Kalendral: I want to thank all those who reviewed. And you questions will
soon be answered. Now, on with the show.
Chapter 7: Mine Mystery
Bulma woke the next morning feeling very content. She had just had the most wonderful dream. She streached, then stopped as her hand landed on something soft, that didn't feel like cloth. Hot skin. She turned and look. Vegeta lay on his side watching her. She opened her mouth to scream. In one swift motion he placed his hand over her mouth.
"I really hope that you weren't going to scream. I just had to make sure." He said huskely. "Are you going to scream?" He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.
She shook her head when he wouldn't remove his hand. "Good." He said then removed his hand, only to be replaced by his mouth.
She struggled for about two seconds, then subsided and wrapped her arms around his neck. (I guess it wasn't a dream.) He smirked. Life was good.
Goku was just coming to his office when he saw Frieza Ice leaving his saloon. He stopped and watched. Zarbon and Dodoria came out a few seconds later, both carrying travel bags. Goku frowned at them. (Is Frieza leaving? What's with the bags?) He hid behind the door as he observed them. Frieza's carriage came around the corner and stopped. As he was getting in, Zarbon and Dodoria set the bags on the top. Securing them tightly they also entered the carriage and it took off. Quickly, Goku took off towards the stable and saddled Nimbus. The stallion pranced nervously. He could sence is masters agitation. Goku spurred him and they were off, chasing after the carriage. Staying back far enough that they couldn't see he followed them.
Whenever Frieza has left town he never takes Zarbon and Dodoria. Maybe he's doing something else. They turned off the main road and followed the old unused road to the mines. Goku took Nimbus around the corner and stopped just short of the entrance to the mine proper. The carriage rolled into view. Zarbon got out and pulled the bags out. Dodoria handed down the remaining bags and followed Zarbon into the mouth of the mine. After a few minutes they came back with the bags. Goku looked closly at the bags. They were empty. They dropped something off here. (I wonder what they are hiding?) he thought. The two cronies got back in the carriage and took off. Goku waited a few minutes before he went down to the mine. Fishing a match out of his saddlebag, he lit an old tourch. He followed the footprints in the dirt until he came to a dead end. Looking all around he could find no way to get through. Disapointed he walked back out.
As he rode back to town he contemplated what Frieza would be hiding up there in the mine. Could be just about anything, from money to rifles and cannons. As he rode by the CC Saloon he saw Vegeta in an upstairs window. Curiously he also saw Miss Bulma, just barely visible behind him. She was wrapped in a sheet and glaring at Vegeta. Concerned, he stopped at the saloon and went inside. Piccolo was at the couter setting out glasses. Goku could hear some voices coming from the main bedroom on the second floor. Coming up to the room, he called in.
"Miss Bulma? Are you OK in there?" He rapped on the door lightly. It was jearked open by a furious Vegeta. "Vegeta. What are you doing here?"
"None of your concren Kakarot. Get out of my way." Vegeta glared at Goku as he stepped aside. Looking back at Bulma he stormed out.
"What was all that about?" Goku turned to Bulma. She blushed and ducked behind a screen to get dressed.
"Nothing. You can leave now, Goku and shut the door." She called from behind the screen.
Tipping his hat he ducked out. He followed a raging Vegeta down the stairs. At the counter he saw his old friend and partner downing a shot of whiskey.
"You wanna tell me why you were in her room, Vegeta?"
Piccolo stopped and glared at Vegeta. He set the last glass on the counter and left the room. Vegeta grunted as the bartender left.
"She is one spoiled stubborn independent woman."
"OK, I knew that." Goku sat beside Vegeta. He took a glass and poured himself a glass of vodka. "She has always been that way. What's the revelation for?" Goku downed the shot and set the glass in the counter.
"I . . ." Vegeta growled, "It's none of your concern so stay out of it."
Goku shrugged. "Fine." He filled the glass again. "I followed Frieza to an abandoned mine just outside of town. He had some bags with him and when those two cronies of his came out of the mine, the bags were empty. He's hiding something."
"Of course he's hiding something. Why do you think I'm here." Vegeta glowered at Goku. "I've got some things to do. Meet me here later today."
"OK." Goku downed his last drink and left. Vegeta stood there for a few minutes. Piccolo came back into the bar.
