Author's Note: Another short chapter. At least it came out quicker than the last one. ^_^

Flying with a Wish

Chapter Three: Cover Stories

By Delphine

Raditz ushered them to the guest wing where their quarters were located. "Daddy!" little Gohan shouted as he spotted his father.

Goku swept up the hyper child. "Hey, little guy, how's it going?"

"I learned my multiplication. Did you know twelve times twelve is one hundred and forty-four?" Gohan told his father excitedly before beginning to recite the entire table of multiplication.

His mother, Chichi, just stood back as her son shared his knowledge. Her face was positively beaming with motherly pride.

"That's nice, brat," said Raditz, cutting of his nephew's recitation, "but we have other things to discuss than math."

There was seriousness in his expression that set Chichi on edge. "Gohan, why don't you go study in your room?" she suggested.

"Okay." The black-haired boy scampered off.

As soon as he was out of sight, Chichi rounded on her brother-in-law. "All right, what the hell is going on?" she demanded.

Goku barely blinked an eye at his mate's outburst. Bulma supposed he was used to her temper.

Raditz quickly explained what had happened. Chichi gave Bulma a disapproving look when she learned what she had done. "Bulma, you have an I.Q. well over two hundred but not an ounce of common sense," commented Chichi before sighing.

Bulma folded her arms letting out a "humph."

"The situation is much more serious than you think," said Raditz.

"What's so bad about it, I won didn't I?" Bulma said. It was clear that she was annoyed by the frown on her face.

"If you were a Saiyan-jin there wouldn't be a problem. By the rules of the Challenge, there can be no revenge against the winner by any family member of the loser. But since you're clearly not Saiyan-jin, those rules don't apply to you. Maizen's father, Nappa, is the commander of the Saiyan-jin army. The death of one female alien wouldn't bother him if it would restore his families honor."

Bulma bit her lip. "So the problem is that I'm not a Saiyan-jin?" Raditz nodded. She glanced at Chichi as if seeking her permission. The Ox King's only daughter shrugged in a manner that said she care and Bulma could make her own decision.

Wishing there was another way; Bulma pulled out her tail. Raditz's eyes widened as he watched the furred appendage swish back and forth. She smiled slightly. "I guess this means that we no longer have a problem?"

"But how?"

"We made a wish on the dragon," admitted Chichi.

"Wish-dragon?" Raditz was clearly confused.

After swearing him to secrecy, Bulma explained to Raditz about the dragonballs and the eternal dragon Shenlong.

"I see…" Raditz paused, thinking. "Chichi is easy enough to explain for she looks like a Saiyan-jin. Her pod merely malfunctioned, sending her to Chikyuu-sei. A lot of the records were destroyed by the Cold Empire's men who where hoping that we would lose track of the off-world children. So her story is perfectly believable. You" –he looked at Bulma- "are harder. The only thing I can come up with is that you were born with a genetic defect that effected you coloring."

"That doesn't explain how I ended up on Chikyuu," Bulma pointed out.

"Well, your coloring gives you a more weak appearance,"-he ignored her glare-" and such defects are often signs of problems that can occur later. Such a weakness in a brat would incur the parents to get rid of it one way or another. A Saiyan-jin warrior cannot afford to have disabilities of any kind. Those with unknown disabilities are sent off world like any other newborn Saiyan-jin. If they survive then they prove themselves worthy of being a warrior."

The Saiyan-jins took the survival of the fittest rule very seriously, Bulma thought. She sighed. "I suppose it'll have to do." The look on her face made it very clear that she wasn't too happy with her cover story. But what choice did she have?