Took me long, but here I am!
Warning: There are fairly violent scenes by the middle to last part of this chapter. Gore. Read at your own discretion.
Chapter 16: The return of an old friend
Cautious hands tentatively opened the classic carved door, only enough to let a sliver of the afternoon light filter in the dark room. The door opened all the way, allowing the figure to go in and take in their surroundings before fixating their eyes on the figure lying on the bed. The rise and fall of their chest betrayed their slumbering state. The room was cool, but the one on the bed was tangled uneasily in the sweat soaked sheets, as the thin shirt covering their torso was also stained a darker color at the collar and sternum areas.
There were unfamiliar objects strewn around the room. A pile of clothes rested on the floor at the corner; some looked wet while others had dark maroon patches, the intruder immediately perceiving the scent of slate blood from them. The table next to the bed was infested with little recipients, some opaque, some transparent, that contained oddly colored tiny stones or clear liquid next to a simple looking syringe. A bowl, from which a cloth lazily hung down, contained some strange mix that reeked of hell on the intruder's senses. A white box with a red cross on the lid sat on the chair beside the cluttered table, unlocked, and presenting a little piece of gauze jutting out of it.
The intruder's eyes fell on the vulnerable form on the bed again. Vulnerable. That was exactly how they were like. It would be too easy to attack now and leave them permanent damage
Even permanent death
The door to the side opened silently and out came a black haired woman wearing what looked to be comfortable, very conservative clothes which style was unfamiliar. She seemed startled at noticing the extra presence in the room, but quickly composed herself.
"Oh, Cauli-dono*. How may I help you?" The young woman bobbed her head slightly in a polite greeting.
"Sumimasen. I knocked, but nobody answered." She lied with natural skill that seemed most believable.
"I was in the shower, trying to get rid of some exhaustion after all these hours looking after my son." Only a nod was her answer. "Oh, where are my manners! Please take a seat and tell me what I can do for you." Chichi hurried over to the chair and placed it a little sideways from the foot of the bed. Bemusement was obvious in the saiyajin commander's visage. The woman's ways were certainly alien to her.
"I prefer to remain standing." She replied in her usual monotone.
The ningen female raised a thin eyebrow at the relatively rude retort to her attentions, but she bit back her tongue before her instinctive verbal lashing reined free.
An awkward silence followed. Cauli's was induced by the habit of not having to explain herself, while Chichi conveniently waited for an explanation of why the young woman was there
In her son's bedroom.
In her sick son's bedroom.
Uninvited.
Alone with him.
The moment was broken as the main door opened and in came Videl, looking like she'd worked nonstop for two days straight. Not even finished closing the door, she had already released her hair from her pigtails and had peeled off the leaf green top of her uniform, leaving her in the thin white undershirt she'd decided to wear that morning. The Satan girl stopped at the sight of the saiyajin, blinking a few times in her perplexity.
"Um, hi Cauli." She mumbled.
A pointed glare was her only response or lack thereof.
"Oh, Videl. How was school? You look so tired." Chichi commented as she attempted to clean up the room some.
"Exhausting." The ningen girl sighed as she combed her hair with her left hand's fingers. "But at least Goten and Trunks behaved."
"Oh, my little boy!" Chichi exclaimed as she plopped at the foot of the bed. "I haven't been paying attention to him, with Gohan sick and everything that's happened" she rambled in a guilty tone with her face in her hands.
Videl let her top fall where the older woman had left the other clothes, then she walked up to the bed and knelt in front of her while placing a hand on her shoulder. Cauli observed attentively. She didn't like to be ignored but she was determined to learn about this race for further reference into interacting with Gohan.
"Don't worry, Chichi-san. He understands the reasons. You just try and get some rest so when Gohan's better you can spend some good quality time with Goten." Chichi looked at her wearily and smiled, while watching the girl move to Gohan's side and check his temperature.
"I look that tired, huh?" Chichi asked in a defeated tone while Videl just nodded.
"His fever's down. Did you give him any more medicine?"