He glowered at Vegeta. "If you hurt her, you'll wish that you were never born."
Vegeta just smirked at him and left.
Goku set out towards his office. Sitting at the desk he contemplated the things he saw today. Frieza and his goons at the mine, and Vegeta with Miss Bulma. What a day. He decided to write all the things down that Frieza has had his hands in lately.
There was that business deal with Robert Kinley, and a bank draft of $400. (I wonder what kind of business Kinley is into that he would mix with Frieza?) Frieza took a trip to East City, probably to meet some but shot lawyer. He needed more information. Hit with a sudden idea, Goku set off to the telegraph office. After penning a message to a friend he handed the missive to the attendant and left. As he was heading back to the office he saw Dodoria walk into CC Saloon. He turned and followed. As he got to the doors he could hear the big mans boisturious drunked laughter. Goku sighed and stepped into the saloon.
At the counter Piccolo stood wiping the counter with one hand, while the other was under the table, where Goku knew that he kept his shotgun. The ranch hands in the saloon were giving Dodoria and wide bearth. The man was at one of the card tables drinking heavily. A card game was in progress and he was mocking each man as they drew their cards.
Goku came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but I think that these men are having a game and would prefer if you not interfere."
Dodoria turned around and grinned at Goku. "Well, if it isn't our good Sheriff Goku." He almost staggered but Goku caught him.
"Come on, Dodoria. Time to go." Goku took his arm.
"Aww, but I just got here." Dodoria jearked away from Goku. Goku let go and Dodoria unexpectedly tripped and fell onto the card table. The players all jumped up and backed away from the drunken man. They remember the last time that he'd been drunk. He tore up the saloon and seriously injured two ranch hands. Goku walked over to him and hauled him to his feat. Dodoria came up swinging and Goku was unprepared for the attack. Dodoria's fist connected with his jaw and he flew backwards. He sat up and rubbed his jaw. He watched as Dodoria struggled to stand. The man was so drunk he could barely stand. Goku got up and again aproached the man. Dodoria swung again, but Goku was prepared and ducked under the swing and landed a jab to the big man middle. Dodoria doubled over and fell like a ton of bricks.
Goku nudged him with his boot. When he didn't move he relaxed. Piccolo came over and handed Goku a drink. He tipped his head back and downed it. "Need help taking him to the jailhouse?" Piccolo asked.
"Thanks, I could use it." He chuckled as together they hefted Dodoria between them. Dragging the man across the street, Goku opened the door to the jailhouse. In the back room were three cells. Tossing Dodoria into the first one he shut the door.
"Thanks for the help." Goku shook Piccolo's hand.
"No problem. Can't wait until they are out of town." He stated.
Goku looked at him akance. "What makes you think that they are leaving? As far as I can tell, Frieza is planning on staying put."
Piccolo stopped. Maybe he was wrong about this guy. He really doesn't seem to be doing anything about Frieza and his goons. "I . . um . . just thought . . you know." He finnished lamely.
"No, I don't know?" Goku held his breath as he saw the other man struggle with an explanation.
"Sorry." He turned and walked out. Goku exhailed heavily. Almost.
Heading back to the saloon where he was meeting Vegeta, he saw him heading his way.
"Kakarot, come on. Got some info for you." Vegeta yelled at him as he headed towards his horse. Goku turned and climbed onto Nimbus' back. Following Vegeta out of town, Vegeta headed towards the mine.
"You find something out here?" Goku called to him.
"Yeah, I did." And with that they rode the rest of the way in silence.
Coming to the entrance of the mine, they dimounted and walked to the mouth. Vegeta lit a tourch and together they walked into the mine. Following an unkown trail, Vegeta took a few twists and turns until Goku felt completely lost.
"I came up here earlier and found this shaft. They came unpon a deep well. Looking down, Goku could make out some crates. Unmarked. He looked at Vegeta. "What could they be?"
"Don't know, but I intend to find out. I'll stick with Frieza for a little while and see what I can come up with. In the mean time, this stays put. We don't want them to know that we know it's here. Got it?"
"Got it." Together they walked back out. Seperatly though they entered town.
Later that night while he was snuggled in with Chichi, Goku thought again about what Frieza could be hiding up in the mine.
