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 8 : The Nightmare System : : .

"There's no sign of them anywhere!" Vegeta exclaimed exasperatedly. Darrin's ears perked up. Was that Vegeta's voice that he'd heard just now? Rienna hung her head.

"Aedan…"

"They're around here, Vegeta, trust me!" Goku told him.

"Trust you!? I've never trusted you!" Vegeta shot back.

"Well trust me now!" Goku yelled back at him.

"HEY!!!" Jamie shouted at the top of his lungs. Everyone stopped and stared at them. He crossed his arms. "Leah and Darrin and that Aedan guy are still out there, and I'm not giving up on them!" Rienna looked up.

"Yeah, me either!"

"They must be on the other side of that wall," Trunks said, pointing to the collapsed end of the hallway.

"We are!" Darrin shouted suddenly.

"Did you guys hear that?" Adrienne asked.

"We are!" Darrin repeated again. He almost jumped for joy. "We're here!!"

"Darrin!?" The group rushed over to the wall of rubble.

"Darrin, are you ok!?" Goku asked.

"Where's Leah?!" Vegeta and Jamie chorused.

"She's with me," Darrin said. "She's unconscious, but she's ok." Goten, Vegeta, and Jamie all sighed with relief.

"Good."

"Is Aedan over there?" Rienna called.

"Huh? Aedan?" Darrin looked around. "Not that I see…"

"Oh…" Rienna hung her head. Trunks put his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, kiddo, we'll find him," he said. She nodded slowly.

*I hope so…*

"I think we can just blast this rubble away," Goku said. "What do you think, Vegeta?" Vegeta crossed his arms.

"Easily," he said.

"Ok!" Goku said. "Hey Darrin," he shouted, "take Leah and move her as far away from that wall as you can!"

"Alright!" Darrin did as he was told and found a makeshift shelter off to the side of the hall.

"And if she has one scratch when this is over-"

"She won't!" Darrin said, cutting Vegeta off.

"Ok, here goes!" Goku Kamehameha-ed it and blasted right through the pile. Darrin looked up from where he was shielding Leah and smiled.

"Great job," he said. Vegeta, Jamie, Goten, and Adrienne rushed over to the two.

"Is she ok?" Darrin stood up with her in his arms. He handed her to Vegeta.

"She's fine," he said. "Not a scratch on her," he added with a smile. Vegeta scoffed and looked her over.

"Hmph. Good job, shrimp."

"Shrimp!?" Darrin sweat-dropped.

"Just ignore him, Darrin. That's his way of saying thanks," Adrienne explained.

"What happened here?" Trunks asked.

"That Jaerie girl self-destructed herself," Jamie said.

"She's an android," Rienna explained.

"We thought we had her beat," Darrin said. "Guess we got too cocky." He rubbed his sore tail. "Me especially."

"At least it's over," Adrienne said. Darrin nodded.

"Yeah."

"Not quite," Goku said. "We still have to beat Aaron." Goten crossed his arms.

"That sleazy, good-for-nothing-" "When I get my hands on him-" Trunks said at the same time. They looked at each other and laughed.

"Ri," Adrienne said quietly. "What's wrong?"

"It's Aedan… he's… still missing." She looked up at her aunt with sad eyes. "Where could he be?" Adrienne put her arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, we'll find him, ok?"

"I know we will…" Rienna answered. "That's not what I'm afraid of…"

"Well, the only thing I know to do is to split up," Trunks said. "He saved Ri, so I guess I owe him one."

"Yeah!" Goten cheered. "Let's take different ends of the hall."

"Alright," Jamie said.

"Darrin, Rienna, Goten, and I will take this end," Trunks said, nodding to his left.

"Then Kakarott and the rest of us will take this one," Vegeta said, though he was a bit unhappy at being stuck with Goku.

"Good. Then let's get- huh?" Goku stopped. "Hey, I think Leah's waking up!"

"Really?!" Darrin's face lit up like a light bulb. Leah sat up and looked around.

"Where am I? Huh?" She looked up to find everyone smiling down at her. "Whoa, when did you guys get here?!"

"A little while ago," Goten explained.

"Are you ok?" Darrin asked her.

"We were worried about you!" Jamie told her.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Leah looked around at the damaged hallway. "What happened? Oh, wait, I remember now." The hair on her neck bristled at the thought of Jaerie. "That evil witch!"

"Well, she's gone now," Rienna said, a bit of satisfaction in her voice.

"Good riddance," Leah said, standing up and brushing herself off. Rienna snickered.

"Yeah, something like that," she said.

"At least she can't flirt with anyone anymore," Jamie said with a shudder. Darrin also shuddered and backed himself up against the nearest wall. Rienna laughed.

"Wait, back up, " Goten said "I'm confused. Flirt?"

"Never mind, Dad," Jamie said, blushing a little. "It's not important."

"Hey, Jamie, at least she thought you were cute," Rienna said with a laugh. "And your tail, too!" Darrin tucked his tail behind his back, and Jamie did the same.

"That's not funny, Ri!" Jamie shouted, blushing even more. Leah growled.

"Ok, that's enough. I don't need any more reminders of that moron!" Darrin nodded.

"Y-yeah."

"Well, at any rate, we need to find your friend before it's too late," Adrienne said. Rienna nodded.

"Yeah."

The two teams split up and walked to their designated ends of the hall.

"So Ri," Leah said, following her cousin and helping her with a very large pile of rocks. "Who is this Aedan guy?"

"He's a friend of mine," she explained without looking up. "We grew up together."

"Oh…" Leah pulled a few heavy rocks off the top of the pile. "He must mean a lot to you, then." Rienna nodded.

"Yeah…" The two girls continued to dismantle their pile. "…His dad took me in," she said after a while. "After I left, I mean. So I've lived with his family ever since." Rienna stopped moving the rocks and stared at her dirty hands. "Now they're all gone… all except Aedan." She looked up at Leah. "That's why I have to find him. He's the only one I have left." Leah watched her as she resumed her work with sympathy in her eyes.

"I'm sorry…" she said quietly.

"Don't be," Rienna said with a small smile. "It's not your fault. You've got nothing to apologize for. We just need to hurry and find him." Leah nodded.

"Right!" Trunks smiled. He was glad his little girl had so much hope left. He himself wasn't sure that the boy had survived, but until they found him, they couldn't be sure. And besides, Jamie, Leah, and Darrin had lived, why should he be any different? Goten smiled as well.

"Something tells me they're more than just friends," he said to Trunks, a sly tone to his voice. Trunks grinned.

"Yeah… but don't talk to her about it. You know how teenagers are."

"Yeah." Both of them laughed. Leah turned around and looked at them with an odd expression on her face.

"What's up with them?" she asked.

"I dunno, but don't talk to them about it. You know how dads are." Leah nodded.

"Yeah."

Darrin sighed. "Nope, not under that pile…" He stood up and walked over to the girls. "You've got a pretty big pile there. Can I join you?"

"Sure," Leah said.

"Knock yourself out," Rienna said with a smile.

"Yeah," Leah agreed, "we need all the help we can get." Darrin smiled.

"Thanks." He sat down beside them and started to work. "At least this way I won't be lonely," he said with a grin. Leah laughed.

"You know, you can always come talk to us if you need to."

"So… how long do you stay out of the gravity room these days?" Rienna asked. Darrin grinned.

"A lot  more than he used to, that's for sure," Leah said.

"Actually, it was Leah that persuaded me to come out of hiding," Darrin said with a laugh. "She convinced me to come out of my shell once in a while. There's so much more to life than fighting."

"Though it's a pretty big part," Leah said. She and Rienna grinned.

"At least in our family," Rienna added.

"I hadn't noticed," Darrin said with a smile.

Down on the other end of the hall, Jamie and Goku were carrying their own conversation. "Hey, Grandpa," Jamie said.

"Yeah, Jamie?" Goku answered.

"Do you really think we'll find him?"

"I dunno, Jamie," Goku said. "But we've gotta try."