"Yes. And he has been sleeping peacefully for a couple of hours Oh, I'm sorry Cauli-dono. If you could tell me what I can do for you?" Chichi looked back to the saiyajin female to notice her tense posture and crossed arms.
"I heard the boy was taken ill. It is curious since there is only so much that can bring a saiyajin to lay." Cauli related dully, all the while watching Videl grab the dirty clothes, then take out a clean cloth from the night table and enter the bathroom. Ningen were strange indeed.
"It was the regen tank." Chichi said turning to look at the sleeping boy. "Since he's only half saiyajin, the healing fluid isn't wholly compatible with him." The mother explained while getting up. She walked around the bed to the table on the side, attempting to put some order to the objects on it.
"That makes sense." Cauli reasoned. "It also means he will heal." She went on, trying to sound as detached as she'd ever been known for while she saw the ningen girl come out of the bathroom, the cloth now damp in her hand. Chichi chose that moment to discard the mix of herbs and ointments in the bowl.
"Yes. And we trust he does soon." Videl told her kneeling next to the bed and wiping the sweat from Gohan's forehead, temples and neck softly.
Cauli couldn't understand the contact, but she disapproved enormously of it. However, her thoughts were interrupted by a faint groan coming from Gohan as he stirred. Videl shushed him quietly, never stopping from refreshing his face.
"Mom" he said in a murmur.
"No, it's me. Videl."
"Vid Hurts" It was all he could get out before his breathing rate increased and she watched him bite his lower lip.
"Where? Tell me. Where does it hurt?" she asked hastily.
"All" He got out as his fist clenched on his sheets.
"It's ok. Just calm down. It'll pass."
"Too much"
Just then, Chichi came at him with something in a cup. Videl helped raise Gohan's head from the pillows, not heeding his pained groan. Chichi made him drink the beverage, since it would help him sleep.
Cauli observed the exchange with avid curiosity masked under a veil of blankness. Just what it was that had brought down a super saiyajin, she didn't know. But the fact that these females where fawning over him confused her. The mother she could accept though not understand, as she didn't have any offspring of her own. But the ningen girl did she actually have to be so close? And touching him nonetheless? And what was it with the pathetic little words? She couldn't take any more mush! Though for the life of her it was intriguing.
"Do you know of anything that might be the cause for this pain, Cauli-dono?" Videl broke into her thoughts suddenly three feet from her. If Cauli hadn't been trained against it, she would have certainly jumped in a startle. "I mean, besides the tank."
"Why should I?" The harsh question came out unbidden before she could do anything about it. Videl almost cringed, looking like an admonished child. Good. That would let her know she was no match for the saiyajin commander.
"Well we actually don't know much about saiyajin in general." The Satan girl went on humbly, gesturing to Chichi along the way. She didn't know why, but Cauli intimidated her. That was a first. She felt like- like the very same way you felt about the seniors in your freshman year. Like they were gods. The funny thing was that in the beginning she hadn't felt like that. It was all after she started noticing Cauli's hostility towards her.
"This has never happened before." Chichi said from the bed as she petted Gohan's hair. "Don't you think of anything that might be happening to him?" Cauli turned to look at Gohan for an instant before replying.
"No." Videl sighed.
"Well, I guess I'll have to ask Cole-san then." As she said this, her head jerked to the door. Cauli frowned, immediately being alerted by the sudden movement. "Goku-san's coming."
And indeed, not a minute later the door opened and Goku came in, immediately noticing Cauli's presence.
"So, is this some kind of girl talk or something?" He joked walking some steps in. Chichi glared at his high tone of voice and shushed him. "Gomen, Chi." He apologized in a whisper only to turn to the full blooded female saiyajin.
"Thanks for visiting, Cauli. We really appreciate your concern." He put his hand on her shoulder at the same time.
Cauli stiffened at the contact as she fought not to turn and pound the man to the floor. Maybe Goku wasn't aware that he was the exception to the saiyajin race or maybe he was trying to enlighten the young woman in their ways. Anyhow, she didn't understand his meaning.
