A/N: Readers pay special attention to the name of this chapter-Flashback-, which is exactly what this entire chapter is until stated otherwise. BTW although Bulma is being told the story it'll be like your seeing the events as they happen to Alana.

Suspended In Time

Chapter 4

A small girl no older than four sat on the edge of a bank hands clutched in the soft earth, legs lazily swinging back and forth her feet just barely skimming the waters surface. Even still the gushing stream obtained squeals of laughter and delight as the child felt the sensation tickle the bottoms of her feet. A large smile graced her young face, gray eyes full of childlike innocence, wonder and curiosity as should be. Her small face framed by her shoulder-length brown hair now fashioned in a high ponytail.

Yes, little Miss Alana Motakashi the joy of her parents the responsibility of her siblings. Easily amused by her own antics she began to slide further down the bank trying to see how close to the water she could get her foot without actually touching. Hands fisted on the grass to keep her balance she continued her game, playing as long as it pleased her and more than once did she lose grip and completely submerge her foot beneath the waters glassy surface.

Totally immersed within her own game Alana didn't notice the large shadow that appeared behind her, till the owner of the shadow picked her up. Taken by surprise Alana gasped in fear until she was turned about face and realized who it was. "Oh it's you, hi Alex," she said happily as he sat her back down on her bare feet and on second thought put her on his shoulders. "C'mon squirt lunch is ready-ow," he yelped receiving a flick to the head from his sister. "I told you not to call me that Alex" a small frown resting on her lips. "But I always call you that -ow" he debated receiving another flick to the head. "And I always tell you not too." She said "Ok, Lana-Ow hey I stopped calling you squirt so why do you keep hitting me?"

"You and Alexia are gonna leave in the fall so I have to get in as many hits as humanly possible," stating it as if it were the most obvious and not to mention logical thing in the world. They both grew quiet at her last statement. "Alex.. she said softly, sadly. Do you and Alexia haft to go away to college? I don't want you to leave." Alex just nodded his head affirmatively "Don't worry you know we'll visit on the holidays and we'll call you everyday." "Promise?" She asked. "Promise," he said reassuringly, jiggling his shoulders at the same time raising giggles from the child on his shoulders. "Now lets hurry up before lunch is all gone," he said and broke off into a run as if to enforce the urgency of the situation.

The Motakashi family had taken a trip up to the mountains for a weekend the first in a long list of trips they were to make. In order to appease everyone they took a trip for each person their mother being born in a mountain village loved returning ever so often, so here they were. Come Monday they'd be heading for Europe-Alexia, Wednesday it was off to Las Vegas-Mishiyama and Alex and finally they'd finish it with a day at Super World for Alana.

Now together they ate their lunch talking about this and that boring grown- up talk to Alana but she pretend to understand exactly what they were saying and more often than not added her two-cents worth in.

"Hey Alexia where are you going?" Her mother asked. "I lost my cell phone I'm sure I left it in the valley I'm just gonna go check," she replied. "Take Alex with you you'll find it faster that way." "I got a better idea- Alex interjected -why don't we just call her cell phone and she can follow the sound of the ring. "Yeah that's right you as in you two can follow the sound of the ring together," his mother replied. "Fine, let's go;" Alex said beckoning his sister to follow him.

"Mama can I go with them, I wanna help too," the small girl pleaded. "No Lana you can't go" her mother said declining her request. Disappointment washed over her features. "But.. you can dial the number so they can follow the sound." "Yay," she swiftly ran to the other side of the table and climbed up on her mother's lap awaiting further instructions. "Ok she said handing Lana a cell phone- 655-7896," relaying the numbers to her daughter. "It's ringing she squealed and pressed the phone against her ear in anticipation." "Honey they haven't found the phone yet," her father teased. "Shh it's ringing," she said shushing her father a finger over her lips for emphasis which only made him laugh more seeing that she was taking this so seriously.

Shifting the phone to the other ear she heard the other end pick-up "Hi Lexi," she said instinctively. "Found it" "Of course you found it silly how else would we be talking," she laughed. "Hmm, silly me were on are way b-" Alexia didn't finish her sentence. "Huh?" Alana questioned. "She musta hung up," Alana said. Within three seconds of that statement two bloodcurdling screams could be heard echoing from the valley.

