Chapter Six

Bra couldn't help the giggle that escaped her and it only grew when 17's chuckle hit her ears. Traditional! They had to be the most untraditional family ever to grace the planet!

"Bra?"

They both turned to find Pan watching them curiously.

"Pan, I don't think you know my Uncle 17," Bra slid smoothly back into her polished exterior, "Uncle 17 this is Pan, Gohan's daughter."

"Ah yes," 17 analyzed her features, "Gohan married that girl . . . You look just like her."

"You look familiar," Pan mused aloud.

"Remember Maron's mom?" Bra waited for Pan to nod, "Well, this is her brother."

"Oh," Pan shook his hand quickly, "Nice to meet you."

"Pleasure's all mine," 17 tipped his nonexistent hat, "but now I must be going. Ava is calling."

The two girls watched the android swagger away.

"How is he related to you?" Pan lifted her tray to set them on the trashcan.

"He married my aunt." Bra took her tray and led the way.

Pan turned this thought over in her head when a thought made itself known.

"How come he's never come to any of the reunions?"

Bra regarded her friend from the corner of her eye, "My uncle prefers trees to people, besides, he doesn't like your mom."

"What? Why?"

"I'm not exactly sure why but I think it had to do with the time Sasoli was kidnapped," Bra shrugged.

"Sasoli was kidnapped?" Pan gasped, "When did this happen?"

"It was before you were born," Bra glanced at her watch and winced.

"I'm sorry Pan but I have to head back to the office."

"Sure," Pan offered her a weak smile, "We'll have to get together soon."

Bra allowed herself to soften momentarily.

"Real soon, how about next week? You have your blind date to get ready for and I can help you."

Pan's smile strengthened, "Sure."

Bra waved and was gone.

Pan stuck her hands in her pocket and sighed, resigned with the fact that she was the only one who didn't have a life outside of family. Freshly out of high school and heading for college, she was in a state of limbo without a clear path to follow.

"I guess I can always become a warrior," Pan mumbled to herself.

"Move it or loss it, sweetness."

Pan snapped into attention as she realized she was blocking the door. Two quick steps later she was out the restaurant and walking down the street.

"But do I really want to become a warrior?" Pan asked herself lightly.

"Sweetness!"

Pan frowned as she saw the blond man from earlier rushing to catch up with her.

"Did you want something?" Pan grumbled as he stopped in front of her.

"Where's your friend?" He panted lightly.

"She went back to work," Pan turned to walk away.

He grabbed her arm.

"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Pan screamed at him as he pulled her into an alley.

He pulled out a knife and rested it against her throat.

"Now be quiet and I won't have to cut you," he hissed at her.

She groaned at the unoriginal line and with one smooth motion she clocked the guy with her fist.

He hit the ground with a thump.

"Teach you to pick on small women," she sniffed as she kicked him from her path.

"A warrior it is."

**

Zarah returned to his office in a fine mood, which wasn't surprising since he had food in his stomach. Heading for his desk to scan his file for experiment results when he spotted a note on his desk.

Reminding himself he had a secretary he picked up the paper and scanned the note.

My love,

I spend every minute thinking of you and I wonder if you ever think of me.

Your Secret Admirer

Zarah lifted a brow at the note.

"Someone has a lot of free time," Zarah hit his intercom, "Terry?"

"Yes sir?"

"Who was in my office?"

"Um. . . I just got back from my lunch break . . ."

"So you didn't see anyone?" Zarah frowned.

"No. Why?"

Zarah missed the eager note in her voice.

"Someone dropped a note off in the wrong office," Zarah slipped the note into a paper shredder.

"W-what?"

"Don't worry about it," Zarah answered absently already half lost in his work, "It happens sometimes."

He turned off the intercom with a decisive click.

**

Bardock was sitting in a small clearing in the forest in front of his home. For all purposes he appeared to be asleep sitting up but to anyone who knew anything, he was meditating.

He reached out with his new sixth sense and felt the life around him. It had taken the old warrior a while to learn this trick of ki but with the help from his family, Bardock wielded it with newfound skill. In fact, the whole process was extremely calming.

His brow creased, a larger amount of ki was making it's way toward him and it was too big to be just an animal.

"Grandpa B!"

Bardock almost smiled at Pan's voice, she was such a spitfire it was a shame she wasn't a warrior.

Pan paused in front of her great grandfather, he was unresponsive to her presence. She sat across from him and copied his meditative position, though she didn't close her eyes.

"Patience is an asset to any fighter."