He then reached Videl and petted her head softly and then, holding her cheek in one hand he said, "You didn't listen when I told you to get some rest, didn't you?"
"Gomen, Goku-san. I spent almost the whole night taking care of Gohan with Chichi-san."
"Well, why don't you take a nice hot bath and then go to the children's room so you can sleep for a while. I'll take them to train. They could use something to get their minds off of this."
"Okay, thank you."
"And since Bulma's coming just now, Chi, you can also get some rest. I'll tell Vegeta to get some more info from that doctor guy. We have to do something to get him better."
Videl nodded as she got her clothes and went in the bathroom and Cauli saw the perfect opportunity to leave the room, weirded out beyond belief. She had witnessed enough and had a good load of information to sort through.
When it was time, she would make her move.
~*~
"I'm beat!" The ningen scientist exclaimed as she plopped on the bed.
It was a large surface with fluffy cushions and soft sheets. A canopy rested above four posts at which the curtains had been tied to. It was the bed her husband had slept on as a child, when he was still a child, and before he was forced away. Quite frequently, after they got there, she wondered what his life had been like in this room. Sometimes, when she woke up in the middle of the night, she could have sworn she'd heard a mischievous toddler giggle that vaguely drifted in the air. It came out of nowhere and blended into nothing; like an episode of the past that seemed to have branded itself within the very structure of the room, in a cacophony of sounds and voices and feelings that once where, but not anymore.
Maybe
Maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her. The mind is a very powerful thing, you know; but she knew hers was just overactive.
Maybe
Maybe she was feeling lonely once again, with nobody there to keep her company. They didn't seem to need her anymore, as much as she might have liked. Maybe what she needed was another child, one that she could take care of and pamper and feed and sing to in those nights when she woke up to an empty bed and the low hum of the GR running in the background. Even her little boy didn't seem to need her anymore. He was taking after his father more and more each day.
Maybe
Maybe she was just overreacting.
The room was warm and despite the sheer size of it, that at the beginning had struck Bulma as absurd, she was starting to feel at home in it.
She had never associated Vegeta with opulence. He was quite the opposite actually. She'd always pictured him as a grumpy hermit with radically Spartan tendencies. Maybe it was a consequence of his years of servitude for Furiza. But ways any, she could as well imagine a chibi Vegeta imprinted in every pompous item in the room.
"Where are you going?" She asked upon his exiting the bathroom.
"Out." He answered not bothering to look at her while he slipped on his gloves.
"Gohan's looking better, but I have to relieve Videl soon."
A grunt.
"Just make sure the boys get their supper if I'm not around by seven thirty ehr 1950." Chuckles. "I'm still not used to this time system."
A condescending look was all her answer.
"Oh, so you're in one of your silent moods?" She smiled. He didn't answer as he walked over to the steel-looking plank floating three feet from the floor in the middle of the foyer, making the function of a table. The technology had kept Bulma puzzled, but it seemed like the ability to stay suspended in the air was a unique property of the metal that it was made of. Vegeta took several objects from the plain surface that immediately piqued his wife's curiosity.
"What is that?" she pointed to the diminutive black apparatus that somewhat resembled an earpiece. The prince never stopped from fastening the cape to his armor.
"A communicator."
"What for?" The blue haired woman had started to frown.
"I'm leaving." He finally said, taking the earpiece from her hand and walking up to the door.
"Where are you going, damn it!?" Bulma ran up to intercept him.
"Away."
"For how long?"
"I don't know. Not long."
"Vegeta, I know you're not the kind of person to broadcast everything that you do, but I need you to talk to me. Be reasonable. This is still a strange place and you going away is not in the plans." The woman tried to make as much sense as she could.
"You're annoying me. What do you want to know?"
"Where are you going?"
"Parlumnya."
"You're going with your father?"
"No."
"What are you going to do there?"
" Have some fun." He started to leave the room then.
"WHAT are you going to do there?!" She repeated more forcefully. Vegeta turned back in a dramatically swift way that made his blue cape billow around him, as he locked his stoic dark gaze to her blue one and answered most aloofly.