"Yeah," Adrienne said, setting down a large rock and wiping her forehead. "We can't just give up on him."

"I don't see why not," Vegeta snarled. "We need to be looking for Aaron, not for some lost kid!"

"Dad," Adrienne said sternly, "he needs our help. And he's Rienna's friend. Do you know what she'd do if we just gave up?" Vegeta didn't answer. "Well?"

"Alright, alright!" he snapped. "We'll find him!" He hated it when other people were right. Adrienne smiled.

"Thought you'd see it that way."

"Hmph."

Out of the corner of his eye, Jamie saw something gleaming in what little light they had. "Huh?" He stood up, walked over to it, and picked it up.

"What'd you find, Jamie?" Goku asked.

"Somebody's ring," Jamie said. "Looks like a class ring." He cupped his hands over his mouth. "Hey, Rienna, come here a second!" Rienna turned around.

"Huh?"

"I think he wants to show you something," Leah said. Rienna stood up.

"Be right back!" She jogged down to where Jamie was standing. "What's up?"

"Is this his?" he asked, handing her the ring. Rienna stared at it. The metal felt cool and clean lying there in her worn hand.

"Yeah…it's his alright. I remember… he was so proud of it when he came home with it that day," she said, smiling. She looked up at Jamie. "He must be around here, somewhere!"

"Great! Then we're on the right track!" Leah cheered. Rienna whole disposition brightened.

"He has to be around here!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Trying calling him," Adrienne suggested. Rienna cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted.

"Aedan!! Aedan, can you hear me? Aedan-"

"Hold it!" Jamie said, turning around. "I thought I heard something." The group went silent and listened intently. Sure enough, they all heard a faint moaning a little ways away.

"Aedan!" Rienna cried. She rushed over to where the groaning was coming from and pushed away the rocks. Underneath, battered and bruised, lay Aedan. "Oh my gosh!" The rest of the group hurried over to them. "Dad," she said, "help me move some of these!" Trunks picked up a few of the rocks that still covered his body and tossed them aside. Rienna scooted closer to Aedan and gently lifted his head. "Aedan, wake up! It's me!" Aedan moaned softly. "C'mon, Aedan, please!" she pleaded. "Wake up!" Aedan's eyes quivered.

"Hey, look!" Leah exclaimed.

"Stop yelling…" Aedan whined quietly. "Let me sleep…"

"Aedan!"

"Wha…? Ri- Rienna…?" Rienna smiled.

"Yeah, it's me." Aedan slowly opened his eyes and he looked up at her.

"Rienna… so it wasn't a dream…" he said with a smile.

"What wasn't?"

"I thought I heard you calling my name." Rienna smiled again. "Are the others ok?" Darrin, Leah, and Jamie all peered over Rienna's shoulder.

"Yup, we're fine!" Leah said cheerfully.

"Thanks for asking," Jamie said with a grin.

"No problem," Aedan said softly.

"We found your ring," Rienna said, holding it up for him to see. He grinned.

"Hey, my class ring! You can hold onto it for me, I don't need it." He laughed, but his laughter stopped short as he winced and put his hand to his side.

"Aedan?" Rienna looked from his pained face to his hand. There was a puddle of blood running down his side to the ground. "Oh man! You're bleeding like crazy!"

"Am I?" Aedan lifted his hand and stared at it. His shiny red palm was proof enough. "Crud. Wondered why that hurt so much."

"We've got to get him out of here," Adrienne said. "Or…" She didn't finish her sentence.

"Don't say that!" Rienna shouted. "I am not going to lose him!"

"Ri, let it go."

"What?" She turned around to face him.

"Just let it go," Aedan repeated. "I'm dying. I'm not gonna make it."

"You're wrong, Aedan!"

"No, Ri…" She shook her head.

"NO!" She glared at him angrily. "How can you just give up like that!?"

"It's not my first choice, if that's what you mean," Aedan said.

"Then pick another option!" she shouted.

"I wish I could, trust me." She shook her head and mentally cursed as the tears started to flow.

"It's not fair!" she moaned. "I've lost my brother and my friend today! I can't lose you, too!"

"You're not gonna lose me, Ri. Not ever," he told her.

"Don't give me that crap!" she screamed defiantly. "It'll never be the same, no matter what you say!" Aedan sighed and closed his eyes.

"I know…"

"Then stop!" She burst into tears. "Stop…!" Aedan reached up and brushed her cheek with his hand.

"Ri… please, don't cry… You're going to make *me* cry. I *hate* crying in front of other people." She laughed. "That's my girl." Rienna blushed.

"Aedan… I dunno what I'm gonna do without you," she said finally.

"You'll think of something."

"Aedan, I'm serious!" she cried, more tears streaming down her face. "That's not funny at all!" He frowned.

"Oh, hey, I'm sorry… I was just trying to cheer you up." Rienna didn't answer. "Well, you told me not to give you any of that mushy crap…" Rienna burst into tears and wrapped her arms around his neck. Aedan sweat-dropped. Why did girls have to be so emotional? "Oh, jeez…! Rienna… I… I didn't mean to-"

"You're such a MORON!" she yelled through her tears. Aedan hugged her back and smiled.

"Right to the end," he admitted. "Hey, I'm sorry I haven't always been the best friend in the world to you."

"What are you talking about!?"  Rienna asked, sitting back up to stare at him. "You're the best friend I've ever had!"

"Really?

"Of course!" Aedan smiled.

"Thanks Ri." She nodded.

"No problem."

"Oh, it's so sweet…" Leah said quietly. Darrin's arms folded securely around her waist. She leaned back against him and smiled sadly.

Aedan sighed and leaned back. "Does it hurt?" Rienna asked softly. He shook his head.

"Not enough to matter. Not anymore."

"Oh…" Rienna looked down at her knees. "Good." Aedan closed his eyes and didn't answer. She looked up at him. "Aedan?" When he didn't answer, she started to freak out. "Aedan!?"

"That's it, Ri…" Trunks said gently. "It's over." She hung her head.

"No… No!" She shook her head defiantly. "It wasn't supposed to be this way…" Trunks knelt beside her and hugged her from behind.

"I know…" he said, resting his chin on her head. He started to rock her back and forth gently.

"Why do I keep losing people??" she demanded. "Every time I get close to someone, something happens to them!" She shook her head. "It's all my fault…"

"No it's not," he told her.

"If I had been here…"

"You couldn't have done anything."

"Yes I could have…" Trunks shook his head.

"Don't blame yourself for something you can't do anything about," he said softly. Rienna closed her eyes and pushed the tears from her eyes. They slid down her cheeks and dripped down onto Trunks' hands. He hugged her tighter. "Hey, it's ok…"

"He was my best friend…" she sobbed.

"I know, Ri." She laid her head back against his shoulder.

"It's not fair… Why couldn't it have been me?"

"Don't say that," Trunks said firmly. "What makes you think your life is any less valuable than his?" Rienna didn't answer. "Everyone's important, Ri." She nodded and continued to cry silently. Her tears slowed, and she started sniffling. "Are you ok now?" Rienna nodded again. "You sure?"

"Yeah," she said softly. "Let's go. Before I start crying again and hold us up even more."

"Are you sure you're ok?" Vegeta asked.

"Yeah." She gently shifted Aedan so that he was lying on the floor instead of her lap and stood up. "It's time I stopped feeling sorry for myself and got some real work done." Trunks stood up and put his hand on her shoulder.

"Time to stop that virus." She nodded and smiled.

"Right."

"Those fools," Aaron said to himself. "It's too late for that now. If they wanted to stop me, they should have let him die alone instead of wasting time!" He laughed. "Still, it's a shame. That boy had so much potential…" He shrugged. "Oh well. Life goes on!" He circled his precious machine, checking it over for any possible defects. "My marvelous machine…" He gloated as he stood back and admired his work. "Only I could think up such a plan!" He smiled evilly and stepped closer to his machine. Aaron flipped up the case on a large green button. "Prepare to perish, you ignorant fools!" He pressed the button forcefully and laughed. "Die!"

