconscious. She'll be fine. Have one heck of a headache when she wakes up, though." Jamie smiled.
"Headaches we can deal with. I dunno what we'd do if…" He didn't finish his sentence and looked away. "So much has happened…"
"Yeah. I couldn't bear it if something happened to Ri." A few tears filled Aedan's eyes. Jamie looked over at him.
"Hey, don't start crying on me!" Jamie told him. "You said yourself she'd be ok."
"Yeah," Aedan said with a smile. He blinked back the tears and grinned. "She's going to be so mad when she wakes up."
"Sure will be," Jamie said with a laugh. "Ri's never been one to just sit back and watch."
"That's for sure." Rienna's eyes twitched and she moaned almost inaudibly. "Hey, I think she's waking up!" Aedan exclaimed excitedly. "Ri! Rienna!" Rienna moaned again.
"Oh… my head…" she muttered.
"Ri!" Jamie shouted happily. "Hey, wake up! It's me!" Rienna opened her eyes and looked around drowsily. She blinked a few times in the bright light.
"Huh…? J… Jamie?" The two blurry figures above her finally came into focus. "Jamie!" Her cousin smiled down at her.
"Welcome back, sleepy-head. Have a nice nap?" Rienna sat up and looked around.
"What… happened?"
"Jaerie knocked you out," Aedan said. "You've been asleep for a while now." Rienna growled.
"Jaerie… She's gonna get it this time!" She suddenly realized that Aedan's face was fairly beat up. "Huh? Aedan, you're bleeding!"
"What?" He felt his lip, and looked at his finger where he had touched it. He laughed. "Guess I am."
"But it's all over!" she protested. "What happened to you!? Look, your shoulder's bleeding, too!" She gently wiped away some of the blood on her shirtsleeve.
"H-hey, Rienna!" he protested. He tried to pull away. "I'm ok, really!"
"Oh, no, you're not!" she exclaimed. "Quit being an idiot!" Jamie laughed.
"What's so funny?" the other two asked together. They looked at each other and laughed. Jamie shook his head.
"And yet you wonder why I laugh at you…"
"Hey, Jamie," Rienna asked suddenly, "where's Leah?" Jamie nodded back down the hallway.
"She and Darrin are fighting that Jaerie girl. She really got fired up," he told her.
"Really? How- oh, wait, lemme guess," Rienna said, stopping herself. "I bet she was hitting on you and Darrin, wasn't she?" Jamie blushed.
"Uh…"
"Don't worry about it, Jamie," she said. "Jaerie is a very… unstable individual." Aedan laughed.
"Well that's one I haven't heard before," he said. Jamie smiled and looked back to where the fight had begun.
"I know they can probably handle her, but I can't help but worry…" he said softly.
"Then let's go," Rienna said, standing up. The other two stood up as well. "I'll take her on any day!"
"Ri, you really shouldn't-" Rienna's eyes flashed with anger and she glared at Aedan.
"Don't tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing, Aedan," she said sternly.
"But Ri-"
"Just stay out of my way!" she told him, pushing past Aedan and Jamie and walking off determinedly. Aedan narrowed his eyes, and he jogged to catch up with her. He quickly got ahead of her and planted his feet firmly in the ground before grabbing her arm and stopping her.
"Aedan! Let go!" He shook his head and stared into her eyes with the same determination.
"I'm not letting go." Rienna tried to pull away from him.
"Just let me go and-"
"Stop it, Rienna!" She stopped struggling and looked at him curiously. He never called her by her full name unless he had something important to say. "You're in no condition to fight her! And even if you were, you need to calm down and go into this with a clear head!" He let go of her arm, and she took a few steps backwards. "Let Jamie and the others handle it. This is just as much their fight as it is ours." He crossed his arms. "Either way, I'm not letting you through." She stared back at him.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked. His expression softened and he looked at her with tenderness in his eyes.
"Because I don't… want you getting hurt." Rienna took another step backwards in surprise.
"You don't want me to get hurt…?" Aedan didn't respond. "What…" She shook her head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean…" Aedan hesitated. "I mean… exactly what I said," he said finally. "I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to get beaten up. I don't want you lose. And I don't want you to fight her."
"Aedan…" He took a few steps closer and put his hand on her shoulder.
"I don't want anything to happen to you, Ri," he said softly. "I don't want to lose you." He stared into her eyes. "You're all I've got." Rienna looked down at the floor.
