Chapter Five

Taken? The thought echoed terribly in Vegeta's mind, as he understood how his father must have felt before him.

Taken? Goku's whole visage hardened visibly. He remembered how he had felt when Garlic Jr. had taken Gohan... but he had been able to fight and get him back the same day... how must it feel to be beaten in a matter that mattered most?

Taken... 17's brow lowered darkly as his mind started to calculate all different kinds of revenge.

"We'll get her back," Goku announced suddenly, "What did they look like?"

"Only one survived my onslaught," Ava pulled away from 17 woodenly, "He alone took her from me. He was as tall as Kakarot. If it hadn't been for his ears, which came to a point, I would have thought him human. Sharp teeth..."

Her whole being seemed limp where before had stood a proud unbreakable spirit. She spoke with her head angled down, eyes sightless as if blind. She was broken and wouldn't be whole until her child was in her arms.

"He was called Dikon but he was not the leader. He was employed by some unknown species."

Even her voice was devoid of life.

"So we do not know who are enemy is..." Vegeta frown deepened.

"She was taken as bait," her voice floated weakly as a leaf in the wind to the men's ears, "They want to lure us into a trap."

"Did they say where?" Goku asked hopefully.

"He said we would find her on a planet next to where our home planet used to be," she turned dead eyes to Goku.

"We had no enemies near our home planet..." Vegeta thought out loud, "A new enemy... Ava, how were you defeated?"

"He... I felt my energy drain away every time our skin touched. He only had to bide his time and I was defeated," her head lowered even more in shame.

"Vegeta, you remember where our home planet used to be, right?" Goku thumped Vegeta on the back.

"One does not forget where he comes from Kakarot," Vegeta gave him a disdainful look.

"Wait," 17 broke in, "You said 'lure us' into a trap, who is 'us'?"

"Any and all saiyans," Ava's lip curling could barely be seen beneath the dried blood, "sorry, mate, this is my fault..."

She crossed her arms over her chest, clenching her eyes shut tightly.

"Ava, this is not--"

Goku's eyes widened as his forward motion stopped.

"Vegeta?" Goku questioned as he spotted his fellow saiyan's hand clamped to the back of his shirt.

"This is not your place, Kakarot."

"But, Vegeta, she said all saiyans."

"No, Kakarot, it is not your place to comfort her," Vegeta glared lightly at the hapless saiyan before releasing him.

"Ava, you did your best," 17 whispered, not even hearing the saiyan's small dispute as he stood before his wife.

"My best was not good enough," she growled softly, a little life leaked into her voice.

"Your best has always been more and beyond enough. We will get her back and make the man who took her pay," 17's eyes glittered coldly.

The tone of his voice made Ava raise her head, her eyes sparked with hope.

"How?" Her lips barely moved, her voice the smallest thread of sound.

"That is not suitable for your ears," 17's eyes narrowed.

"Tell me," she demanded softly.

Goku and Vegeta listened with wide eyes as 17 launched into a ten minute account of what he would do physically to the man who dare take his child and lay a finger on his wife. His extensive knowledge of human body made the explanation extremely detailed and gruesome.

After five minutes of this Goku covered his own ears and Vegeta smiled. He hadn't known the android had, had it in him.

Ava closed her eyes relishing his every angry word. She sighed and hugged her mate.

"I knew I made the right choice," she whispered in his ear.

17 blinked at the sudden display of affection. This must have really shaken her up... He thought still fuming.

"Is it safe?" Goku whispered to Vegeta.

Vegeta gave him a curt nod.

Goku lifted a hand hesitantly as if testing the air then he smiled and dropped his hands.

"What are we waiting for, let's go!" Goku cheered, "Sasoli will be back in n time!"

"Wait, Kakarot, that may not be such a great idea," Vegeta said thoughtfully.

"Why?"

"Think about it, Kakarot, we are against an unknown enemy that has already showed a willingness to use our families against us. It might be best if you stayed behind and protect the base instead of going on the rescue mission," Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"What base?" Goku frowned.

"You should move your family in Capsule Corp. as well as Gohan's, Ava, did they know how many of us there are?"

"No, I am not even sure what they want to do with us but we are all in danger. We have no way of knowing their resources. I was unable to recognize Dikon's species," Ava stepped away from 17.

"What about 18? Will she be in danger?" 17 frowned.