"Wait!" Rienna said suddenly. The group stopped and turned around.

"What is it?" Trunks asked.

"Give me a second," she said. She reached back and undid the clasp on her chain. She pulled Aedan's ring out of her pocket and slipped it on the chain. It slid down until it was hanging next to her mother's ring. Rienna clasped the chain back together and slipped it back under her shirt. "There. Now I have a little bit of both worlds." She walked up beside them. "I'm ready now."

"Good," Trunks said.

"Let's get going," Vegeta said impatiently. "We've spent too much time here already."

"Sorry," Rienna said softly.

"Don't mind him, Ri," Trunks said, glaring at his father. "Just don't listen to him." Vegeta shrugged.

"Just telling it like it is."

"Well you're not helping," Trunks said sternly. He put his arm around Rienna's shoulders and started walking with her. "Come on, Ri, let's go."

"That was harsh, Vegeta," Goku said, following them.

"What?? I didn't mean anything by it!" he shouted.

"Maybe you should tell that to Ri," Adrienne said. Vegeta sighed.

"I hate it when you're right." She grinned.

"And I love it when you say that." Vegeta walked up to Rienna and Trunks.

"Rienna, may I… talk to you for a second?"

"Uh… sure, Grandpa." Trunks let go of his daughter and slowed his pace until he was back with the others.

"I'm sorry for what I said back there."

"Huh? Oh, that…"

"Yes… I didn't mean it quite that way. You have every right to be sad. I just meant we needed to hurry to make up for that. I didn't mean it was a waste of time."

"Oh, that's ok," Rienna said, smiling a little. "I understand. I know you're not like that." Vegeta smiled.

"Thanks." Rienna hugged him with one arm.

"You're my grandpa," she said matter-of-factly. "And a pretty darned good one, too," she added. Vegeta grinned.

"That I am." Adrienne smiled and looked at Trunks.

"She's pretty resilient, don't you think?" she asked. Trunks nodded.

"Gets it from her mother." He sighed. "I still miss her, Dri. I don't even know how I've made it this far." He sighed again. "Not to mention I've completely failed as her father."

"Don't say that," she told him. "You've done the best you can. I don't think anyone can ask for more." Adrienne looked at Rienna, who was smiling now and talking with Vegeta. "Look at her. She's happy," she said. "And she loves you. You know that."

"Guess you're right."

"Of course I am," she said with a grin. "Little sisters are always right."

"Well, little sisters also get picked on!" Trunks said, wrapping his arms around Adrienne and giving her a noogie.

"Hey! Trunks!" Adrienne whined. "Stop it! Leggo!"

"Take it easy on her, Trunks," Goten said with a smile. Trunks laughed.

"Sorry, Goten, forgot she doesn't live in the same house as me anymore." He let her go, and she rubbed her head and glared at him. "Don't be such a sore loser, Adrienne."

"Sore loser my butt…" she muttered. "I'm gonna get you, Trunks!"

"Uh huh, sure," he said.

"I will!"

"Right."

"What, you don't believe me?" Trunks shook his head. "Fine! When we get home, expect a little red dinosaur in your mailbox!!" Trunks' eye twitched.

"Great, just what I need…" he muttered. Adrienne smiled.

"Or worse… your bed." Trunks laughed anxiously.

"Yeah, well I'm going just going to have to set mousetraps for that little demon, how's that sound?"

"Aw, Uncle Trunks," Jamie whined. "Leave Deho alone!"

"Then keep him away from me," Trunks said. "Little monster…" Adrienne laughed.

"But Trunks, he loves you so much!" Trunks shuddered.

"I know."

"Why're you so scared of him, anyway?" Leah asked.

"When Trunks was little, Deho crawled up into his bed and scared him half to death," Goku explained.

"He was right there, just staring at me!" Trunks protested. Adrienne shook her head.

"Traumatized for life," she said. "Poor boy." Trunks sweat-dropped.

"I don't want your pity!" he declared, crossing his arms.

"Chloe thought he was cute," Adrienne said.

"Chloe was like that," Trunks said. "She always loved animals."

"She did?" Rienna asked. Trunks nodded.

"Always. Most of our pets were strays off the streets that she'd taken in and cleaned up." Goku smiled.

"She was such a caring person," he said.

"She's missed a whole lot around here," Adrienne said. Darrin nodded.

"She was always nice to me," he said.

"She was nice to all of us," Goten said. Vegeta nodded.

"We need more people like Chloe Briefs around," he said. "It'd make the world a better place." Everyone stared at him. "…What?!"

"This is kinda fun, sharing old memories," Jamie said.

"Yeah," Leah said.

"What about you, Ri?" Darrin asked. "What do you remember?"

"Well," she said, "I remember the Christmas party. And starting school that year."

"You were so excited," Trunks said. "I think you were actually a bit disappointed when school let out for Christmas break."

"Yeah," Rienna said with a laugh. "I remember that."

"Now we can't get enough time away from it," Jamie said. Rienna nodded.

"Tell me about it…"

"Rienna…"

"What, Grandpa?" Rienna looked ahead of her to where Vegeta was standing. Past him were two large metal, cruel-looking doors. "Oh no…" She shook her head and backed away. "W-we can't go through there."

"What's wrong, Ri?" Trunks asked.

"Yeah, what is that place?" Leah asked.

"It's nothing. Let's find another way."

"But I can sense him inside," Vegeta said. "We have to go through there."

"N-no, we don't!" Rienna backed away a little more. "I can't go in there." She hung her head. "Not again…"

"What is it?" Leah repeated.

"Yeah, Ri, tell us!" Jamie chimed in.

"…Aaron was researching fear. He built it for one specific purpose- to scare people." She shook her head. "That room… it's a nightmare. All your worst fears come true, before your eyes… even if they are just images… Reliving horrible memories, creating new ones… I was just a kid.. but…" Rienna shuddered. "I'm not going through that again."

"Rienna," Trunks said, putting his hand on her shoulder, "I know you don't want to. But it seems to be the only choice we have."

"I knew you'd say that…" she said softly.

"C'mon, Ri, we're coming with you!" Jamie said cheerfully.

"Yeah!" Leah said, nodding her head in agreement. "You don't have anything to be afraid of!"

"Let's do this together," Trunks said, taking her hand. Rienna nodded uncertainly.

"Alright…"

"Hm…" Vegeta looked around the large, empty room. "Why am I not impressed?"

"It hasn't started yet…" Rienna said quietly.

"Well, let's get moving before it does," Trunks said.

"Yeah," Leah said. "What Rienna told us sounded kinda creepy…"

"The sooner we start looking, the sooner we'll find him," Goku said.

"You think?" Vegeta asked. Goku frowned.

"Don't even start, Vegeta!"

"Start what?" Vegeta asked innocently. "Mocking you?" Goku shook his head.

"Vegeta…"

"C'mon, Dad," Trunks said with a groan, "you're making this difficult."

"I'm a difficult person," Vegeta said matter-of-factly. Trunks glared at him.

"Dad…!"

"Alright, alright!" Vegeta crossed his arms. "Great Galaxies, can't you take a joke!?"

"You're not the kind of person to joke around," Goku said, a bit putout.

"Maybe you just don't like my sense of humor," Vegeta retorted.

"Yeah, we don't like your sense of humor!" Goku yelled. "Your sense of humor is blasting the world into oblivion!"

"No it's not," Vegeta said, crossing his arms. He smirked. "Not anymore. I'd actually save a few people, now."

"Dad!" Trunks exclaimed. "Would you shut up already!? Jeez!" Vegeta glared at him.

"I don't care if you are grown," he snapped, "I can still whip you like I used to!"

"Just try it," Trunks said haughtily. "See where it gets you."

"Why you-"

"Cut it out!" Adrienne yelled. "Gosh, you'd think after all these years you'd learn to GET ALONG!"

