Disclaimer's Note: Don't Own Anything.

Chapter Nine- Loss

            Gohan awoke as a large rain drop fell on his nose.  He wrinkled it, and set up as the skies opened up and began to pour on him.

            "Great... just great..." he hissed in annoyance, as he began to sit up.

            Suddenly however he froze as he noticed something peculiar.

            "The androids chis are moving..."

            Gohan was up in an instant, ridding himself of the last moments of sleep.

            Then he froze for the second time.

            "And Trunks is with them!?"

            Gohan's mind couldn't comprehend why in all the hells Trunks would be with the androids.  He just knew one thing.  This wasn't good.

            He moved quickly, flying to Capsule Corp. He knocked on the door curtly, not expecting Bulma to be awake.           

            To his shock, the blue haired genius was already awake.  She threw her arms around him as she opened the door.

            "Thank Kami you're here Gohan...." she whimpered.

            Gohan pulled her away, staring at her disbelievingly.

            "Where's Trunks?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

            Bulma's eyes began to tear up again.

            "You mean he's really not with you?" she asked her voice cracking.

            Gohan felt panic begin to grow in the pit of his stomach.

            "How long has he been missing?" Gohan questioned.

            "I don't know... I just woke up now, and went to check in on him and his window was broken, and...and...and..." Bulma was fully sobbing now and was unable to complete her sentence.

            "Bulma don't leave Capsule Corp understand?" Gohan commanded, taking Bulma by the shoulders. "I'm going to go look for Trunks, okay?"

            Bulma nodded, her lips quivering.

            "I think he's with the androids." Gohan added.

            Bulma's eyes widened drastically, and a small sob escaped her lips.

            "But I'm not going to let them hurt him. Understand Bulma? Do you understand? I will never let those monsters hurt your son."      

            Bulma nodded.

            Gohan turned to go, but Bulma reached out and touched his shoulder. He looked over at her.

            "Gohan... I was wrong. I...I-I'm sorry." Bulma murmured.

            Gohan gave her a faint smile and nodded as he took off into the rain.

                                                **************

            Gohan was trying to follow the androids' chis but it was difficult.  They knew how to keep them especially low so that it was hard to detect.

            The last place he had felt them though was his apartment.

            He raced through the storm towards the place where he had been only this morning.

            Gohan held his breath, expecting to find the worst of the apartment, and the town it was in. But nothing even looked touched.  The town was still slumbering away, hidden in the storm.

            He landed softly on the ground, and began to ascend up the stairs to where the room he lived in was.

            The door was open.

            Gohan shut his eyes, breathing hard as he entered.         

            There was no sound at all.

            "Brett?" Gohan called into the seemingly desolate apartment. "Brett?"

            Gohan heard a tiny noise from the back bedroom, and headed towards it, staying on guard all the while.

            Gohan reached his hand out towards the door, and realized that he was trembling. He swallowed hard, and threw open the door.

            The room was dark, but there was a lump in the bed that appeared to be Brett.

            Gohan let out his breath, feeling relieved that everything was okay, and reached for the light.

            He switched on the light in a simple motion, and light flooded the room.

            Gohan let out a gasp of shock, and swallowed down the vomit that gathered in the back of his throat as he saw what the shadows had been hiding.

            Blood filled Brett's bed, and the man's face was desperately pale and bruised. The blankets only half covered his beaten body, and Gohan felt tears begin to grow in his eyes.

            "Oh Kami... Brett..."

            Gohan stepped carefully over to the bed.

            "Brett?" he whispered the man's name one last time.

            The eyes fluttered slightly this time, before opening.

            Brett didn't seem to be able to focus his eyes, but a slight smile crossed his lips as he saw Gohan.

            "Gohan..." Brett's voice came out a croak.

            Gohan knelt by the bed, tears rolling down his cheeks.

            "How you feeling?" Gohan asked, trying to sound normal.

            "Mmm... I've felt better..." Brett answered, giving a little laugh.

            Gohan smiled through his tears.

            "Gohan... They have Trunks..." Brett's voice started to break, and trickle of blood rolled down the corner of his mouth.  "Y-You've got to stop them from doing what they did to me.... They're ruthless and merciless Gohan... Please save Trunks..."

            Gohan squeezed Brett's hand a little.

            "Don't worry Brett.  I swear I will.  Just hang on okay? I'll fly you to the hospital or something..." Gohan pleaded.

            Brett opened his eyes again, and stared at Gohan.

            "I'm sorry my friend... but it's time for me to leave... I don't think I can hold on any longer..." Brett's voice was just a whisper now.

            "No Brett...You're stronger then that..." Gohan's voice was breaking now as he cried, tears splashing onto Brett's hand.

            "I'm afraid not..." Brett said, his voice very audible.  "This is one battle they've won. Go win the war and your love now Gohan..."

            Then the life force of Brett Satan flickered out.

            Gohan sat back stunned for a moment, before screaming out his rage.  Instantly he flashed into Super Saiyan, his hair golden, his eyes chips of ice, tears were tumbling down his cheeks freely and hitting his orange gi.  He cried for his friend, and all the pain and loss he'd experience in his life.

            "Damn you androids!" Gohan screamed out in pain. "I'll never forgive you for this! I'm going to tear you limb from limb and laugh as you bleed to death!"

            Gohan shrieked, until his voice gave out and no more tears would come.  Then he stood, determined and ready.

            "I forbid you to do this to Trunks." he hissed as he headed out of the apartment.

            Thunder echoed in the distance as the Super Saiyan took to the sky to retrieve his love.

Author's Note: Email or review to vegetaztwin@hotmail.com