Pan jumped at the sound of his voice.

"Though, they should never be caught off guard," Bardock closed the one eye he had been looking at her with.

Pan took a deep breath an released it, "A fighter is always prepared in . . . battle . . . I am a fighter but I want to be a warrior."

Bardock opened his eyes and regarded his great granddaughter with serious eyes.

"Pan, a warrior is a way of life not a . . . fat?" Bardock trailed off, uncertain with the terminology.

"Fad," Pan corrected, "I am willing to sacrifice certain things for this--"

"It is not about sacrifice," Bardock was suddenly towering over her, "What makes you worthy to join our ranks?"

Pan stared at her Grandpa with shock, he was sneering at her with disgust. She got to her feet hesitantly and slipped into a martial arts stance.

"You didn't answer me little girl," Bardock growled, his tail unwound from his waist to swing behind him.

Pan's pulse was racing and her head was filled with confusion. He had never acted like this with her or with anyone for that matter, what was going on?!

"You said a saiyan--" Pan tried to explain.

"I said!" Bardock took a step forward menacingly, "I want to know why you think you are worthy!"

Pan took a step back.

"I am a saiyan."

A cruel smile the likes she had never seen suddenly took occupancy on Bardock's face.

"You claim to be one of us when you don't even know your native tongue," he spat at her.

Pan was scared now, she didn't know what the hell had happened to her Great Grandfather Bardock. Her heart was slamming against her breast plate almost painfully.

"Anything else?" Bardock narrowed his eyes dangerously and launched himself at her.

**

Bra hummed to herself as she started mixing chemicals together. In truth, her body was on autopilot as her mind wandered.

How strange, she thought, that Pan and Zarah should meet now.

Zarah had just entered into his prime mating age and Pan had just become legal. They were almost opposites, Pan's volatile temper clashed against his calm demeanor. He had a odd sense of humor while Pan had to be in a good mood for a joke. He lived by strict customs while Pan ran wild when she could get away with it.

Everything pointed for the supposed relationship to fail and Bra decided then that they were perfect for each other. The only problem Bra could see in the foreseeable future was the fact that Pan would have to prove her worth to Aunt Ava.

Bra winced, pleasing her Aunt Ava wasn't an easy thing to do, plus, there was always Sasoli. Though now that Bra thought about it, Pan could probably handle Sasoli with little problem.

Her cousin was the problem but he owed her a date with a friend . . . So she could just set him up with Pan but how to keep Pan at the table?

With her mind made up Bra picked up the phone.

"Hello?" A male voice answered a ring later.

"Jake, this is Bra."

"Oh hey, what is going on?" She could her the smile in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Jake, but I am going to have to cancel your blind date with Pan. . ."

**

Pan dived to the side barely able to dodge her grandfather.

Unfazed by her dodge he flipped and twisted until he once again faced her.

"I don't know what the hell is wrong with you but I will defend myself," Pan swallowed the lump in her throat, "Family or not I will not allow you to do this to me."

Pan's breath caught when all he did was throw his head back and laugh. His eyes warmed as he regarded her with curiosity.

"You are ready, Pan," Bardock smiled.

Pan kept her guard up warily not quite ready to trust him after his display.

"A fighter is what you are and a warrior is what you will become," Bardock motioned for Pan to come to him, "A warrior is always prepared to defend against an enemy whether or not they are family."

Pan's eyes narrowed.

"So if even family is suspect than who can I trust?"

Bardock's head slanted to the side, "No one but a possible mate."

"A mate? You mean husband?" Pan took a step back as he took a step forward.

"I mean what I said," Bardock smirked, "But that will come with time. For now, show me what you can do."

What followed was one of the most intense training sessions Pan had ever participated in. She had always respected her great grandfather but now . . . She was in awe. . .

He could fight like nothing she had ever seen though some was vaguely familiar, adaptations from her uncles no doubt.

She lost her air as a boot managed to penetrate her defenses.

She fell to the ground gasping, clutching her stomach.

Bardock tsked as he stood over Pan. She was . . . promising but this was unacceptable. In a true battle she would have been dead by now.

Pan finally regained her breath only to see two boots in front of her. Bardock squatted in front of her and regarded Pan critically. Pan met his eyes and kept them as she arranged herself so she was sitting.

"What was that Pan?" His voice was emotionless.

"What do you mean?" Pan swallowed, trying not to wince at her newly acquired bruises.

"Who are you trying to impress? Why are you putting on a show?" Bardock asked dryly, "Your fighting by rules that only exist on this planet."