"No, you think he'd learn to respect his father by now…" Vegeta muttered. Trunks glared at him and crossed his arms.

"You'd think he'd let me live my life by now…" Trunks mumbled back.

"STOP IT, ALREADY!!!!!!" Adrienne screeched.

"Butt out!" Trunks yelled at her. Adrienne narrowed her eyes, which flashed red for a brief moment. She clenched her fists and her left eye began to twitch.

"Adrienne…" Goten said. "Don't do anything-"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, BUTT OUT?!" Adrienne ki-blasted her brother, who, once the smoke cleared, blinked a few times. His face was black with soot. Vegeta started laughing.

"Ha! You show him, Adrienne!" he yelled through his laughter. Trunks clenched his fists and blasted Vegeta, whose face also turned black. Vegeta stared at him in surprise, then glared. "How dare you!?" He blasted Trunks, who blasted him back, and so on. Suddenly, they were both blasted with a ball just powerful enough to knock them off their feet. Both of them looked up in surprise at Goku, who was still standing with his arm straight out.

"Enough!" he yelled, glaring at both of them. "You should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"Shut up, Kakarott!" Vegeta shouted at the top of his lungs. He jumped up and blasted Goku back. Goten gasped.

"Hey, don't shoot my dad!" he exclaimed. Goten shot at Vegeta, who dodged. The blast hit Adrienne instead. Goten's eyes got wide. "Adrienne! Jeez, I-I didn't mean to!" Adrienne gasped and stared at him, wide-eyed. Vegeta growled.

"You shot Adrienne!!"

"Shoot!" Goten ducked and covered his head. Vegeta's blast missed and hit the wall next to Darrin. He jumped in surprise and disappeared, reappearing next to the other teens. The blast bounced off the wall and hit Adrienne in the face. Adrienne gasped again.

"DADDY!!!" Vegeta started to freak out.

"Ah! Adrienne! I'm so sorry! Are you ok?!" Adrienne clenched her fists and glared at him. She began to charge a very large, very nasty ki blast. "DON'T HURT ME!" he screamed, ducking just in time to miss her angry attack. It (of course) hit Goku instead. Adrienne sweat dropped.

"Whoops." Once the blast disintegrated, Goku stood there, his mouth open.

"W-why did you shoot me?!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! Honest, Goku!" While Vegeta was preoccupied (ducking on the floor), Trunks took the opportunity (*grin* "Heheh…") to shoot his father- in the butt. Vegeta jumped up in surprise.

"WHO DID THAT?!" Vegeta roared.

"Me," Trunks said simply. Vegeta went Super Saiyan and shot him with a ki blast. Trunks also went SS and shot him back. This continued for a few seconds, until, in his rage, one of Trunks' ki blasts went astray and hit Goten in the back.

"HEY!" Goten whirled around and shot Trunks. Soon all the adults were shooting each other (or trying to). Leah sighed.

"Here we go again." Darrin, who was floating upside-down above them with his legs crossed, nodded.

"Yep…" All four kids sweat-dropped and sighed.

"Jeez, I can't take it anymore!" Gohan yelled, hitting his head on the window in front of him. "I never should have agreed to this!" He hit his head on the window again. "Darn it!"

"Don't hurt yourself, Gohan," Videl told him.

"Yeah, Dad," Pan said. "You can't do anything about it now."

"All we can do right now is wait," Chi-Chi said. Everyone had been wandering about Capsule Corp. for the last three hours. Bra, Marron, and Pan's families were there. Even Alexandra and Krystal (Brian and Jamie's girlfriends, respectively) were there. Most of the group was upstairs with the children. Krillin sighed and crossed his arms.

"Darned old age…" he muttered. Eighteen smiled.

"But there are some benefits," Chi-Chi said. "Like grandchildren!"

"We know," everyone chorused. Chi-Chi looked at her hands.

"Let's see, how many is that now…?" She started counting on her fingers. "Leah, Jamie, Pan… three?! Well, Rienna and Brian might as well be mine! Four, five…………" Chi-Chi racked her brain. There had to be more! "…Darrin counts, too! Six……" Chi-Chi stared at her six fingers for about five whole minutes. Then she began to wiggle them. "Am I missing one?"

"No," everyone said dully.

"Oh…" She stared at her fingers some more. "That's not very many…" Chi-Chi began to ponder this fact with displeasure. Suddenly, she got an idea, and her face lit up. "Gohan," she said sweetly, "my dearest eldest child, whom I love with all my heart-"

"Mom!!" Gohan whined, putting his hands on his ears. "I don't want to hear it!"

"But-"

"Besides, Videl's too old," Gohan said with a grin. Pan laughed, but Videl gasped and hit him in the head. "Ow!"

"I'll have you know something, *Son Gohan*!" his wife shouted with all the fire of her youth (and we all know how THAT is…). "You're *just* as old as me, so don't give me that 'Videl's too old' crap! Videl *nothing*!" Gohan laughed a bit nervously.

"See? Even if we wanted kids, we couldn't give you any!" Videl tapped her foot impatiently.

"Gohan…!" she said warningly. "Don't you say another word, or I'll hit you so hard-"

"Ok, Videl! I get the point!" Gohan said, scooting away from her a little bit.

"Oh, darn…" Chi-Chi stared at her hands and recounted her "grandchildren" silently to herself. She frowned, and thought a little more. Suddenly, her face lit up again. "Goten!"

Gohan groaned. "Mom…!"

"What? He and Adrienne are still in their thirties!"

"Yeah," Gohan said. "*Late* thirties."

"*Very* late," Pan added.

"So??" Chi-Chi rubbed her hands together and grinned. "I can't wait 'til he gets home!" Gohan sighed.

"Poor kids," Bulma said. Everyone except Chi-Chi nodded. "Guess we'll just have to warn them."

"At least she isn't talking about great-grandkids," Krillin whispered to his wife.

"I just hope she doesn't lock anyone in any closets," Eighteen said with a wary glance at the conniving Chi-Chi. Krillin nodded.

"Gosh, not that again," Gohan groaned. "Enough already!" Pan cocked her head.

"Has Grandma really locked someone in a closet before?" Gohan and Videl looked at each other and smiled nervously.

"Well…"

"How long do you think they can keep that up?" Jamie asked, watching the adults blast each other.

"I dunno," Leah said. "But if they waste their energy now, what will we have left for Aaron?"

"Good point," Darrin said. He was now floating right side up. Darrin stood up.

"You gonna break them up?" Jamie asked him. Darrin shrugged.

"Somebody has to."

"You're a braver soul than I am," Rienna said with a smile. Darrin shrugged again.

"Be right back," he said, disappearing. He had just reappeared in the middle of the group when the lights dimmed.

"Huh?" The grown-ups stopped charging their blasts and looked around. Rienna, Jamie, and Leah all stood up.

"What's going on?" Leah asked.

"The Nightmare System… It's starting…" Rienna said softly. Rienna, Jamie, and Leah walked over to their parents, not taking their eyes off the changing room. The room began to glow red, and the ceiling became swirled with red and black, like bloody storm clouds. Rienna moved a little closer to Trunks, who reached down and took her hand. She smiled up at him weakly.

"Ha! You fools!" came someone's voice. "Should have escaped while you had the chance!"

"Aaron!" Vegeta yelled.

"While you morons were wasting time holding your lovely little funeral service, I was busy completing my plan! And now that I'm through, I'm going to have a little fun!"

"What do you mean, through?" Goten asked.

"Think about it, genius!" Aaron laughed. "Oh well. I'll leave you idiots to think on that. Enjoy the maze!"

"Maze?" Trunks asked. Almost immediately, thick, red walls grew up between the group, separating them all. One grew between Rienna and Trunks. "What?! Rienna!"

"Daddy!" Rienna cried.

"Jamie, help me!" Leah exclaimed, before the wall separating the twins grew to its full height and touched the ceiling.