"She doesn't have saiyan blood but just to be cautious she should move to Capsule Corp. as well," Vegeta shrugged.

"Vegeta, contact Bulma and tell her to get a ship ready," Ava ordered, "Kakarot use instant transmission... Wait, Kakarot, can you instant transmission to Sasoli's location?"

"Give me a second," Goku put a finger to his forehead and concentrated.

"No, I can't," he shook his head, "She either unconscious or too far away."

"Fine, then go pack up your family and meet us at Capsule Corp." Vegeta said sharply.

"Gotcha!" Goku disappeared.

"17, go to your sister's and bring her family to Capsule Corp." Ava told him.

"Consider it done," 17 bowed slightly to his wife before blasting off.

"Come, Ava, you have to tell Zarah what's happened," Vegeta ordered softly.

"Yes, I know," Ava's eyes were sad for a moment before hardening, "let's go."

**

Bardock sat up clutching his head as he opened his eyes. [Ok, where am I?] He asked himself, automatically cataloguing facts, he was in a medical facility of some sort and his clothes were gone. He massaged his head and felt something that shouldn't have been there. The dip in his temple on the right side was filled with a metal.

"Goku," an airy voice exclaimed behind him.

Bardock blinked as a pink alien took him by the arm and led him from the room. He allowed himself to be led through an endless corridor of white hallways.

The alien cooed at him before opening a door that Bardock hadn't seen. The door was full of clean clothes as well as his own though admittedly clean they were also half there only his armor seemed repaired. The battle with Dodoria had proved almost fatal. He would have his revenge on the fat bastard and the pussy whiped Zarbon as well.

Bardock quickly dressed sensing that was what was wanted from the alien. He left behind all his odd uniform except for his red sash, he could not forget his crew, no matter what the circumstances.

The alien cooed making Bardock look at him and motioned the saiyan to yet another room.

This room was full of food.

Another alien greeted him with the exact same strange word. "Goku."

Bardock sat down at one of many tables and looked at the alien curiously.

"Goku?"

The alien just smiled.

"Yardrat."

Shrugging, Bardock dug into his food and found it surprisingly pleasing to his taste buds.

An hour later Bardock leaned back and patted his stomach. He hadn't been this full since... well, that depended on how long he had been out...

"Help," the alien stated suddenly while pointing at his head.

Bardock frowned as he realized the alien was pointing at the metal in his temple mostly hidden by his hair.

Then, it hit him, he wasn't being hit with a vision every time he turned around. The visions no longer could come of their own will and distract him during battle.

Bardock ran his fingers over the metal excited as his mind raced with possibilities when he felt a small groove in the metal. His mind instantly fuzzed.

"What if I don't want to feed you?" The elf-eared alien asked a small girl with a tail.

He shakily removed his fingers as he remembered the saiyan girl in the clutches of some random bounty hunter. How could he have forgotten?

This piece of metal would save his life and cause his death, the surety of this knowledge let the cold feeling of dread settle in his bones.

I have to rescue the girl, Bardock let his gaze fall upon the alien.

"Where's my ship?"

The alien cooed at him and motioned for him to follow.

Bardock wrapped a piece of meat in his sash before stuffing it in his armor, a warrior must always be prepared.

The alien showed him directly to his ship which had been repaired and even modified a bit.

"Thank you," Bardock inclined his head in gratitude.

The pink one nodded.

Bardock grinned as he leaped into the pod, wondering at the generosity of this species.

"Goku," the alien waved in farewell.

"Yardrat," Bardock copied the gesture before shutting the pod and setting the coordinates for the saiyan oppressors.

Wait I know these coordinates... this is right by planet Vegeta...

"Splavish?" Bardock blinked in astonishment and rechecked the coordinates. "Are the Splavoids behind this? Impossible... they have no resources, no power, and no IQ whatsoever... They couldn't even pay someone to do this..."

He shook his head in consternation, there had to be more to this than met the eye.

"Maybe another species is inhabiting the planet now, wiped out the Splavoids, and have a grudge against us. The Splavoids would not dare go against the saiyan."

He hit the launch button while simultaneously disabling the sleeping gas mechanism. He would stay awake this trip, the next planet would not be so hospitable.

I'm coming, girl, I'm coming...

**

Dikon snapped awake.