"That's…" she said, not lifting her head. Her voice started to crack as she continued. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me…" Rienna's shoulders began to shudder as she began to cry. Aedan sweat-dropped.
"H-hey, it's ok," he told her. *Great, now I've made her cry…* Rienna shook her head and looked up at him with a teary smile. She laughed and hugged him. Aedan's face went red. "Um, h-hey… uh…"
"Thank you," she said softly. "Thanks for everything."
"Uh… no problem." Rienna stood back and wiped a few tears from her cheeks.
"Ok, I'll stay," she said. "I won't fight." Aedan smiled.
"Good."
"Someone should go look for my dad, anyway," she added. Aedan nodded.
"Good idea," Jamie said.
"You going to be alright by yourself?"
"Of course," she said with a wink. "I'm not the six-year-old expert at getting lost in the Dollar Store anymore." Aedan laughed.
"Guess not."
"Wait, you used to get lost in the Dollar Store?" Jamie asked in disbelief. Rienna blushed.
"Uh… " she cleared her throat. "Now is not the time to be discussing childhood memories!" she declared. Aedan started snickering.
"Yeah. Too bad," he said with a grin.
"Well at least I didn't drink the hummingbird nectar thinking it was Kool-Aid and then run around the house on a sugar-rush."
"An honest mistake!" Aedan protested.
"Hey, I thought you said we didn't have time for this?" Jamie asked, a sly tone to his voice. Both of them stopped, blushed, and sweat-dropped.
"Oh…"
"Uh, right…" Aedan turned to Rienna. "Since telling you to stay out of trouble wouldn't do me much good: Try not to get into too much trouble." She grinned.
"You know me too well for your own good," she said.
"Yeah," he agreed. "Look at what it's gotten me so far." Aedan pointed to his various cuts and bruises.
"See, what'd I tell you?" she asked with a smile.
"Aren't you gonna go look for you dad?" Jamie asked. "I don't mean to be pushy, but if you're gonna go, you'd better go now." Rienna looked a bit uneasy. She bit her bottom lip.
"Guess you're right," she said.
"What's the matter?"
"Now that it comes down to it, I don't know if I should."
"Would you get out of here?!" Aedan exclaimed. He turned her around and pushed her down the hall.
"Hey, Aedan, what are you doing? Stop pushing! Hey!!"
"Then get outta here," he told her.
"Alright, alright, sheesh. And here I was thinking we had broken through you're stubborn side."
"Nope. Now leave."
"Fine! But don't think I won't come back if I feel the need to!"
"So leave already," Aedan said, crossing his rms. Rienna put her hands on her hips.
"Fine!" she said. "Moron." She disappeared. Aedan sweat-dropped.
"Hey!" Aedan sighed. "Oh well…"
"Oh yeah," Jamie said. "She definitely likes you." Aedan sweat-dropped again.
"Wha?!" Jamie shook his head.
"It's so obvious." Aedan blushed.
"I- is not!"
"Trust me on this one. She likes you." Aedan cleared his throat and regained his composure.
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked. Jamie shrugged.
"I dunno. Thought you might like to know." Jamie turned around and started off down the hall towards the fight. "Just don't get yourself killed. I dunno if she can take much more." Aedan nodded.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on it."
Darrin glared at Jaerie, who was laughing over the unconscious Jamie. Aedan was already knocked out in another area of the hall "Ha! Now I can have some fun with him!" she exclaimed happily. "Who's next?" She turned to Leah. "How about you, Princess?" Leah clenched her fists.
"Stop calling me that!" Jaerie laughed.
"What's the matter?" she asked, using a little child's voice. "Don't like da fact dat I beat up your baby bwother?"
"Shut up, you old hag!" Leah shot back.
"Again with the name calling," Jaerie said, sighing. "Two words: anger management."
"You're one to be talking, witch!" Leah told her.
"You stupid wench- AH!" Darrin sent her flying into the wall from behind. Jaerie picked herself up and glared at him. "Hey! What did you do that for!?"
"You are annoying me," Darrin said simply. "I'm ready to get this over with."
"Ooh, short and to the point," Jaerie said "I like that in a guy." Darrin narrowed his eyes, and Leah's eyes flashed with rage.
"Stop flirting and start fighting!" Darrin commanded. Jaerie shrugged.
"Ok then." She disappeared and reappeared next to him. "Shame I have to mess up your pretty face." Leah's fists began to shake as her anger continued to build.