"Leah!" both Darrin and Jamie shouted in dismay. Another wall grew between the two of them.

"Jamie!" Darrin exclaimed. Aaron laughed again.

"See you around!" he said cheerfully. In his office, Aaron shut off the comlink and laughed to himself. "Fools…"

"Dad! Daddy, where are you!?" Rienna cried.

"Over here, Ri!" came Trunks' faint reply. "Don't worry, I'm coming!" Trunks looked around. "At least, I'm trying…"

"Hurry, please!" she pleaded. Her voice was no longer the sweet tone of a 16-year-old- it was higher and younger sounding, as if she'd lost ten years or so. "Daddy, I'm scared…! It's never done this before!"

"Calm down, Rienna. Just stay calm and don't move!" He turned around. He could go three different directions. "Crap… Which way?" Trunks shut his eyes and held them tight. "…That way!" he said, pointing to his right. He ran off down the hall. "I hope my sense of direction isn't as bad as I think it is…"

"Where is everybody?" Leah wondered aloud. A chill went down her back as she rounded a corner. Leah hugged herself and shivered. "Kinda chilly in here…" She trudged along, looking around for anyone she knew, until she came to large open space. "What is this?" Suddenly, she gasped. "Darrin!?"

Vegeta muttered something under his breath and continued walking through Aaron's maze. "Dirty trick… blasted… Argh! When I get my hands on him…!" He rounded a corner and walked right into a soft (yet sturdy) wall, knocking him over. "What the- Hey, watch where you're going, Brat!"

"Sorry, Vegeta," Darrin said, offering him a hand. Vegeta scoffed and stood up.

"At least it's not Kakarott," he mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing!" Vegeta crossed his arms.

"Where is everyone?" Darrin asked.

"Stuck in this blasted maze!" Vegeta yelled in frustration.

"Well.. yeah, but… never mind." Darrin smiled. "Looks like we're stuck together." Vegeta scoffed again.

"Bah." He crossed his arms and started walking in the direction Darrin had come from.

"Wait, Vegeta!" Darrin called. "That's a dead end!" Vegeta ignored him and kept walking. He rounded the corner, out of Darrin's sight. Darrin sighed. "He never listens to anyone…!" he moaned. After a few moments, Vegeta came walking back around the corner, looking very sullen. Darrin watched as he walked back up beside him and stopped. Vegeta glared at him.

"Don't you say a word."

Jamie walked along the path slowly. "Leah!" he called. "Mom? Dad? Grandpa!!" Jamie sighed in frustration. "Jeez! Where is everybody!?" Suddenly, he thought he heard his sister scream. "I'm coming, Leah!"

"Did you hear that?!" Darrin asked suddenly.

"Leah!" Vegeta exclaimed.

"It came from over there!" Darrin said, pointing to his left. Vegeta nodded.

"Let's go!"

Rienna looked around at her surroundings. It was a rather large room, actually- but it was very empty. She walked into the middle of it and slowly turned in a full circle. "It's… kind of odd…" she said to herself. Suddenly, something flashed across her mind. "What?" A whole flood of memories came back to her and flashed before her eyes one after the other, overwhelming her senses. She gasped. "No!" She shook her head and fell to her knees. "Not again!" Suddenly, Brian was lying in front of her, cold as stone. "NO!" Ruben appeared next to her, and Jessica and Jeremy. She clutched her head. "Stop! I don't want to remember! I don't want to know!" Instantly, Chloe was beside her as well. Tears filled Rienna's eyes as she began to sob. "Leave me alone!! Let me forget!!" Suddenly the whole family was lying, lifeless, around her. "NOO!"

Leah knelt at Darrin's side, crying heavily. "Darrin!" She glared up at the ceiling with angry, tear-filled eyes. "How could this happen?!" Suddenly, Vegeta and Darrin came running into the room. Jamie entered from the other side at about the same time.

"Leah!" the three of them exclaimed together. Leah looked up.

"What?" She saw Darrin and gasped. "Darrin!? But you're-"

"Is that me??" Darrin asked. Leah looked down at the image of Darrin on the ground.

"I… I don't know…" she said softly.

"What is going on here?!" Jamie exclaimed.

"Darrin…" Leah stood up, and he walked over to her. "I thought you were… It's just an image…" He put his arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, it's ok.," he said gently.  Leah turned around and hugged him. Darrin smiled and squeezed her tight.

Vegeta walked over to the false Darrin and knelt down to touch him.

"Pretty life-like," Jamie said. Vegeta stood up.

"Let's move on. I'm ready to get out of this place." Leah nodded and leaned against Darrin. She sniffed.

"Yeah, let's go," she said.

"Help me!"

"Adrienne?" Goten looked around attentively. "Adrienne, where are you?!"

"Help me!" she cried again. Goten ran off in the direction of her voice. "Goten! Goten, help! Goten, where are you?!" His heart started to race harder than it ever had before. Suddenly, Adrienne screamed, and her cries for help ceased.

"Adrienne!!"

"Not another one!" Trunks exclaimed, staring at the wall in front of him. "Stupid maze! I've always hated these things!!" Trunks turned around and retraced his steps. He looked up. "How am I supposed to know where I am!?" Trunks pulled on his hair in frustration. "I hate mazes!!!"

"Trunks…" Trunks let go of his hair and looked around.

"Huh?"

"Trunks…"

"W-who's there?" A ghostly figure cloaked in pale blue light appeared in front of him. He gasped. "Chloe!?" The woman smiled.

"Hello, Trunks."

"Goten, where are you?!" Adrienne called in frustration. "Ugh!" She stomped her foot and crossed her arms. "Stupid maze!"

"Adrienne!" Adrienne's ears picked up on the faint cry and she turned around.

"Goten?" Suddenly, her husband slid into view from around a corner. He smiled when he saw her.

"Adrienne!" She smiled back.

"Goten!" He rushed to her, and she met him halfway.

"Adrienne, are you ok!?" he asked, looking her over. "I heard you screaming!" Adrienne's brow furrowed.

"Screaming?" She cocked her head. "I wasn't screaming."

"You weren't?" Goten scratched his head. "But… but I heard you!" She shook her head.

"Well, it wasn't me."

"But it sounded just like you!" He crossed his arms. "That's… odd."

"Yeah, it is… Are you sure it was me?" Goten nodded.

"Positive. You were even calling my name!" Adrienne frowned even more.

"I bet it's part of that Nightmare System or whatever Rienna called it." Goten nodded.

"Must be." He sighed. "Well, that's a relief. I thought you were in big trouble." Adrienne smiled.

"Nope. But thanks for caring," she said. Goten grinned.

"It's my job." He cocked his head at her. "C'mon, let's go find the others. They've gotta be around here somewhere."

Goku scratched his head and looked around. There were so many paths he could take! "Which way, which way…?" He cocked his head and looked to the left. "I could go left…" He turned to his right. "Or I can go right…" He turned back to his original position. "But then again, I can go straight, too…" He scratched his head again. "Mazes are so confusing…" Goku sighed and stood back to look at his options again. Suddenly, he got an idea and pointed to the left. "Eeny, meeny, mainy, moe…"

"You can't be Chloe!" Trunks exclaimed. "Chloe's dead! She's been dead for ten years!"

"You don't think I know that?" she asked. "After all, it was me that died, not you."

"But Chloe… you can't be her ghost!" Chloe nodded.

"Yes, I can. And I am." She took a step closer to him. "I've been waiting so long to talk to you." She stepped even closer, until she was right up against him. "I've missed you." Trunks stared into her eyes.

"But… what are you doing here?" Chloe shook her head and put her hand on his cheek.

"Never mind that," she said sweetly. "Love is a powerful thing." Trunks blushed and began to stutter.

"U-uh, I…"

"Shh…" she said, putting her index finger on his lips to silence him. "Don't speak. Let me do the talking." Trunks swallowed and nodded. She turned around and walked away, then turned back around to face him. "To be honest, Trunks, there's one thing that's been bothering me…"

"What do you mean?" Chloe closed her eyes.