He had decided to take a nap since the kid was out and the fight with the saiyan female had worn him out. Sure, he was blessed with the gift of draining other people's energy but that didn't mean he got to use it, he just sort of grounded the power into the planet, and it tired the hell out of him.

His green eyes darted around the room searching for what possibly could have awoken him.

A small hand touched his arm.

His eyes snapped down to meet a pair of big blue eyes. The little girl regarded him curiously and without fear.

She could have killed me... Dikon stared at her stupidly, She wasn't supposed to have recovered this quickly.

"I'm hungry," she announced suddenly.

Dikon smiled, he couldn't help it, she could have killed him in so many different ways... and all she wanted was something to eat.

"What if I don't want to feed you?" Dikon yawned, watching her every move for even the slightest hint of deceit.

Her blue eyes clouded while her little mouth formed a pout.

"I'm hungry," her voice trembled.

"All right, kid, settle down, I'll feed you," Dikon watched her eyes clear, "did your mother train you at all?"

"Train?" She blinked at him, "I am not supposed to talk to strangers..." she offered with a smile.

"Aren't I a stranger?" Dikon frowned at her.

"You're Dikon," she cocked her head to the side.

"Hn," Dikon shook his head, this child was completely... innocent and without guile.

"What's your name?"

The girl frowned at him.

"I am not supposed to say."

"Why? It's just a name," Dikon inquired curiously.

"I... don't know," she shrugged.

Dikon shrugged as well, it really didn't matter.

"Come, the gallery is this way," he got up from his chair and started ambling toward the gallery.

He would have to throw something together, he realized, the saiyan had killed all his men. Great! Dikon heard the small patter of feet as the pint-sized saiyan followed him.

"Where are we going?" She followed him.

"A planet called Splavish."

"Why?"

"Someone wants revenge there."

"Why?"

"I don't know," he shrugged.

A brief silence.

"Why did you take me?"

"You're bait."

"Bait?" Sasoli frowned.

"To lure the other saiyans in one place."

"Why?"

"So we can kill them."

Dikon stopped as he realized what he was saying and exactly whom he was saying it to. She looked at him with betrayed eyes. Almost like she was disappointed in him.

"We won't kill you," he lifted a hand towards her.

What am I saying? Dikon asked himself sharply, of course we have to kill her.

"Really?"

Blue eyes met green.

"Really," Dikon sighed, sighed as her eyes lit up, this girl was getting to him.

Dikon turned sharply away from her and stomped the rest of the way. He could hear her practically skipping behind him. He had to stop this... attachment... He had never been around children, as a mercenary, it was never required. He knew what to do with an enemy but she... wasn't trying to escape, kill him, and/or refusing to eat, at least right now.

He slammed open the door to the kitchen and yanked open the cupboard grabbing random pieces of food. He turned again and threw the food on the table.

"Now you will eat if I have to shove this down your throat!" He yelled at her.

Sasoli looked at him curiously. His was nearly gasping for air.

"Thank you," she smiled at him.

Dikon slumped, what was he going to do with her.

Sasoli giggled, her mom hadn't told her this would be fun.

Flashback. "Remember, Sasoli, your age is deceiving. You must play the young innocent." Her mother smiled at her, "That shouldn't be too hard for you, ne?" End Flashback.

**

"What are you doing 17?" 18 frowned concerned as her usually carefree brother nearly shoved her aside as he landed.

"You have to move your family to Capsule Corp. now," 17 walked briskly past her.

"Maron!" 17 called.

"Uncle 17!" Maron came running from the house and jumped into the android's arms. "I missed you. Did you bring Sasoli?"

17 pulled her small body closer, wishing half-heartedly that she was his daughter.

"I missed you as well. Come, 18, I will take her to Capsule Corp." Without another word he blasted away.

"17!" 18 screamed after him, "Damn him... Krillin pack!"

"What's going on?" Krillin's voice sounded from inside the house.

"We're going to find out right now! Pack!"

**

"Dad! What's going on?" Gohan nearly collided with Goku in midair.

"No time, Gohan, I'll explain later. Take my hand we have to get Videl," Goku ordered.

Gohan took the offered hand and disappeared.

"Videl?" Was the only evidence left behind that he had been there.

End of Chapter Five

AN: Alright! You people got Bardock! Are you happy? I hope so... ::Listens for a tell-tale click of a gun loading:: I'll update by Sunday at the latest. ::Takes a nervous step away from the computer:: I'm going...