"I'm going to kill Cold."
~*~
Long whitish wisps seemed to happily be expelled from the mature gigantic red womb; slim steam tails of these, bathed in iridescent stardust and irritated atomic particles that vibrated around the head The shape of the universe: the sphere where no one knows where anything starts or where it ends. Just an imminent, perfect and inexorable cycle.
White steam outlined orbs left the planet, shooting themselves in all directions, each with a predefined destination. Pods leaving the spaceport docking bay on their ways to scouting, trading, diplomatic attendance or just military procedures.
Saiyajin could be seen coming and going throughout the entire station, alien ambassadors in different ships landing or leaving the docks, a cargo being detained for illicit contraband, soldiers preparing to scout in squads. The sights that welcomed the Royal elite were something he thought he'd never be able to experience again. So much so that he'd not dare miss any detail, any fact or any face he could spot from the bridge above. Commander Lettusu was with him right then, obediently waiting in the back to be acknowledged by the prince.
After countless years serving the King, Lettusu found himself immutable at the saiyajin's outbursts and changing moods, although that didn't mean he could make any semblance of understanding for each, no. The king was a mystery to him. He had no idea what went on in that head of his half the time, but he admired how the man used to get out of trouble with astute deliberation. The second class had learned long ago not to question the monarch for he always seemed to have an ace under the sleeve, and even if he still was completely astonished and puzzled with Ou, he didn't show. Now, all this didn't mean he had to behave the same with Ouji, not when this remarkable Ou look-alike was a complete 180 of his ruler. The prince was puzzling too, but in a completely different league and level. He was like the king in so few things, as far as the commander had noticed, of course. But that was understandable. He had lived far away from his home for many years. He behaved more like a war hardened soldier than a prince, and Lettusu found they had more in common than it was healthy. But again, this didn't mean he'd go and pat him on the back and invite him to the nearest tavern to a barrel of ale for the hardships endured throughout their lives. No. That saiyajin looking into the station was no less than the Saiyajin no Ouji and that's how he should be treated. He who was prophesied the next Super Saiyajin; Kyuusaisha* of their race after his grandfather's horrible mistake of letting the aisujin control the saiyajin empire, treating the very king of the saiyajin as a common servant. Oh, no. He was not stupid. Despite being second class by birth, he had earned his place as the First Commander not only for his prowess in battle, but also because of his observant nature and steel loyalty. That man that stood ahead of him was going to change their world enormously.
The people had prophesied well. The prince was a super saiyajin. And he had saved them all from Furiza himself in that last battle that lasted days on end; a battle in which, after waged, everybody had thought the prince dead. They said he fought bravely and savagely against the closest minions, even after days of nonstop fighting. After the last one of them was down, the grotesque buffoon that commanded the Ginyuu Tokusentai*, the young prince had gone up against Furiza. They engaged in fierce combat that seemed to last for ages, until an amazing explosion of power had taken both the aisujin and the prince, along with the whole asteroid they'd been in into complete obliteration. The young prince was then thought dead. But everybody was wrong, and now, after saving their race from Furiza, he had come to finish the job, taking the root of all evil himself: King Cold.
After all those years, Vegeta Ouji as back, wiser, more powerful, taking them on the path to redeem themselves before their ancestors and then, after everything was finally over, take his rightful place as their ruler. Yes, the prince was on his way to exact revenge and the first commander would be honored fight at his side.
"My father comes. See to the haste of our departure, Commander."
Lettusu was brought back down to Vegeta-sei and bowing shortly, headed to the comm terminal on the side, briefly relaying the message to the officials below. The window blinked off, signaling the end of the transmission, as a flood of fluttering fingers of curiosity caught Lettusu at the back of his head.
"Ousama comes, your highness? How do you know?" The older man turned to the short figure beside him. Vegeta smirked.
"I can sense him. The young commander also accompanies him." Lettusu just nodded.