"You know, you're starting to tick me off!" Darrin shouted, punching at Jaerie. She blocked it.
"And strong, too," she added with a smirk. He punched at her a few more times, then kicked her, and she blocked. He smirked.
"Gotcha," he said.
"What?" Jaerie felt something wrap around her waist and throw her backwards. Darrin's tail curled back into its normal position and he smiled with satisfaction.
"Way to go, Darrin!" Leah cheered.
"What… was that…?" Jaerie asked in a daze. She shook her head to rid herself of her confusion.
"You blocked my arms and my legs," Darrin said, "but you forgot my tail." His tail waved at her mockingly. Jaerie narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, yeah, your tail…" She climbed out of her crater in the wall and stared at it. "Isn't that… a Saiyan's weak spot?" Darrin's eyes widened slightly.
"What?" Jaerie disappeared and reappeared behind Darrin.
"Look out!" Leah cried. Too late; Jaerie had already grabbed his tail and pulled- hard. Darrin yelped in pain as she swung him around and threw him into the ground. "Darrin!" Darrin winced and tried to get up, but Jaerie was on top of him with a tight grip on his tail. Leah was about to run forward to his rescue, when:
"Move and I yank," she told them. Leah narrowed her eyes.
"What a cheap trick!"
"Not really," Jaerie replied. "It's not my fault he brought it up. In fact, I never would have thought of it." She bent over so she was close to his face. "I owe my victory all to you, *sweetie*." Darrin narrowed his eyes. He was going to have to do it. Darrin braced himself for the pain, flipped over, and jumped to his feet. Jaerie fell over with his tail still in her hand and pulled in shock before letting go. Darrin collapsed in agony as pain shot through his tail to his spine, but he tried to stand up anyway. Leah rushed over to him.
"Darrin, are you ok?!"
"Yeah," he said, putting a hand on his back. "Just be sore in the morning. Small price to pay for saving the world." Jaerie stood back up and glared at him.
"What a dirty trick!" she exclaimed. "You weren't supposed to do that!"
"What, escape? That was easy," Darrin told her. "Now for the hard part."
"Well, harder, anyway," Leah added.
"Ah!!" Jaerie flew into another wall. Jamie and Aedan had woken up, and the four of them were giving her quite a beating.
"Gonna call me princess now?" Leah asked her, a smirk on her face.
"Give it up, Jaer," Aedan told her.
"I think we've got you beaten," Jamie said. Aedan nodded. Jaerie winced and struggled to stand.
"Not… yet, you haven't!" Jaerie shouted suddenly, her eyes glowing red.
"Where'd all that power come from?!" Darrin exclaimed. Jaerie laughed as swirls of bright energy twisted around her glowing body.
"If I'm going down, you're coming down with me!" she declared.
"What?!" Leah cried.
"She's gonna self-destruct!" Darrin shouted.
"Get down!" Aedan yelled. Jaerie laughed again as the energy surged past the breaking point and light engulfed them all.
"Trunks!" Trunks stopped in his tracks and turned around.
"Adrienne?" Odd, there was no one behind him… Suddenly, she and the rest ran around the corner. His face lit up and he grinned ear to ear. "Adrienne!"
"Trunks!" She ran to him and hugged him.
"It's so good to see you!" he exclaimed. "Are you ok?" Adrienne nodded.
"I'm alright," she said.
"Good." Trunks looked past Adrienne and saw Goten. He smiled. "Hey!" Goten grinned back.
"Hiya, Trunks!"
"Hi, Trunks!" Goku said cheerfully.
"Wow, Goku too!" Trunks exclaimed. "Are you feeling ok?"
"As always!" Goku replied. Trunks spotted his father. He was frowning and had his arms crossed.
"Dad, you don't look so good…"
"Hi to you, too, *son*," Vegeta said sarcastically. Trunks looked quizzically at Adrienne, who shrugged. Trunks shook his head.
"Where's Leah?" he asked, realizing she wasn't there. "And Jamie?"
"They're… fighting?" Goku said uncertainly.
"They insisted on staying with Ri," Goten explained.
"With Ri?" Trunks crossed his arms. "But she was fighting that prissy red-head…"
"Yeah… They still are," Goku said. "And Darrin, too."
"Horrible idea, leaving them with that boy," Vegeta muttered.
"But Dad," Adrienne protested, "it was your idea!"