Anyone got it figured yet? Well, I'm not going to tell just yet. You'll see in the next few chapters. Review please. Kalendral
Chapter 7: Mine Mystery
Bulma woke the next morning feeling very content. She had just had the most wonderful dream. She streached, then stopped as her hand landed on something soft, that didn't feel like cloth. Hot skin. She turned and look. Vegeta lay on his side watching her. She opened her mouth to scream. In one swift motion he placed his hand over her mouth.
"I really hope that you weren't going to scream. I just had to make sure." He said huskely. "Are you going to scream?" He raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.
She shook her head when he wouldn't remove his hand. "Good." He said then removed his hand, only to be replaced by his mouth.
She struggled for about two seconds, then subsided and wrapped her arms around his neck. (I guess it wasn't a dream.) He smirked. Life was good.
Goku was just coming to his office when he saw Frieza Ice leaving his saloon. He stopped and watched. Zarbon and Dodoria came out a few seconds later, both carrying travel bags. Goku frowned at them. (Is Frieza leaving? What's with the bags?) He hid behind the door as he observed them. Frieza's carriage came around the corner and stopped. As he was getting in, Zarbon and Dodoria set the bags on the top. Securing them tightly they also entered the carriage and it took off. Quickly, Goku took off towards the stable and saddled Nimbus. The stallion pranced nervously. He could sence is masters agitation. Goku spurred him and they were off, chasing after the carriage. Staying back far enough that they couldn't see he followed them.
Whenever Frieza has left town he never takes Zarbon and Dodoria. Maybe he's doing something else. They turned off the main road and followed the old unused road to the mines. Goku took Nimbus around the corner and stopped just short of the entrance to the mine proper. The carriage rolled into view. Zarbon got out and pulled the bags out. Dodoria handed down the remaining bags and followed Zarbon into the mouth of the mine. After a few minutes they came back with the bags. Goku looked closly at the bags. They were empty. They dropped something off here. (I wonder what they are hiding?) he thought. The two cronies got back in the carriage and took off. Goku waited a few minutes before he went down to the mine. Fishing a match out of his saddlebag, he lit an old tourch. He followed the footprints in the dirt until he came to a dead end. Looking all around he could find no way to get through. Disapointed he walked back out.
As he rode back to town he contemplated what Frieza would be hiding up there in the mine. Could be just about anything, from money to rifles and cannons. As he rode by the CC Saloon he saw Vegeta in an upstairs window. Curiously he also saw Miss Bulma, just barely visible behind him. She was wrapped in a sheet and glaring at Vegeta. Concerned, he stopped at the saloon and went inside. Piccolo was at the couter setting out glasses. Goku could hear some voices coming from the main bedroom on the second floor. Coming up to the room, he called in.
"Miss Bulma? Are you OK in there?" He rapped on the door lightly. It was jearked open by a furious Vegeta. "Vegeta. What are you doing here?"
"None of your concren Kakarot. Get out of my way." Vegeta glared at Goku as he stepped aside. Looking back at Bulma he stormed out.
"What was all that about?" Goku turned to Bulma. She blushed and ducked behind a screen to get dressed.
"Nothing. You can leave now, Goku and shut the door." She called from behind the screen.
Tipping his hat he ducked out. He followed a raging Vegeta down the stairs. At the counter he saw his old friend and partner downing a shot of whiskey.
"You wanna tell me why you were in her room, Vegeta?"
Piccolo stopped and glared at Vegeta. He set the last glass on the counter and left the room. Vegeta grunted as the bartender left.
"She is one spoiled stubborn independent woman."
"OK, I knew that." Goku sat beside Vegeta. He took a glass and poured himself a glass of vodka. "She has always been that way. What's the revelation for?" Goku downed the shot and set the glass in the counter.
"I . . ." Vegeta growled, "It's none of your concern so stay out of it."
Goku shrugged. "Fine." He filled the glass again. "I followed Frieza to an abandoned mine just outside of town. He had some bags with him and when those two cronies of his came out of the mine, the bags were empty. He's hiding something."
"Of course he's hiding something. Why do you think I'm here." Vegeta glowered at Goku. "I've got some things to do. Meet me here later today."
"OK." Goku downed his last drink and left. Vegeta stood there for a few minutes. Piccolo came back into the bar.
He glowered at Vegeta. "If you hurt her, you'll wish that you were never born."