Ten seconds later, the door swished open to reveal the king, obediently flanked by Commander Cauli. Vegeta Ouji and Commander Lettusu bowed with different levels of formality.
"Rise." The sovereign commanded in a voice that spoke volumes of his good mood. "Ouji, it pleases me greatly to watch you part, as it signifies the path to our glory."
Vegeta had to fight hard to leash the sarcastic retort that threatened dangerously to leave his lips. If there was something he remembered well of his early princely training, it was humiliating the king in public was considered an act of sedition and whoever did so, immediately lost the favor of their brethren. So he just grunted.
"Commander Cauli is to accompany you on your mission." The prince's head snapped back at that.
"I go alone." He spat.
"With all due respect Your Highness deserves, I do not intend to get in the prince's way. My duty is completely different." Cauli stepped forward.
"I work alone. I go alone." Vegeta didn't look at all pleased with the act, which was a relative debasing of his abilities.
"Don't be irrational, Ouji. Commander Cauli must collect valuable info from the Parlumnyan Parliament's mainframe before you finish your uh, visit. You might have refused my company, but hers is indisputable."
"May I be permitted to speak, Your Highnesses?" Lettusu cut in a pause.
"You may." Ou relayed already knowing the nature of the saiyajin's desire just for his posture alone.
"I entreat Oujisama's permission to accompany him and Commander Cauli on this mission."
Vegeta turned annoyed eyes on his father, only to notice that gloating shimmer in those inky black depths that was so unmistakable to him. He could have fumed right then if the act didn't seem so childish and humiliating. Ou had planned to send both commanders with him since the beginning. Why? It was not a question of faith in him. He didn't know, but he sure as hell was not going to let them come in his way.
"Permission granted." The short man grated through his teeth, without leaving the eyes of the king. "Very well, you shall both come with me. But listen, and listen good. You both just stay the hell out of my way." He deadpanned.
He might be the prince, but he sure as hell does not speak like one.' Lettusu thought amusedly.
~*~
In the last two days, Videl had discovered a new concept to the word exhaustion. The serum was working its magic, but as with any medicine, time was a very important factor. Gohan still had fevers once in a while and sometimes he woke up for instants and mumbled things under his breath. Other times, he moaned and whimpered, his body tensing and thrashing in agonizing proportions. None could explain the pain he seemed to feel; not even the doctor that had treated him before had an explanation for it.
Chichi was at the border of a nervous breakdown. She hadn't slept or left the room since the boy was taken in 38 hours before, not to mention she hadn't eaten a bite either. Bulma and Goku (and sometimes even Vegeta), took care of the children because they knew just what kind of trouble they were capable of causing when they went unsupervised for too long. Videl tried to help in everything that she could, but she was still kind of in a state of shock. She felt like she was dreaming and none of that was happening.
About half an hour after Videl returned from the academy, Bulma resorted to give Chichi a sedative, because she knew the woman would not sleep until Gohan woke up. Videl then stayed with him until Bulma came to take her place. She sat on the chair next to the bed, a book in her hand as she peeked at him once in a while.
It was certainly strange that they still hadn't a clue as to what was the cause of Gohan's state. She couldn't help but frown as her book was immediately forgotten on the night table. She sighed and rested her head on the back of the chair as she threw an arm over her eyes to gain some kind of comfort from the annoying lights. The windows were closing off all sunlight, but the light in the ceiling was starting to hurt her eyes.
She wanted everything to go back to normal. She wanted him to wake up and explain all this to a capricious degree. Like a spoiled little brat that always got what she wanted but now that she really needed it done, it eluded her like in punishment for all the bad and wrong things that she had done in the past.
Why didn't he wake up and satisfied her curiosity!? Was it so hard to just open your eyes? Or was he gonna die? No. She didn't even want to think about it. Not now, when the uncertainty they were in made it a feasible possibility. She felt like something was pressing her thorax, impeding her of taking air into her lungs. She felt like whimpering, but for the life of her she would NOT! She was Satan Videl. She was a pillar of strength both emotionally and physically. But all in all, she couldn't remember ever feeling so helpless in her life. Not when Spopovitch was pounding on her at the last budokai, not when Majin Buu went to the Sacred Temple and turned them all into food not when everybody thought Gohan was dead except for her. No, she knew where she stood in those. But now now it could be within her reach, she could actually DO something now. But so far, what she did was never enough.
