Claimer: I do own Alana

A/N: Sorry reviewers for not updating this story in a while. Though some authors leave their fics untouched for months on end. Still it's seemed like a long time so here it is the 3rd chapter.

Suspended In Time

Chapter 3

Bulma returned to her desk probably to get some medicine for me when she came back she had a..bean?.. It seemed it was a Senzu bean and it was supposed to have fantastic healing properties. Honestly I was sketchy about this I mean who in their right mind would believe that a bean would heal their wounds. Though I did say, or at least to myself that she had my trust so I was caught between trust and my own common sense. And with Bulma's expectant face staring at me patiently waiting for me to consume this "Senzu bean" I really had no choice at all.

It was hard, crunchy, stale, and bitter plus it had an aftertaste that left something to be desired. But to my great surprise it worked, my cracked ribs healed, broken ankle mended it was miraculous. I jumped out the hospital bed and did a somersault right there in the med-bay out of sheer joy and just to see if I could. It was magnificent, "thank you Bulma," I said as I grabbed her into a tight hug. "Your welcome," she laughed out almost choking I, myself didn't know I was hugging her that hard I jumped back giving an apologetic look. She just laughed it off "Ok now the first thing we need to do is get you cleaned up," she said matter-of-factly. For the first time that day I looked down at myself she really wasn't kidding about that. "Yeah I guess you're right."

"Now the bathrooms all the way down the hall to your left," she said leading me in that direction. "There's already a towel and a change of clothes in there for you." She continued on "Uh I had bag," I interrupted I hadn't seen it in the other room. "I know that's already been put into a guest bedroom," she answered. "Now when your finished with your shower meet me down in the kitchen," she said leaving me at the bathroom door already gone and around the corner before I could even ask where it was.

******

Moments later I was in the shower, I had taken my hair out of its usual plat to wash it. I loved hot showers; the way the steam billowed in the air covering the glass door in a thick blanket of fog, the gentle stream of practically scalding water that pelted my skin. I didn't know why but I could always withstand temperatures of water that most would find to be uncomfortably hot. But I thought it was wonderful and I stood directly under the showerhead just so it could cascade down my form, I could hear and feel the water rush past me and I reveled in it. I felt calm and peaceful a rare feeling to have in the Age of the Androids but like most things it wasn't meant to last. I'd felt a slight change in temperature, I was losing hot water and the soap remained on the rack untouched like the shampoo. Yes, my relaxation would have to come to a close, a soft sigh passed my lips as I reached for the rack.

******

Steam circulated through the air like a heavy mist covering everything in a film of condensation; the walls, the sink, the small decorative items elegantly arranged to compliment the bathroom and of course the mirror.

When was the last time I really looked at myself, well no time like the present I thought. Hot met cold as I wiped away the mist that covered its reflective surface, a young woman of twenty-four stared back at me dark stringy shoulder-length brunette hair, still heavy with water, calm gray eyes like the sky after a storm. I had never looked much like my brother and sister blue eyes an all or even my dad for that matter. The only person you could tell I was related to would be my mother we looked alike the same stature, height, build. But we never knew where my eyes came from nobody alive in our family had gray eyes, we always assumed I was a throwback to some unknown relative, though it didn't matter where I got my eyes from.

Though by now I was certain I wasted more than enough time I spotted the clothes Bulma had laid out for me, she was right they did fit, my attire consisted of a short-sleeved maroon top and a pair of dark blue jeans. I grabbed all my stuff and headed out the door but before I could make it to the hallway some unknown person abruptly snatched it out of my hand without any warning at all. Spotting the source I found myself staring into the face of a very small and unattractive servo-bot, naturally I screamed I mean that thing practically came out of nowhere. Though by the time I regained my composure the servo-bot was gone but another was in its place. "Please follow me to the kitchen," she..the thing said in her.. it's mechanical voice. After that it turned from me and headed towards what must have been the kitchen, it had gotten a good distance away from me cause it took me so long to actually go after it I ended up sprinting for a while just to catch up.

It wasn't long before we reached the kitchen, I caught the faintest whiffs of the lunch that she had probably made, it smelled divine the pungent aroma of the spices filled the air and tantalized my senses.

"About time," I heard her say I spotted Bulma at the table set with two plates of food. ************************************************************************ Alana had finally gotten down her after decade long shower or at least it had felt that way, she still seemed a little timid around me. If the fact that after she had taken a seat at the table, which I must add was followed nicely by a long disturbing silence, is any indication. But you know I could never stay quiet for too long.

"So Alana you never did tell me your last name. What is it?" "Its Motakashi" "As in Mishiyama Motakashi- "Yes that was my father's name but how did you- "He used to work for Capsule Corp he was a very brilliant man"- Thank you he'd appreciate you saying that had he still been here on this earth." "I'm sorry for your loss" "That's ok Bulma you don't need to apologize you couldn't have known," a now solemn expression adorning her young features.

A little more than urgently I successfully managed to steer the conversation from deceased loved ones or at least not about their deaths anyway "You know I've been needing a new lab assistant, now I don't suppose that technological genius got passed down did it?" "Well just have to find out won't we." "I'll take that as a yes and we can go down to the lab after lunch now lets eat."

I, myself had prepared delightful little lunch for the two of us, though I think I made a little too much even if those medicines could give people quite an appetite. I sincerely doubted she needed to eat the amount I had prepared. But as I watched my guest eat her food I found it oddly reminiscent if not bizarre but it wasn't in how she ate, for she ate how any young lady would but in the quantity. I dismissed it as extreme hunger I mean I found her the day before and who knew how long it had last been since she'd eaten. Alana was thoroughly immersed in her lunch and what was lunch without polite conversation I was still quite curious about my guest.

"So, Alana what has life been like for you?" Still absorbed in her lunch I had to repeat the question a second time before she could register what I'd said. Honestly, from the look on her face I don't think she really wanted to tell me, like I was making her reopen old wounds that never properly or fully-for that matter-healed. A pang of guilt hit me just then and I had almost told her she didn't have to but by this time she had already begun speaking and I could tell by the way her features were set that she planned on telling me. Still I could've stopped her..

I didn't ************************************************************************A/N: An that's where I gonna end this chapter. Sorry! But as you all have undoubtedly guessed the next chapter will be about Alana's past. Now how long have you ppl been waiting for this chapter. And hopefully I won't comedown with another serious case of WB or writer's block. *Looks behind her* "Oh no it's coming back!" *Screams like a lunatic and runs away*