Vegeta just smirked at him and left.
Goku set out towards his office. Sitting at the desk he contemplated the things he saw today. Frieza and his goons at the mine, and Vegeta with Miss Bulma. What a day. He decided to write all the things down that Frieza has had his hands in lately.
There was that business deal with Robert Kinley, and a bank draft of $400. (I wonder what kind of business Kinley is into that he would mix with Frieza?) Frieza took a trip to East City, probably to meet some but shot lawyer. He needed more information. Hit with a sudden idea, Goku set off to the telegraph office. After penning a message to a friend he handed the missive to the attendant and left. As he was heading back to the office he saw Dodoria walk into CC Saloon. He turned and followed. As he got to the doors he could hear the big mans boisturious drunked laughter. Goku sighed and stepped into the saloon.
At the counter Piccolo stood wiping the counter with one hand, while the other was under the table, where Goku knew that he kept his shotgun. The ranch hands in the saloon were giving Dodoria and wide bearth. The man was at one of the card tables drinking heavily. A card game was in progress and he was mocking each man as they drew their cards.
Goku came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but I think that these men are having a game and would prefer if you not interfere."
Dodoria turned around and grinned at Goku. "Well, if it isn't our good Sheriff Goku." He almost staggered but Goku caught him.
"Come on, Dodoria. Time to go." Goku took his arm.
"Aww, but I just got here." Dodoria jearked away from Goku. Goku let go and Dodoria unexpectedly tripped and fell onto the card table. The players all jumped up and backed away from the drunken man. They remember the last time that he'd been drunk. He tore up the saloon and seriously injured two ranch hands. Goku walked over to him and hauled him to his feat. Dodoria came up swinging and Goku was unprepared for the attack. Dodoria's fist connected with his jaw and he flew backwards. He sat up and rubbed his jaw. He watched as Dodoria struggled to stand. The man was so drunk he could barely stand. Goku got up and again aproached the man. Dodoria swung again, but Goku was prepared and ducked under the swing and landed a jab to the big man middle. Dodoria doubled over and fell like a ton of bricks.
Goku nudged him with his boot. When he didn't move he relaxed. Piccolo came over and handed Goku a drink. He tipped his head back and downed it. "Need help taking him to the jailhouse?" Piccolo asked.
"Thanks, I could use it." He chuckled as together they hefted Dodoria between them. Dragging the man across the street, Goku opened the door to the jailhouse. In the back room were three cells. Tossing Dodoria into the first one he shut the door.
"Thanks for the help." Goku shook Piccolo's hand.
"No problem. Can't wait until they are out of town." He stated.
Goku looked at him akance. "What makes you think that they are leaving? As far as I can tell, Frieza is planning on staying put."
Piccolo stopped. Maybe he was wrong about this guy. He really doesn't seem to be doing anything about Frieza and his goons. "I . . um . . just thought . . you know." He finnished lamely.
"No, I don't know?" Goku held his breath as he saw the other man struggle with an explanation.
"Sorry." He turned and walked out. Goku exhailed heavily. Almost.
Heading back to the saloon where he was meeting Vegeta, he saw him heading his way.
"Kakarot, come on. Got some info for you." Vegeta yelled at him as he headed towards his horse. Goku turned and climbed onto Nimbus' back. Following Vegeta out of town, Vegeta headed towards the mine.
"You find something out here?" Goku called to him.
"Yeah, I did." And with that they rode the rest of the way in silence.
Coming to the entrance of the mine, they dimounted and walked to the mouth. Vegeta lit a tourch and together they walked into the mine. Following an unkown trail, Vegeta took a few twists and turns until Goku felt completely lost.
"I came up here earlier and found this shaft. They came unpon a deep well. Looking down, Goku could make out some crates. Unmarked. He looked at Vegeta. "What could they be?"
"Don't know, but I intend to find out. I'll stick with Frieza for a little while and see what I can come up with. In the mean time, this stays put. We don't want them to know that we know it's here. Got it?"
"Got it." Together they walked back out. Seperatly though they entered town.
Later that night while he was snuggled in with Chichi, Goku thought again about what Frieza could be hiding up in the mine.
Anyone got it figured yet? Well, I'm not going to tell just yet. You'll see in the next few chapters. Review please. Kalendral