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Chapter 3 - The Kindness of Strangers
I glanced around the room idly looking for Ryu. After seeing him on the run from Videl this morning, I was a little more concerned than usual. Videl was smart enough that she might be able to piece enough things together to expose me if Ryu was suddenly exposed.
I relaxed a little as I felt his Ki settle on the roof and collapse downwards, almost like feeling someone fall out of Super.
Odd…
I felt Ryu's ki go into an empty classroom, and wait for a bit. Videl and Nina walked in then, Nina visibly shaken, and Videl worried. They spoke in voices too low for anyone else to hear, but my enhanced senses easily picked it up.
"That's absurd Nina. There's no such thing…"
Nina's eyes narrowed. Her voice came out as a hiss.
"I know what I saw Videl. That guy just glowed, then he changed into one of them right in front of me. This is big."
The word them was said with a surprising amount of venom. Videl sighed.
"Well, assuming you're right, did you get a good look at the guy?"
This is the big one…
She shook her head.
"No, not really. He always managed to stay just ahead of me. He changed after I cast haste and started catching up to him just to keep me from recognizing him. But did recognize one thing though…"
Videl perked up.
"Oh?"
"He was using his wings to fly after he changed, but before that he was using the same power as the Gold Fighter. I still don't know what it is, but I know it was the same thing."
Videl grumbled, muttering some unflattering comments about my somewhat offensive alter ego.
Just what is Ryu, anyways?
I went over what I knew.
1. Ryu's had ki training.
2. … … …
There is no '2'.
Great. Just great.
I sighed as the teacher began the lesson.
Maybe he'll tell me more today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walked into class quickly before the bell for second hour rang.
The last thing I need is for Sara to find out I missed school…
Walking in, I eyed Videl and Nina, looking for any hint of recognition. There was none, just Videl's customary scowl, and Nina's slightly wan smile. I felt okay, like I was pretty much in the clear. My eyes slid over to Gohan as I ascended the stairs. There was a questioning look in his eyes that could have meant anything. My gut was telling me that he knew something. How much I was unable to tell, but with that feeling…
I sighed and sat down, giving Gohan a cursory nod, then, keeping my arm low, pointed to the roof. He nodded, getting the message. We'd talk there, during lunch or after school, which ever was easiest.
Classes droned on, and I watched with some fascination at Gohan's eating habits during lunch. Seventeen had given me a basic rundown on Saiyan habits and abilities, but it was still staggering to see him consume that much food. There was no opportunity to slip away to the roof, but after school was still a viable option. I smirked silently to myself as I felt Gohan's ki dealing with something, who really knows what, down the road a few blocks.
Gohan and I lingered a bit in the classroom after school, until we felt Videl and Nina's kis move away from the roof, then we started up. The silence was a little awkward as we ascended. The rooftop was a little windy, and we stayed pretty much silent until Gohan had rejoined with his 'other half'. He started.
"Soooo… are you able to…"
"Trust you? Yeah. He said it should be okay. I was trained by a man named Seventeen."
I looked straight into Gohan's eyes as I said it. I saw surprise and confusion, but no real fear. That was good.
"Wow… Never would have thought of him."
Then he blinked before continuing.
"And he married? When did that happen? And a kid?!"
I chuckled a little.
"Yes, it happened. About five years ago."
Gohan smiled a little as well, then it deepened into slight frown.
"I'll understand if you don't want to answer this, but what are you? Nina was really panicked this morning when she and Videl came in. She mentioned that you… changed somehow."
I sighed. And thought for a moment, looking at him. In the end, I decided to extend a little trust. From everything I understood, he would be one of the only people on the planet to actually understand.
"I am Brood."
His eyes widened a bit.
"Wow… I thought that was just an old legend… People who could turn into dragons… The power to destroy the planet… How much of it is true?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Ironically, it's probably the only witch-hunt in history that has it's facts straight. When Sara and I lost our parents…"
I sighed. Gohan put a hand on my shoulder.
"It's tough isn't it? I've lost my father twice now, and it doesn't get any easier…"
His turn to sigh. But then he straightened, and walked to the edge of the roof. He turned back.
"You sure you don't want to come?"
I shook my head.
"No, not really. Not after what happened to my parents."