"I'm talking about Rienna." Trunks looked at her in surprise.

"What about Ri?"

"That she's grown up without us…" Chloe looked up at him as tears began to fill her bright green eyes. "How could you just let her go?!" Trunks blinked.

"Chloe, I-"

"Don't give me excuses!" she shouted, clenching her fists. "She's forgotten us, Trunks! Do you know how much that hurts?!" Trunks narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, I do." He took a few steps forward to meet her. "And I also know," he said, grabbing her by her right wrist, "that you're not my Chloe." Chloe stared at him.

"Trunks, we've been through this alread-"

"You listen to me," he said, glaring at her now. "I don't know who you really are, but you leave me and my family alone." Chloe glared at him.

"I always knew you were a stubborn fool, Trunks Briefs!" she shouted angrily. She jerked away and took a few steps backwards, where she shot him one last glare. Then, she disappeared. Trunks stared at where the image had been for a moment, and sighed.

"I'm beginning to hate this place even more…" Trunks stood there for a minute, but his ears perked up when he heard a faint moaning coming from somewhere close. "Huh?"

"No… no…!" Trunks' eyes widened

"Rienna?" He ran in the direction of the voice until he came to a large empty room. In the middle of it was his daughter, lying on the floor in the fetal position, clutching her head with her eyes shut tight. "Ri!"

"No…! Leave me alone…! Quit tormenting me!" She shook her head. "Leave me alone!" Trunks rushed over to her and knelt beside her.

"Ri, it's me!" Rienna didn't seem to hear him. "C'mon, Ri, snap out of it!" Trunks said. He put his hand on her shoulder. She screamed at the touch and her eyes shot open. "Hey, it's ok! It's me!" Rienna looked up at him.

"Daddy!" she cried, her eyes full of tears. She sat up and threw her arms around his neck as she started to cry. Trunks hugged her back.

"Hey, it's okay," he said. "I'm here…"

"Daddy, it was horrible! He killed them! He killed everyone!"

"Who did?"

"Aaron!" She squeezed him tighter. "We can't let him, Dad, we can't! I can't lose you again!" Trunks held her head against his chest and rocked her.

"I'm not going anywhere, Ri. You're not going to lose anyone. Don't even think about it anymore." He looked up and stared around the room. "We're going to stop him," he said. Trunks narrowed his eyes. "Once and for all."

"Shoot…" Goku said, staring at the dead end in front of him. "Note to self: never choose 'moe'." He sighed. "Guess it's back to where I started… Excellent progress, Goku." He turned around and slowly walked back to the last intersection. "Oh man," he groaned. "Which way did I come from?!" He hit himself in the head. "So stupid!" He looked to his right. "I think I came from that direction…" He turned to his left. "So maybe this is the right way!" He started to his left when something stopped him. "Hey," he said, sniffing the air, "do I smell Starbursts?" Sure enough, Vegeta, Darrin, Leah, and Jamie soon appeared walking down the corridor towards him.

"I told you not to take that left turn," Jamie was telling his grandfather. Vegeta scoffed.

"Bah! I don't need your help!"

"Hey, guys!" Goku called cheerfully. "I finally found you!"

"Huh?" Leah looked up. "Hey, it's Grandpa!"

"Great, it's Kakarott," Vegeta said, rolling his eyes. Goku grinned.

"Lucky we met up with each other," Goku said, once the others had caught up to him. "I am totally lost."

"Big surprise there," Vegeta said sarcastically. Goku frowned.

"Don't worry, we were too," Leah told him.

"Yeah… Vegeta was leading us down all the wrong paths," Darrin said. Vegeta glared at him.

"I have an excellent sense of direction, thank you very much!" he said, putting his hands on his hips.

"I haven't seen any sign of Goten, Adrienne, Trunks, or Rienna," Goku said. "Have you?" Vegeta glared at him.

"If we had they probably wouldn't still be lost in this Kami-forsaken place!" he snapped.

"Calm down, Grandpa," Leah said gently.

"Let's hurry and find them," Jamie said. "I'm getting really worried."

"And what did Aaron mean when he said he had completed his plan?" Goku asked.

"Hopefully not what I think he means," Vegeta said. He shook his head. "C'mon, we're wasting time!" he barked, strutting off down the hallway.

"Wait, Vegeta, I just came from there!" Goku shouted. "Vegeta…!"

"Don't worry, Grandpa," Jamie said, putting a hand on Goku's shoulder. "He's been doing that all day."

"Sure is quiet," Goten said thoughtfully. Adrienne nodded.

"Mazes normally aren't noisy," she said. Goten shrugged.

"Just a little too quiet for my liking," he said. She nodded again.

"I know what you mean." She stepped a little closer to him. "I wonder what the kids are doing…"

"Hey, don't worry, I'm sure they've found each other by now, if not the rest of them," Goten reassured her. "They can take care of themselves."

"I know…" She looked at the ground. "…Goten," she said after a while. "What do you think Aaron meant?"

"About his plan being finished?" Adrienne nodded. "Gee, I dunno… Haven't thought about it much." He crossed his arms. "It could mean any number of things."

"That's what worries me."

"Well," Goten said, "I guess we'll just have to get out of here and see." Adrienne nodded.

"Guess so."

"If you tap me one more time, Kakarott, I'm going to send you into the next dimension!" Vegeta yelled at the top of his lungs.

"But Vegeta," Goku whined, "I have to go to the bathroom!" All three kids sighed.

"Grandpa," Jamie groaned.

"What?!" Goku exclaimed. "I gotta go!"

"Well you should have gone before we left the house!" Vegeta shouted. He couldn't believe he had to say this to Goku, of all people.

"But I did!" Goku protested. "And that was a couple hours ago!"

"ARGH!" Vegeta yelled, about to rip his hair out. "I can't believe this!" He glared at Goku with all the anger he could muster. "How the heck did I get stuck with you!?"

"Because Trunks asked me to come…" Vegeta's eyes flashed with rage. Trunks! Of course!

"When I get my hands on that boy I'm going to-"

"Vegeta, shouldn't we be looking for him and not for ways to kill him?" Darrin asked. Vegeta shot him a dirty look.

"Who asked you!?" he demanded. Vegeta crossed his arms forcefully. "I'll do what I want!"

"And we'll do what we want," Goku said, also crossing his arms. "And we want to find the others. C'mon, guys." Leah, Jamie, and Darrin all followed him.

"Wait, you can't leave me! Leah, Jamie, you get back here! I'm your grandfather!!"

"So am I," Goku muttered sourly.

"Shouldn't we stay?" Jamie asked. "I think we're just making him mad…"

"It's alright, Jamie," Goku told him. "He'll follow us, don't worry." Leah sighed.

"I hope so…"

"He will, trust me." Darrin stopped. "Hey, Darrin, what is it?"

"It's… Miss Adrienne!" Darrin ran off ahead of them. "Come on!"

"Mom!" Leah ran off after him. "Darrin, wait for me!"

"Yeah, us too!" Jamie called. A large blur zoomed past them all. A few seconds later, they heard a scream.

"Vegeta!?" Goten exclaimed.

"Dad!" Adrienne shouted happily.

"Wait for us!!" Goku yelled in an annoyed tone, he and the others finally rounding the corner. Vegeta, Goten, and Adrienne were all standing in front of them.

"Mom!" Jamie and Leah cried at the same time. Adrienne smiled.

"Jamie! Leah!" They both rushed into her open arms.

"Hiya, guys!" Goten grinned.

"Are you ok?" Adrienne asked them. Each of them nodded.

"We're fine, Adrienne," Goku told her with a smile. He grinned at Goten. "Went down a few wrong paths, but we're over that." Goten smiled back.

"Good to see you, Dad," he said.

"Oh, but where are Trunks and Rienna?" Adrienne asked them. "Aren't they with you?" Darrin shook his head.

"We haven't seen them," he said. Adrienne frowned.