Gohan stirred, making her turn her head his way. Thick pearls of perspiration rolled down his face once more. Great. Just what he needed, another fever to go through.
Videl felt his forehead quickly and skimmed through the bottles on the bedside table though not finding anything suitable. With a frustrated huff, she took the long-dried cloth and went to the bathroom to soak it in cold water. The small bath-pool in there seemed so inviting right then, beckoning her to just take a hot bath and succumb to delicious slumber. Quite a temptation, indeed. Shame. It seemed tonight was going to be another sleepless night.
A hoarse cry drifted in from the bedroom.
Videl immediately ran back to the bed to find Gohan screaming raucously and contorting impossibly while she looked on at a complete and utter loss. What did she do? What was wrong with him? Was he dreaming? Was he in pain? Where did he hurt?
Videl started to panic. She didn't know what to do but stand there like an idiot while her best friend tossed in agony before her. Oh, Kamisama! If only he were conscious! She could- No. She should stop complaining and help him once and for all.
She finally decided to try and make him calm down. If he could hear her, maybe he would heed her words. The girl attempted countless times to assuage the boy into stopping the struggle, but all she got was feeling him go stiff as a board and go on screaming. Now she was getting scared. He had to calm down for the sake of her sanity. It was selfish thinking, true, but she also wanted to see him get better.
"Gohan Gohan, please, calm down. Please, calm down! You're making it worse! Just breathe and try to relax, please!" She went on talking to him, unsure if he could hear her, unsure if he wanted to hear her, all the while getting more desperate and distressed. She had never had to watch somebody in this state and it was scaring her enormously.
This was not good. His screams would eventually get someone's attention and she was sure her ki was quite unstable right then. She was frustrated about not being able to help him, but she would be embarrassed beyond belief would someone walk in and notice her impotence.
"Gohan! Please stop it! You're scaring me!" She yelled over his ruckus.
The boy then tensed critically, arching his body off the bed, the exertion of this action quite visible through the ungodly cherry hue of his face and the veins straining on his neck. Even his voice had faltered leaving his mouth agape in a silent cry.
Just as quickly, his arms flailed in reflex, swiftly catching Videl on the right side of the face and sending her to the floor awfully close to the sharp edge of the dresser. The girl was stunned for an instant before the tears collected in the corners of her eyes. That hit had hurt, and she could taste the coppery wine in her mouth where she'd unconsciously bitten her tongue. Her breathing hitched while trying to keep the tears at bay and the pain at a minimum while her hands trembled with incredulity and hurt
Gohan had struck her
It was certainly accidental, not to mention he was unconscious and quite probably delusional. But the fact was she had forgotten that he was a man, and not just any man, a saiyajin. He was immensely strong and even if he had never struck her purposefully, if sometime he did, he could kill her without meaning to
He could kill her. Period.
She was lucky he was weak now and his movements were uncoordinated or she would have surely sported a broken jaw right then. A sob was trying to escape her throat, but she wouldn't let it. No, she wasn't-
"Videl!" Somebody cried and she finally realized it was someone with blue hair kneeling before her and shaking her violently.
"Bulma-san" she choked out in a faint voice, still in shock from the blow.
"What happened? Why are you bleeding?" The girl, still looking a little stunned, brought her hand to her lips and stared at the blood on her fingers for an instant.
"Gohan hit me." She got out still in a dazed whisper.
Goku immediately knelt beside her, frowning and looking worried for all the world. He turned her face to the side and inspected the reddish mark that would soon turn into a purplish bruise.
"Something broken?" he asked, looking her in the eyes.
"No No." She finally looked coherent and aware. Videl sighed and came to her feet, wiping the red trail from her face. "It's ok. It actually wasn't that hard."