He smiled a little.
"Not all humans are like that Ryu."
"I know Gohan, but even if it weren't that, I do know that people don't like Brood as it is. It wouldn't be good to confirm our existence."
He nodded a little.
"Well, see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah…"
I turned towards the stairs and descended, moving down and out the front doors of the school with ease, determined to walk outside the city rather than risk exposure again. Walking became an automatic function as my mind wandered over the events of my life.
The loss of my parents was one of the first things that came to mind, and I wondered what they would think of my and Sara's lives now.
Would they approve?
My thoughts were about to move to the next unfolding events of my history when I heard something in the alley next to me. I paused and looked in. Three men were cornering a girl. I almost turned to move on. It wasn't my business after all.
Almost.
I stopped when my mind suddenly flashed forward to the day we first met Seventeen. Without the kindness of a stranger we would have been killed.
I dropped my backpack behind the wall.
I closed my eyes. If someone saw me, they would see only a dragon.
A roar sounded in my head, and my body gave off a vibrant white light, attracting the attention of the men and the girl. The light faded, and I snapped open my eyes. I could smell the fear in the air as the men backed away slowly. Using my wings instead of ki for a more intimidating and dramatic effect, I hovered about a half a foot off the ground, arms crossed over my chest.
"Let the girl go."
I moved forward slowly into the alley. One of the men pulled a gun. I smirked.
"Let the girl go please."
My tone left no doubt that violence would follow if he choose to continue. He decided to make the worst choice possible.
He fired a shot at me. The smell of fear increased as the bullet impacted and fell to the ground, useless. He and his buddies began backing away slowly, keeping the girl with them, a dark patch forming on the leader's jeans. I snarled in disgust.
"Final warning. Let the girl go now."
He put the gun to her head.
"D-Don't come any closer… I-I'll do it - I swear!"
Before he could blink I had him by the gun hand ten feet in the air. The others suddenly got smart and started running. I grinned at the man I had.
"We really shouldn't keep them out of this, now should we?"
Another burst of speed later, and we were in front of them, the one in my hand passed out from the speeds involved.
Weakling…
With the stench of fear and excrement filling my nose I felt the need to end the encounter as soon as possible, and flung him into the other two. They pushed him off of each other and ran towards the other end, past the girl, who was watching with, wide, frightened eyes. Not bothering to play anymore, I grabbed them from behind and crashed them together like cymbals. They collapsed in my hands, and I absently tossed them on top of the other man.
I turned towards the girl, who let out a frightened squeak. I spoke simply.
"If you wish to press charges, I would suggest calling the police. They won't be recovering for another hour. If that."
Then I left, flapping to the top of the alley. As I did so, I felt a sense of fulfillment, as if this were something I was meant to do.
I smiled slightly as I heard a whispered 'thanks'.
I nodded, making my decision. Then I sped up to snatch my backpack down on the ground faster than human eyes could follow before heading back to the school building to drop it off on the roof next to Gohan's.
No sense in carrying it around all afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I paused in my dictation to Janet, my secretary, to take a sip from my coffee and look out the window. I smiled faintly, despite the general idiocy that had been bogging me down today. Then the phone rang and I motioned for Janet to leave as I sat down to take the call. A look at the flashing light on the phone revealed it to be the receptionist, Marcy.
"Yes?"
[I'm sorry to bother you sir, I know you asked not to be disturbed, but he insists on being put through directly to you. If it were anyone else, I would just tell them that but…]
I sighed. It was going to be one of those days, was it?
"And just who is it that overrules the word of Satan City's Mayor, hmmm?"
I could practically see the blush on her face through the phone.
[Hercule Satan!]
I lost some of my overcast look. A call from my friend would do wonders for the way my day had been going so far.
Assuming he's calling me as a friend and not as the Mayor…
"Patch him through Marcy. I'll see what he wants."
Hercule and I had met in college. The Champ's degree was largely ceremonial, and he had been more into frat parties than actual studying, but contrary to the popular story that he had been raised only to fight off earth's enemies, he had actually been at the school.
Even if he was rarely in a classroom…
[Emit?]