"Oh…"

"Darn, I thought we'd found everyone," Goten said disappointedly. Vegeta crossed his arms.

"Well, as good as it is to see you, we need to move on," he said grumpily.

"Good idea," Adrienne said. "No telling where they are."

"Let's hope we find them soon," Goten said. "We're running out of time."

Rienna had almost fallen asleep in his arms as Trunks held her close. A few tears still fell down her face as her eyes began to droop. That was ok, Trunks thought. She's had a rough day. And carrying her wouldn't be so bad. After all, she didn't weigh much- and he was half-Saiyan. No problem.

"Daddy…" she said softly. "Don't let him take me… Not again…" She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Trunks smiled.

"Never," he whispered. He slowly shifted her weight and scooped her up with a grunt. "Let's get you out of here." Trunks stood up and looked around. "Guess I'll go this way," he said, walking off down the hall to his right.

*It's almost like she's little again,* he thought, looking down at her. *Like she's just gotten up from a bad dream… I remember those days.* Trunks continued down the passage. He smiled. *Most of them were about dinosaurs.* He chuckled to himself. *Or falling off a motorcycle. I guess she gets that from Chloe,* he thought. *She never really liked mine.* He sighed. *Yep, those were the good ol' days.*

"Great son of Namek!" someone exclaimed from behind him. "What in Kami's name?!" Trunks turned around.

"Dad?!" The whole group ran over to him.

"Trunks, what happened?!" Adrienne exclaimed.

"What's wrong with Ri?" Jamie asked.

"She's just sleeping," Trunks told them. "She had quite a scare." He shifted her weight, as his left arm was beginning to hurt. "Found her lying on the floor, crying. Something about Aaron killing everyone."

"Poor girl," Goku said.

"She should be fine when she wakes up," Trunks said.

"Do you want me to take her?" Goten offered. "You look tired." Trunks shook his head and held her tighter.

"No, that's ok," he said. "I… I want to hold her." Goten nodded.

"Ok." Jamie clenched his fists.

"That Aaron!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to beat him to a pulp!"

"Yeah!" Leah agreed. "Enough is enough!" Adrienne smiled.

"We're going to get him, alright," she said. "But first we have to find our way out of here."

"Yeah," Darrin said. "How're we supposed to do that?" He looked around. "There are so many passages!"

"We'll find a way," Vegeta said. "And we'll stop him, once and for all, even if I spend the rest of my life doing it! I swear it!"

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Trunks said. "The earth doesn't have that kind of time." Adrienne nodded.

"You're right," she said. "We might already be out of it…"

"Don't say that!" Vegeta shouted. "We're never out of time!"

"But what if-"

"Enough!" he yelled. "Let's get out of here and find Aaron already!" They all nodded.

"Right!"

"My, my, they work fast," Aaron said to himself. He crossed his arms and turned to look out the window. "No matter. By the time they arrive, it will be too late to save the planet." Aaron smirked and stared at his reflection in the window. "Even if they do somehow manage to destroy my machine, there's no hope." He smirked even more. "Those fools. I wonder how they even made it this far." Aaron turned around and stared at his wonderful machine. It was glowing with a soft green light as it spread the virus through a pipe in the floor to the outside world. "My wonderful virus… I can't wait to see the look on Vegeta's face when he finally finds out that his mate is dying." Aaron chuckled to himself. "Revenge is sweet."

"Something odd is going on outside," Videl said. "I can feel it."

"Kind of an eerie feeling…" Pan said. She walked over behind her mother and peered out. "I don't *see* anything…"

"I can feel it, too," Gohan said. He joined the rest of his family at the window. "Something's not right…" Krillin and Eighteen nodded.

"Someone should go check it out," Bra suggested.

"I will," Gohan said. He turned around to leave. Bulma frowned and stopped him.

"Hold on, Gohan," she said, walking to the window and examining the view. "Something definitely isn't right… Does the air look a little… bluish, to you?"

"Bluish?" Pan asked. Gohan, Videl, and Pan looked a little closer. Marron, Krillin, Eighteen, and Bra gathered around another window.

"I guess it does…" Eighteen said finally. She narrowed her eyes. "Strange…"

"Let's not go outside for a while," Bulma said. "Something's in the air, and I don't want to find out what it is the hard way." Suddenly, she got an idea. "I'm going to see if I can collect a sample."

"Good idea, Bulma," Krillin told her. "We'll see if there's anything on TV about it. Maybe we're not the only ones to notice it." Bulma nodded.

"I'll be right back," she said. Bulma turned and walked off down the hallway. As soon as she left, Bra picked up the remote control and turned on the television.

"-the number of fatalities is growing rapidly. Dozens of people just in the viewing area are being hospitalized for what seems to be some kind of virus." Videl gasped.

"A virus?"

"Fatalities?" Gohan wondered.

"Oh, hold on one moment, folks…" The news anchor was handed a piece of paper. He quickly read over it. "I've just been informed that our region is not the only one being affected. I'm being told we now have a map of the current known fatalities of this mystery disease, if we could bring that up, now." A map of the viewing area zoomed out so that it now showed most of the country. It was littered with tiny red dots with numbers in the middle. "As you can see, it has traveled a long way in such a short time. More and more reports of those affected by this virus are being received in our main office." Again, an off-screen assistant interrupted the reporter. The group felt drawn to the television as they watched him read this list of new information slowly.

"A scientist from one of the Capsule Corp. research centers in our area, who wishes to remain anonymous, has just sent us a list of the known symptoms of this new disease." A bright blue screen popped up with the words "You may have this virus if:" written at the top. "Heavy breathing, severe abdominal pain, intense sweating..." As the reporter rattled them off the list, each one appeared on-screen. "High body temperature, severe headaches, and frequent coughing. If you have two or more of these symptoms, please get to the hospital immediately."

"Why does that sound painfully familiar…?" Gohan asked softly.

"Those are the symptoms Chloe had," Bulma said. She was leaning against the doorframe, her arms crossed, eyes full of sadness.

"You're joking!" Gohan exclaimed. Bulma closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Afraid not."

*Busy "finishing" your plan…* Trunks walked along silently, and the rest of the group with him. *What did you mean, Aaron? Is the virus finished, then?* Trunks' heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized something. *If it's finished…* He almost didn't want to bring himself to say it. *…Then did he release it, already?* Trunks felt fear welling up inside him. *That virus… I only got a taste, but Chloe… Chloe didn't make it. And why I'm alive right now, I don't know… but… Chloe…* Trunks felt the tears spring up from their well in his eyes. *My Chloe… this is the thing that I've hated all my life. The very thing that took you away from me…* If Aaron had released the virus, the Syndrome… People were dying. Right now. Trunks narrowed his eyes.  *I'm not going to let Aaron take anyone away. Not this time.* A single tear fell down his cheek and onto Rienna's face.

"Huh…?" she groaned. Rienna took a deep breath and opened her eyes. Trunks looked down at her, and she stared back. "Dad?" He smiled.

"Welcome back, Ri," he said. She looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face.

"Dad, are you ok?" Trunks frowned.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Rienna shrugged as well as she could in her current position.

"I… I dunno. Forget it." Vegeta appeared behind her, to Trunks' right.

"Hello there," he said with a small smile. Rienna tilted her head backwards and stared at him upside-down.

"Oh, hi, Grandpa," she said cheerfully. "Hey, uh, Dad, you can put me down now." Trunks grinned and set her down. "Is everybody here?"

"Oh, she's awake!" Goku said excitedly.

"Hiya, Ri!" Jamie said, walking up beside them. Rienna smiled.

"Jamie!"

"Have a nice nap?" Darrin asked in a sly tone. Rienna grinned.

"Yeah, thanks for asking."

"Are you ok?" Adrienne asked. Her niece nodded.

"Yeah, Aunt Adrienne." Adrienne smiled.

"Good." Rienna looked past Adrienne at Goten and smiled.