"What happened?" Bulma asked again while taking a strip of gauze from the kit and soaking it with a little water from a glass sitting nearby.
"He was quiet for most of the time and then he just started screaming and moving around." Videl related turning to look at Gohan while Bulma cleaned her lips with the gauze. Goku was by the bed, wiping Gohan's forehead with the cloth Videl had brought to do the same. The boy seemed calmer now. Even his breathing had gotten better. But that was not what got Goku's attention. It was the scent of blood in the room.
And it was so intense
Along his thoughts, he sensed Chichi's ki increase some. That meant the woman was awake and definitely heading to the room to continue her guarding. Now Goku sighed. That woman was even more stubborn than he was.
"Bulma, Chichi woke up. I'm gonna try and make her rest some more." He announced while heading out the door. "Just take care of him. You know more about this than me."
"Okay, Goku. Keep her in bed for a little while longer." The female scientist called out finishing her work on the younger woman. Son Goku took one last look at his son's prostrate form and left the room in search of his wife.
"You want me to take over?" Bulma asked again, rearranging the sheets on the bed and looking at Videl at the same time. It struck the girl odd, but the older woman seemed kind of preoccupied and highly disturbed about something.
"It's okay; just a small setback. You can go back to whatever you were doing. I'm sure it's awfully more interesting than looking after a sick person." Videl said with better spirits.
"Yeah, well. To tell you the truth it is. But don't tell Chichi, ok?" She finished in a conspiratorial whisper, causing the girl to chuckle lightheartedly. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"Hai. I'm sure. I'll just keep clear of the bed."
"Okay. Then see you around. And DON'T forget to get some rest or I'll have you sedated like Chichi, you hear me?"
"Hai, Bulma-san."
The older woman filed out the door in an unknown direction, leaving the Satan girl once again to fend for herself. She sighed and fixed her pigtails absently as she made her way to the chair she'd been sitting in a while ago. The book was still resting on top of the bedside table where she'd left it, but now she didn't know what to do. Videl was not one to complain ever, but right then she was feeling like she was bordering her limits. She couldn't understand the why of this situation and it wasn't wrong to say it was upsetting her to no end. She was tired of waiting for a solution. Videl was not a patient person and she just wanted everything to get better so her life could go back to the same as it was, which in itself was not very monotonous, quite the opposite really. She couldn't ask for more action, adventure and excitement in her life.
Was it such a crime that she wanted to go back to that?
It wasn't fair. Not for Gohan and not for her. She needed him to get better soon or she didn't know what she'd do. She hated uncertainty as she'd ever had a plan for everything in her life. But now she didn't know anything about anything. She had no idea of what to expect from the immediate future and that was NOT good In her opinion.
Ok. So maybe she wasn't somebody to complain out loud but nobody said she couldn't wage inner battles and throw inner temper tantrums at the unfairness of things when they didn't go her way. And in this she spent so long, that it grew dark and she dozed off. Bulma would come to take her place soon but she wasn't aware of anything but the nice feeling of comforting sleep that her tired body craved for.
~*~
Parlumnya was a star system of four moons that orbited each other in a complex dance of celestial magnificence. Hidden behind a blue/gold nebula that was actually a conglomerate of astray comets and cold meteorites unfortunate enough to fall into its highly magnetic field. There was no sun, but the enthralling shine of the gas and space matter mass was light enough to please the gigantic quadruplets. It was beautiful.
It was beautiful as it was treacherous
Cya, the sandy moon, center of all commerce and trade; home of the Parliament and most of all, the perfect façade for an inconspicuous galactic army, the most feared on the quadrant.
Oda, the ice moon, the perfect dwelling for the aisujin king, excellent place for intensive training in harsh conditions, nameless grave of countless soldiers of unworthy purposes.
Meia, the volcanic moon, trenched landscape considered to be the harshest base of troop stationary.
Phrea, the water moon, the perfect place for an underwater operational base, technologically-wise, and perfect for the reengineering of subjects to put a stop to the lessening of their numbers.