My small smile got a little brighter. It was a code of sorts. My name, Emit, meant a call of a more personal, and therefore infinitely more pleasurable, nature. If he has started 'Mr. Mayor' then he had a bug up his butt about something, and I didn't need that today. But that was a moot point.
"Hercule, what can I do for you?"
[It's not much Emit, I promise. I was just wondering if maybe we could ride in together for that party this weekend. We haven't had a lot of time to just talk like we used to…]
I smiled.
"Certainly, it'll be a much better conversation than I usually get, what with politics this, 'can you do me a favor' that…"
Hercule's loud boisterous laugh came back to me over the phone before he spoke again.
[Fantastic! See you then!]
The phone clicked dead then, and I looked at it for a moment, still slightly amused after all these years at Hercule's impulse driven behavior. I put the phone back on the desk and picked up my coffee mug again, savoring the moment before I would call Janet back in and start from where I left off.
I lay back in the chair and let out a long contented sigh as I looked out the window. When you're Mayor of the busiest city in the world, you look for piece in moments, not days, otherwise you end up burning out or going completely out of your mind. I smiled and took a sip from the mug.
In the next instant, there was a coffee stain on the window, and the mug tumbled forgotten from my hands as I gaped in disbelief.
Did I just see a… dragon… go past?
I frowned, all good thoughts of the coming weekend forgotten as I contemplated the possible meanings of this. It was a Brood dragon, of that I had no doubt.
But I thought they were all dead…
I deepened my frown in thought as I rose and began to pace. This would simply not do. The Brood were too dangerous to live. If they lived, the planet was doomed, I knew that. Every person in my order knew that. I sat back down and spent a moment composing myself. Then I reached for the phone with every intent to call Marcy and inform her that I would be leaving early today.
Why now? Why after all these years?
I closed my eyes and let my hand drop to the table. I had to think through the consequences of this action before making a decision hastily.
I was still skilled in magic, even after twenty years or so since my last actual fight, but I also knew that my position would suddenly be of great importance to the order. To important to allow me to fight, which was a definite plus, but I would still have to train. Dragons were unpredictable, who knew where they'd strike next.
Then another thought hit me like a ton of bricks and I grabbed the phone with a shaky hand.
Is my family alright?
Chapter 3 - The Kindness of Strangers
I glanced around the room idly looking for Ryu. After seeing him on the run from Videl this morning, I was a little more concerned than usual. Videl was smart enough that she might be able to piece enough things together to expose me if Ryu was suddenly exposed.
I relaxed a little as I felt his Ki settle on the roof and collapse downwards, almost like feeling someone fall out of Super.
Odd…
I felt Ryu's ki go into an empty classroom, and wait for a bit. Videl and Nina walked in then, Nina visibly shaken, and Videl worried. They spoke in voices too low for anyone else to hear, but my enhanced senses easily picked it up.
"That's absurd Nina. There's no such thing…"
Nina's eyes narrowed. Her voice came out as a hiss.
"I know what I saw Videl. That guy just glowed, then he changed into one of them right in front of me. This is big."
The word them was said with a surprising amount of venom. Videl sighed.
"Well, assuming you're right, did you get a good look at the guy?"
This is the big one…
She shook her head.
"No, not really. He always managed to stay just ahead of me. He changed after I cast haste and started catching up to him just to keep me from recognizing him. But did recognize one thing though…"
Videl perked up.
"Oh?"
"He was using his wings to fly after he changed, but before that he was using the same power as the Gold Fighter. I still don't know what it is, but I know it was the same thing."
Videl grumbled, muttering some unflattering comments about my somewhat offensive alter ego.
Just what is Ryu, anyways?
I went over what I knew.
1. Ryu's had ki training.
2. … … …
There is no '2'.
Great. Just great.
I sighed as the teacher began the lesson.
Maybe he'll tell me more today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I walked into class quickly before the bell for second hour rang.
The last thing I need is for Sara to find out I missed school…
Walking in, I eyed Videl and Nina, looking for any hint of recognition. There was none, just Videl's customary scowl, and Nina's slightly wan smile. I felt okay, like I was pretty much in the clear. My eyes slid over to Gohan as I ascended the stairs. There was a questioning look in his eyes that could have meant anything. My gut was telling me that he knew something. How much I was unable to tell, but with that feeling…
I sighed and sat down, giving Gohan a cursory nod, then, keeping my arm low, pointed to the roof. He nodded, getting the message. We'd talk there, during lunch or after school, which ever was easiest.