"Hey, Uncle Goten!" she said. "Wow, it feels like I haven't seen you guys for forever!"

"You almost haven't."

"Yeah, guess so…" Goten smiled.

"It's good to have you back." Rienna smiled back at him.

"Yes, it is," Vegeta said, putting his hand on his granddaughter's shoulder.

"We missed you," Leah said with a smile.

'Yeah, Brian especially." As he said his name, Trunks felt his heart grow heavy. The others had similar feelings, and they stood there in silence.

"He's definitely going to be missed a whole lot around here," Goten said. Leah, Jamie, and Darrin all nodded in agreement.

"He certainly will be," Goku said.

"Come on," Trunks said, not wanting to take the conversation any further. "Let's keep moving."

"Dad…" Rienna said softly.

"If you don't want to talk about it-" Trunks interrupted him.

"No, I don't want to talk about it, Goten! I just want to get out of this wretched maze, find Aaron, destroy him and his virus and *go home*!" Everyone stared at him, unsure of what to say. "So let's just get out of here…" he said a bit more quietly. He walked off down the hall, and the others followed silently. "…Guys, I'm sorry…"

"Don't worry about it, Trunks," Adrienne said gently. "We know."

"…Thanks for tagging along," he said finally. Goten smiled.

"Hey, no problem, Trunks!"

"No, I mean all this time," Trunks said, shaking his head. "I don't know what I'd do without you guys."

"Don't start that crap!" Vegeta snarled. "We don't have time for it!" Trunks smiled.

"Right," he said. "Sorry."

"I think I see light ahead!" Jamie exclaimed suddenly. He pointed up the path to a tiny speck of light. He waved at them as he ran on ahead. "C'mon! That must be the exit!"

"Great!" Leah exclaimed, running after her twin. Rienna and Darrin followed them closely.

"I can finally get out of this place!" Rienna cried happily.

"Guys, wait for us!" Adrienne called. The rest of the group followed the teens towards the speck of light. They stopped before the exit.

"It's… so bright…" Rienna said softly. She smiled. "I never thought I'd see the sun again."

"Why are you so pessimistic?" Jamie asked.

"Yeah, Ri, lighten up a little!" Leah said, putting her hand on her cousin's shoulder. Rienna grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry, I guess it's kind of a habit." She sighed and stared longingly at the light. "But today has been a rather gloomy day…"

"Yeah," Goku agreed. "But we've got a chance to change that!"

"Yeah!" Jamie cheered.

"I can't wait to kick Aaron's butt!" Leah said with a devious grin. Rienna laughed.

"I'm with you all the way!" she said, giving Leah a high-five. "One problem."

"What's that?" Leah asked. Rienna grinned.

"I want the first hit!"

"No way!" Leah told her with a smile.

"Neither of you get it," Trunks said.

"What?" "Why?" they asked at the same time.

"Because I do!" Vegeta snapped.

"Hey, Dad, I was going to say that!" Trunks exclaimed. Adrienne, Goten, and Goku laughed.

"Like father, like son," Goku said. Both Trunks and Vegeta stared at him. They clearly were not amused. "Heheh… sorry."  Darrin, who by now was itching for a fight, crossed his arms and tapped his foot impatiently.

"There's no use arguing over who gets the first punch," he said. "We're going to need everyone to even land one." The group nodded. "So are we gonna get out of here or not?" he asked a bit sorely.

"Oh, right!" All (except Vegeta and Darrin) sweat-dropped.

"I guess-"

"I'll go first," Vegeta finished for Goku and shot him a dirty look.

"What did I do now?!" Goku asked, exasperated.

"You're still alive after all this time," Vegeta said plainly. He walked into the light and disappeared. Everyone that was left (except Goku) sweat-dropped again.

"Dad/Grandpa/Vegeta!" they groaned. Goku crossed his arms.

"Yeah, well when I do die," he yelled angrily, "you'll be sorry!"

"That'll  be the day…" Trunks muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing…"

Bulma pushed everyone down the stairs into a large empty room. "Hurry, everyone! I'm going to seal us in here for a while!"

"Seal us in?!" Krillin exclaimed. "What the heck are you gonna do that for?!"

"So the virus doesn't get in." Bulma, being the last to come in, closed the door behind her and punched in a code on a small panel next to the door. The words "Air-lock initiated" appeared on the digital readout. There was a short hissing noise, and then the words: "air-lock secure". "There." She smiled and turned around to face the group.

"Bulma," Chi-Chi said quietly. "How long are we going to be down here?"

"I don't know," Bulma replied. "Could be a few hours, maybe… a month."

"A MONTH?!"

"Don't worry, there is plenty of food!"

"Mom, I can't stay here for a month!" Bra complained. "I don't have a change of clothes!" Her husband, Chris, sighed.

"I don't, either!" Melissa chimed in. She was Bra's 7-year-old daughter. Her sister, Ashley (5), nodded.

"Can't stay for a month," she repeated to her grandmother. Bulma sweat-dropped.

"Come on now, guys, cheer up!" Jason (Pan's husband) said. "As long as we're alive, right?"

"Right, Daddy!" their son, Josh, cheered.

"That's the spirit!" Pan told him, ruffling his hair. Josh giggled.

"I just thought of something," Krystal said suddenly.

"What's that?" Videl asked.

"What if the others are out in this?" she said softly. The group went silent.

"…I'm sure they're not," Bulma said finally. "They're probably inside somewhere."

"I hope you're right," Alex said. Bulma didn't answer.

"Well, guess we'd better sit down," Krillin said, sitting on the floor with his back against a wall. "We might be here for a while." Everyone followed his example and began to talk among themselves. Bulma stared at her feet.

*Vegeta, stay safe…*

Vegeta appeared in a large, almost-empty room. The two walls overlooking the countryside were completely made of glass, and gentle yellow light poured through them as the sun slowly sank behind the horizon. A thin haze hung in the air and tinted everything slightly green.

"What in the..?" Vegeta's voice trailed off as he slowly walked over to one of the windows and peered out.

"I'm surprised you made it this far, Vegeta." Our favorite Saiyan Prince whirled around and glared at the speaker. "I'm sorry, did I scare you?" Vegeta scoffed.

"You wish!" he snarled.

"Do you like it?" Aaron asked, walking over to the wall next to Vegeta. He gazed out the window with a small, satisfied smile on his face. Vegeta watched him warily, his eyes narrow. "I heard that about thirty million have already passed on." Vegeta's eyes narrowed even more.

"What?!"

"That's right," Aaron said, smiling a bit more. "Thirty million in thirty minutes. That'd give the rest of the country about…" Aaron turned to Vegeta and smirked. "Two hours." Vegeta's eyes filled with awe and hatred.

"You killed thirty million people!?"

"I give the world about two days," Aaron said with satisfaction. Vegeta's eyes got even bigger. "Spreads fast, doesn't it?" Vegeta clenched his fists and tried to keep himself under control as Aaron turned and walked away.

"Do you think this is fun?!" Vegeta shouted. Aaron stopped. "You don't toy with people's lives!"

"This isn't like you, Vegeta," Aaron said without turning around. "Normally you would have lost control by now."

"I've changed since you saw me last," Vegeta said calmly.

"Apparently." Aaron walked over to another window and looked out. "I wonder how long it took to reach Capsule Corp.," he said innocently. Vegeta's heart skipped a beat. Capsule Corp.!? His eyes burned with malice as they stared into Aaron's. The old Saiyan laughed inwardly as Vegeta's face became twisted with rage.

"If anything happens to my family, I will rip you limb from limb with my bare hands!" he screamed, going SS to release a bit of the tension building up inside him. The older Saiyan laughed.

"I doubt you could," Aaron said quietly, full of confidence. He narrowed his eyes and leered at the angry Super Saiyan. "But go ahead and try."

Look at me! Lookie, lookie! Eight whole chapters!!!! I can't believe it's almost over, though... So sad. Well, guys, lemme know what you think! Please r/r!!