Alana naturally began to whimper in fear "Alex and Lexi are in trouble," she cried hugging her mother for stability. "Kiki Alana's father said. Take her back to the cabin then call the authorities I'm gonna go to the valley. "Be careful," she said and took off to the cabin running with Alana in her arms. Kiki had just called the authorities and was now about to go join her husband in his search. "Lana listen to me stay here whatever you do," Kiki said and with a quick kiss to her daughters temple she ran back down to the valley not even checking to see if Alana had followed her instructions.

Alana closed and locked the door behind her and ran to window and sat waiting for any signs of her family. She did see something but it wasn't her family it was an old man with waist-length gray hair she couldn't see his face because his back was turned to her. He was heading toward forest he turned his head around to see if he was being followed and as he did they locked eyes and she cringed inwardly because those eyes held nothing but hatred and contempt but strangely they beckoned to her; she was going to follow him.

The mystery man still stood at the edge of the forest seemingly waiting for her but once Alana came outside began venturing forth into the wilderness. Alana began running after him until he had led her deep within the forest, now having lost sight of him she began walking off in any random direction trying to relocate him. Her mind was completely focused on the old man-with eyes of hate-till she chanced upon a slain deer she gasped in horror and shut her eyes tight in an attempt to block out the horrible image.

After a few moments she felt a wave of heat pass her senses and when she opened her eyes the spot where the deer once laid was now just a smoking hole. Looking up she saw the old man once more with a large knife in his hand soaked in blood along with a scarf and a denim jacket he slashed them both and discarded the knife. Coming towards Alana he picked her up and carried her off. To terrified to think she just closed her eyes as he took her off to who knows where. He halted sometime later and dropped Alana to the ground like a rag doll putting the slashed garments in her lap. Crouching down to her level he took his hand which was still covered in blood and wiped it on the side of her face then placed it firmly around her neck. He now had her full attention, Alana was fear-stricken and couldn't move an inch to save her life.

The old man uttered one word plain and simple and Alana obeyed.

"Scream."

*******

Alana awoke in her bed forehead beaded in sweat and her throat hoarse and dry. She turned her head and looked at the clock 5:00 AM it was the same thing every time the same nightmare or figment of her imagination as her parents called it. She knew that what she saw had been real and they had believed her up until that part about the guy flying.

A loud sigh passed her lips and knowing she would find no solace in sleep she got up and began cleaning. The sooner she did this the sooner she would be able to leave. Alana wasn't one to confine herself inside besides it was a kind of therapy for her. Doing something, anything got her mind off Alex and Alexia. For she'd be lying if she said she didn't think about them constantly. An though after eight years her she still believed they were out there somewhere as her parents who had long since given up hope.

~Late Afternoon (still a flashback)~

Alana went out blading right after lunch but instead of going her usual route she headed for the city limits. Probably not the smartest thing to do with the Androids on the loose but then again it would be just as dangerous at home as it would be there. The city truly was a sad sight, once where throngs of people aligned the streets, later turned into crowds, now reduced to a few.

She maneuvered unsteadily around broken concrete which would've been a lot easier without the pack on her shoulders it was sort of a bother but she wouldn't go anywhere without it or the locket around her neck. Besides packing a few capsule of food and clothes she always carried a small photo- album of she and her family and undoubtedly the locket held Alex and Alexia pictures. Tonight her family was moving back up to the mountain village permanently. Not since a day ago her parents had noticed that the Androids only attack urban areas so far there had never attacked any areas that didn't have a city. A last ditch effort at trying to give her a normal life without fear of being killed at any given moment.

Abruptly her body was flung across the air as a result of a large after shock of a huge energy blast directed at the heart of the city; where her parents were.

******

The next twelve years she was an orphan wondering from place to place being taken by estranged families wherever they were or would take her in. But she always left cause since then she was determined now more than ever to find her brother and sister.

**End FlashBack**

"That's it Bulma that's all I can tell," she said in a shuddered breath on the verge of tears. I tried comforting her as best I could as she leaned forward to rest her head I noticed a glint of metal around her neck. It must've been her locket. "Alana may I see your locket," I asked. Slowly lifting up her head she nodded and took it out from inside her shirt and placed it in my hand.

I opened it and staring back at me two sets of twin ice blue eyes the same ones that had spoken death unto the Z-senshi and countless others.

It couldn't be. How?

Alana was family... To the Androids.

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