Classes droned on, and I watched with some fascination at Gohan's eating habits during lunch. Seventeen had given me a basic rundown on Saiyan habits and abilities, but it was still staggering to see him consume that much food. There was no opportunity to slip away to the roof, but after school was still a viable option. I smirked silently to myself as I felt Gohan's ki dealing with something, who really knows what, down the road a few blocks.
Gohan and I lingered a bit in the classroom after school, until we felt Videl and Nina's kis move away from the roof, then we started up. The silence was a little awkward as we ascended. The rooftop was a little windy, and we stayed pretty much silent until Gohan had rejoined with his 'other half'. He started.
"Soooo… are you able to…"
"Trust you? Yeah. He said it should be okay. I was trained by a man named Seventeen."
I looked straight into Gohan's eyes as I said it. I saw surprise and confusion, but no real fear. That was good.
"Wow… Never would have thought of him."
Then he blinked before continuing.
"And he married? When did that happen? And a kid?!"
I chuckled a little.
"Yes, it happened. About five years ago."
Gohan smiled a little as well, then it deepened into slight frown.
"I'll understand if you don't want to answer this, but what are you? Nina was really panicked this morning when she and Videl came in. She mentioned that you… changed somehow."
I sighed. And thought for a moment, looking at him. In the end, I decided to extend a little trust. From everything I understood, he would be one of the only people on the planet to actually understand.
"I am Brood."
His eyes widened a bit.
"Wow… I thought that was just an old legend… People who could turn into dragons… The power to destroy the planet… How much of it is true?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Ironically, it's probably the only witch-hunt in history that has it's facts straight. When Sara and I lost our parents…"
I sighed. Gohan put a hand on my shoulder.
"It's tough isn't it? I've lost my father twice now, and it doesn't get any easier…"
His turn to sigh. But then he straightened, and walked to the edge of the roof. He turned back.
"You sure you don't want to come?"
I shook my head.
"No, not really. Not after what happened to my parents."
He smiled a little.
"Not all humans are like that Ryu."
"I know Gohan, but even if it weren't that, I do know that people don't like Brood as it is. It wouldn't be good to confirm our existence."
He nodded a little.
"Well, see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah…"
I turned towards the stairs and descended, moving down and out the front doors of the school with ease, determined to walk outside the city rather than risk exposure again. Walking became an automatic function as my mind wandered over the events of my life.
The loss of my parents was one of the first things that came to mind, and I wondered what they would think of my and Sara's lives now.
Would they approve?
My thoughts were about to move to the next unfolding events of my history when I heard something in the alley next to me. I paused and looked in. Three men were cornering a girl. I almost turned to move on. It wasn't my business after all.
Almost.
I stopped when my mind suddenly flashed forward to the day we first met Seventeen. Without the kindness of a stranger we would have been killed.
I dropped my backpack behind the wall.
I closed my eyes. If someone saw me, they would see only a dragon.
A roar sounded in my head, and my body gave off a vibrant white light, attracting the attention of the men and the girl. The light faded, and I snapped open my eyes. I could smell the fear in the air as the men backed away slowly. Using my wings instead of ki for a more intimidating and dramatic effect, I hovered about a half a foot off the ground, arms crossed over my chest.
"Let the girl go."
I moved forward slowly into the alley. One of the men pulled a gun. I smirked.
"Let the girl go please."
My tone left no doubt that violence would follow if he choose to continue. He decided to make the worst choice possible.
He fired a shot at me. The smell of fear increased as the bullet impacted and fell to the ground, useless. He and his buddies began backing away slowly, keeping the girl with them, a dark patch forming on the leader's jeans. I snarled in disgust.
"Final warning. Let the girl go now."
He put the gun to her head.
"D-Don't come any closer… I-I'll do it - I swear!"
Before he could blink I had him by the gun hand ten feet in the air. The others suddenly got smart and started running. I grinned at the man I had.
"We really shouldn't keep them out of this, now should we?"
Another burst of speed later, and we were in front of them, the one in my hand passed out from the speeds involved.