"And I wish I'd never thought it!" he declared.
"Wait, what boy?" Trunks asked.
"That Aedan kid," Goten said. "He was awfully worried about Rienna."
"Wait, wait, wait!" Trunks exclaimed. "What happened to Ri!?"
"She… was unconscious when we left," Adrienne said softly.
"What do you mean, unconscious!? You left her like that?!" Trunks started to freak out. "My gosh… how could I have been so stupid!?"
"You get it from Vegeta," Goku said with a grin.
"Shut up, Kakarott!" Vegeta yelled warningly.
"I'm going back!" Trunks declared suddenly.
"What?!" they all exclaimed.
"But we have to find Aaron!" Goku exclaimed. "Trunks, I understand how you feel, and I don't like it either, but she'll be ok!" Trunks started to protest, but stopped when a figure zoomed across the hallway at the intersection past Goku.
"But- Huh?"
"What is it, Trunks?" Adrienne asked.
"Dad!?" The figure flew back to the hallway they were on and stared down the hall. Trunks sweat-dropped.
"Ri!?"
"Wow!" Rienna exclaimed, flying up to them and landing next to Vegeta. "I can't believe I found you this quickly!"
"What are you doing here? Are you alright?"
"Sure, Dad, I'm fine! Why wouldn't I be?" Trunks sighed.
"Never mind."
"Where are Leah and Jamie?" Adrienne asked.
"Fighting that witch," Rienna said, glaring back down the hallway as she said 'witch.' "But it's ok, they have it under-" Rienna stopped short as a large explosion rocked the building. "-control!?"
"W-w-w-what i-is t-that?!" Trunks stuttered over the noise.
"I d-d-d-dunno!" Adrienne exclaimed. The rocking stopped, and Ri fell over only to be caught by her grandfather.
"Thanks." Vegeta smiled a little and helped her up.
"What do you think that was?" Goten asked. Goku shook his head.
"Whatever it was, it couldn't have been good."
"Ri, do you know where that came from?" Trunks asked. She nodded.
"…It came from where I left the others…"
"Rienna, take us there *now*," Vegeta told her. Rienna nodded.
"Follow me."
When they arrived on the scene, Trunks and the others gaped at what they saw. The hallway was collapsed at the far end, and rubble littered what little walking space was left. Rienna rushed ahead of them towards the big pile of debris. "Aedan?!" she shouted, her hands cupped over her mouth. "Jamie! Leah! Darrin!?"
"Jamie!" Adrienne called. Goten and the others joined them.
"Leah!"
"Darrin!"
"Where are you!?"
"Leah!!"
"They're still alive, I can feel them!" Goku said.
"They must be under the rubble!" Goten said. The group began searching for any sign of the missing persons. Rienna searched a large pile of rocks, but stopped when she heard movement behind her.
"Huh?" She turned around and found that one of the piles was moving. "Hey, hold on!"
"What?"
"Hey, Ri, did you find something?" Trunks called.
"Yeah!" she answered, beginning to dig through the pile. "Hey, come give me a hand!" Adrienne and Trunks ran over to help, and soon they had uncovered the person underneath.
"Jamie!" Adrienne exclaimed.
"Mom?" Jamie groaned. She hugged her son.
"Thank goodness you're ok!"
"Hey, Goten, we found Jamie!" Trunks yelled down the hall.
"Really?!" Goten, Goku, and Vegeta were there in a flash. Goten also hugged the young Saiyan. "Jamie! Oh, thank Dende!"
"Mom, Dad!" Jamie sat up on his own and looked around. "Where's Leah?"
"We're trying to find them," Goku said. Jamie stood up and looked around.
"Then let's keep looking!" he said. Adrienne and Goten stood up as well.
"Jamie, why don't you lie down for a second," Goku told him. Jamie shook his head.
"No way! I have to find my sister!"
So, because they were unable to talk him out of it, Jamie joined their search. On the other side of the cave-in, Darrin sat up and looked around lazily.
"Whoa… what happened?" He looked down at Leah, who was lying in his lap, unconscious but unharmed. He smiled a little and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. Darrin gently moved her aside and laid her down on the ground. He then stood up and walked over to the collapsed walls. "Oh boy," he muttered under his breath. "This is going to be fun."
Whee! Still moving, slowly rolling.... About time I had a story I could get into. ^_^ Anyway, please, r/r and tell me what you think!!