Bardock sighed and started to pace, revealing his agitation.

Pan grimaced as she too got to her feet.

"This planet?"

Bardock slanted his head at her question and stilled.

"Innocent," Bardock's lips twitched, "You don't realize how frustrating it is for me. How restricted your fighting is and you don't even see it. You're fighter, you fight with rules and win by points. A warrior fights to the death, losing is seldom an option."

He turned to face her fully, "You left yourself completely open to attack, Pan, I could have killed you in so many ways . . ."

Pan lifted her chin stubbornly, it wasn't everyday someone pointed out our faults.

"I can learn."

His eyes warmed again, "You're stubborn. That's good, it will serve you well."

His tail once again wrapped around his waist.

"Now we will work on your mental state," Bardock assumed his meditation position, "I noticed you hesitating in some of your attacks . . ."

Bardock met her eyes as she copied his position.

"You can't be afraid to hurt people, Pan, they will not think twice about injuring you. You will need a sparring partner, preferably female."

"Why?" Pan tilted her head curiously.

"Females fight differently than males," Bardock shrugged, "After you have become adept than you will get a male sparring partner to familiarize yourself with their fighting styles."

"Then I will be a warrior?"

"No, then you will have to pass a test," Bardock closed his eyes, "Now meditate."

Pan watched her great grandfather for a minute noting that he still had a head of black hair. He didn't look any older than her Grandpa Goku, it made her wonder how long she would be look young being only a quarter saiyan.

She shook the thoughts from her head, now was not the time for such thoughts.

She closed her eyes.

**

Zarah glanced at the time only to curse under his breath.

Check out time.

Usually employees couldn't wait to get off work and go home. Zarah was not part of this group, especially in the middle of a project. These days he felt he never had enough time at work to accomplish anything.

Plus there was the fact that Sasoli was back.

"Time to face her," Zarah slipped on his jacket and was reminded of the bizarre encounter with his secretary.

"Great," Zarah snapped, "Now every time I put on my coat I'll think of her."

He paused beside his desk as he uncurled his tail and looked at it. He had never realized just how sensitive it was until Terry had unwittingly ran her fingers along its length.

His mother had warned him of the danger involved with it but not of this . . .

He reached out a hand and touched his tail.

Nothing.

He cocked his head thoughtfully as he allowed his tail sway back and forth behind him.

Interesting, Zarah let his eyelids to droop, Why did her touch elicit such a physical response?

He recalled how his heartbeat had sped up and his sense heightened.

He shrugged and wrapped his tail around his waist, carefully arranging his shirt over.

"Doesn't matter," he mumbled.

He left his office for the day.

**

"Excuse me, Mr. Briefs?" Terry knocked on the door to Zarah's office.

No answer.

Terry bit her lip and opened the door.

"Sir?"

No answer.

Terry made a soft noise of disappointment when she realized the office was empty.

"He must have gone home already," she pouted.

With a sigh she retreated to her office to put her clothes back on.

**

Zarah landed in front of their family cave.

"It's about time you came home," a voice intoned softly.

Zarah relaxed his shoulders and turned to his sister, "Shouldn't that be my line?"

She shrugged and abandoned her post by the tree.

She hadn't changed a bit if you didn't count her hair. Shorn above her shoulders, her head of spikes was set wildly around her face giving her the look of a dangerous but beautiful woman.

"So this is where the hairstyle came from," Zarah smirked.

Sasoli rolled her eyes at him.

"I didn't mean to start a trend, I just wanted a simple haircut."

"Hn," Zarah watched her expression darken with amusement.

"You know I do not care about fashion," Sasoli growled, deeply insulted.

"I believe you," Zarah offered in a patronizing tone, knowing she wasn't going to let it slide.

Off all the kids, Sasoli took the warrior's code the most serious, and believed it was her duty to uphold saiyan law. Dad would say she takes after her mother.

"Big talk from a paper pusher," a sly smirk appeared on Sasoli's face.

Zarah slipped off his jacket and set it neatly on a branch.

This was all a ploy, of course, for a spar. She wanted to see if he had improved while she was away and he had to admit a certain curiosity about her as well. After all, she had been gone for a long time . . .

End of Chapter Six

AN: Hey, just wanted to thank you for reviewing and suggestive comments. ::Smiles:: I am really grateful! I am college bound but no worries, I'll have chapters up and ready to go on the same day. Thanks again, it still trips me out to see people are reading my stories!