Weakling…
With the stench of fear and excrement filling my nose I felt the need to end the encounter as soon as possible, and flung him into the other two. They pushed him off of each other and ran towards the other end, past the girl, who was watching with, wide, frightened eyes. Not bothering to play anymore, I grabbed them from behind and crashed them together like cymbals. They collapsed in my hands, and I absently tossed them on top of the other man.
I turned towards the girl, who let out a frightened squeak. I spoke simply.
"If you wish to press charges, I would suggest calling the police. They won't be recovering for another hour. If that."
Then I left, flapping to the top of the alley. As I did so, I felt a sense of fulfillment, as if this were something I was meant to do.
I smiled slightly as I heard a whispered 'thanks'.
I nodded, making my decision. Then I sped up to snatch my backpack down on the ground faster than human eyes could follow before heading back to the school building to drop it off on the roof next to Gohan's.
No sense in carrying it around all afternoon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I paused in my dictation to Janet, my secretary, to take a sip from my coffee and look out the window. I smiled faintly, despite the general idiocy that had been bogging me down today. Then the phone rang and I motioned for Janet to leave as I sat down to take the call. A look at the flashing light on the phone revealed it to be the receptionist, Marcy.
"Yes?"
[I'm sorry to bother you sir, I know you asked not to be disturbed, but he insists on being put through directly to you. If it were anyone else, I would just tell them that but…]
I sighed. It was going to be one of those days, was it?
"And just who is it that overrules the word of Satan City's Mayor, hmmm?"
I could practically see the blush on her face through the phone.
[Hercule Satan!]
I lost some of my overcast look. A call from my friend would do wonders for the way my day had been going so far.
Assuming he's calling me as a friend and not as the Mayor…
"Patch him through Marcy. I'll see what he wants."
Hercule and I had met in college. The Champ's degree was largely ceremonial, and he had been more into frat parties than actual studying, but contrary to the popular story that he had been raised only to fight off earth's enemies, he had actually been at the school.
Even if he was rarely in a classroom…
[Emit?]
My small smile got a little brighter. It was a code of sorts. My name, Emit, meant a call of a more personal, and therefore infinitely more pleasurable, nature. If he has started 'Mr. Mayor' then he had a bug up his butt about something, and I didn't need that today. But that was a moot point.
"Hercule, what can I do for you?"
[It's not much Emit, I promise. I was just wondering if maybe we could ride in together for that party this weekend. We haven't had a lot of time to just talk like we used to…]
I smiled.
"Certainly, it'll be a much better conversation than I usually get, what with politics this, 'can you do me a favor' that…"
Hercule's loud boisterous laugh came back to me over the phone before he spoke again.
[Fantastic! See you then!]
The phone clicked dead then, and I looked at it for a moment, still slightly amused after all these years at Hercule's impulse driven behavior. I put the phone back on the desk and picked up my coffee mug again, savoring the moment before I would call Janet back in and start from where I left off.
I lay back in the chair and let out a long contented sigh as I looked out the window. When you're Mayor of the busiest city in the world, you look for piece in moments, not days, otherwise you end up burning out or going completely out of your mind. I smiled and took a sip from the mug.
In the next instant, there was a coffee stain on the window, and the mug tumbled forgotten from my hands as I gaped in disbelief.
Did I just see a… dragon… go past?
I frowned, all good thoughts of the coming weekend forgotten as I contemplated the possible meanings of this. It was a Brood dragon, of that I had no doubt.
But I thought they were all dead…
I deepened my frown in thought as I rose and began to pace. This would simply not do. The Brood were too dangerous to live. If they lived, the planet was doomed, I knew that. Every person in my order knew that. I sat back down and spent a moment composing myself. Then I reached for the phone with every intent to call Marcy and inform her that I would be leaving early today.
Why now? Why after all these years?
I closed my eyes and let my hand drop to the table. I had to think through the consequences of this action before making a decision hastily.
I was still skilled in magic, even after twenty years or so since my last actual fight, but I also knew that my position would suddenly be of great importance to the order. To important to allow me to fight, which was a definite plus, but I would still have to train. Dragons were unpredictable, who knew where they'd strike next.
Then another thought hit me like a ton of bricks and I grabbed the phone with a shaky hand.
Is my family alright?