"Entering phantom mode in five, four, three, two, one Online." The computer announced breaking the deafening silence.
Vegeta squirmed in his seat. It had been so long since he had stopped gallivanting in space within the cramped confines of a pod. His back screamed at him in protest of the uncomfortable position he had been forced to take. The surly prince couldn't believe how he had gotten used to riding the demonic contraption in the past.
"Incoming transmission on closed circuit, frequency 103.7. Dispatcher: Commander Cauli." The computer announced again.
"Proceed." He replied in a gruff voice while he gave up his efforts of trying to make himself comfortable.
"Oujisama, we will have a visual of Parlumnya in five. I take a detour in ten. Destination: Cya. Any further orders?" the young commander's voice filtered through the speakers.
"Hai, Commander. After the completion of your mission, enter the confidential files and find out what happened to Kuura*. Download this information to my pod and then destroy their data banks."
"Hai sire."
"And take Lettusu with you. I don't want anybody to get in my way."
"Of course, sire."
"I will take care of The Eye then. We are bound to be found out sooner or later, and when that happens, the news will be broadcasted to the whole system. There will be a massive mobilization of troops and it is very likely that the prey will get away thus resulting in the failure of our mission. Without The Eye, every moon will be blissfully unaware of the happenings to their numbers." Lettusu interjected in his behalf.
"What is this Eye' you are talking about, Commander?" The prince questioned in interest.
"It is the surveillance space station that feeds the Parliament on vital info for moving their army in order to neutralize opposition."
"I see you've done your homework, commander." Vegeta commented in an amused tone. His opinion of the First Commander had gone up a step since the mission had started. He almost laughed and at the same time berated himself at his forgetfulness. Of course these two understood his fixation on fighting alone and respected it. They were saiyajin with his same upbringing, and all of a sudden their company was not unwelcome.
"Sumimasen? Wakarimasen*, oujisama."
A good-natured chuckle.
"A Chikyuu expression, Commander. It means you have impressed me with your vast knowledge of their workings."
"I spent most of our trip going over the files on the parlumnyans."
"We have visual." Cauli announced as Lettusu spoke. The other two turned to look at the arrangement of celestial magnificence with blasé disposition.
"Computer, engage static mode on all pods." Vegeta ordered to the general direction of the small console in front of him.
Three rounded objects stopped a fair distance of the moons, conveniently masked to avoid detection in the enemy ranks. Parlumnya was considered neutral ground in the galactic domain; that is why you could find a varying amalgam of races coexisting on the surfaces. Though not exactly peacefully, mind you. All moons, especially Cya, being the most populated of all, were known for not being the safest place to be. If you didn't know how to defend yourself, you had better keep clear of Parlumnya.
However, the truth was, Parlumnya was a mercenary. And this time, it had chosen Cold's side.
"Recapitulating. Commander Lettusu will take care of The Eye. Commander Cauli gets Cya, and I " Vegeta trailed off scanning the myriad of ki signatures on surface for the one he was looking for.
" get" And he found it Right on the purple moon.
" Phrea."
"Oujisama, " Cauli's voice came bemused and tentative over the circuit. "But Cold is on Oda."
"Is he?" Vegeta questioned in a very confident tone without taking his eyes off the aforementioned moon. "Cold might not be practical, but he's not stupid. It is quite obvious to anyone that he would choose Oda as his base, but why take any chances would anybody find out his whereabouts? He is in Phrea."
"How can you be so sure?"
"You dare question me?" The prince's voice was tinged with irritation.
"Not my purpose, Oujisama. Just avid curiosity."
"I can sense him."
"Ho-"
"Oujisama, " Lettusu cut off the female commander. "Do you have the sight?"
"Nande?" Cauli asked in astonishment. Vegeta laughed out loud, catching the attention of the other two.
"There is no such thing, Commander. Just a figment created in the desperation to put a name to a skill that is still not known in our world."
"And what is that?"
"To sense energy naturally."
"Oujisama, we are wasting time. We must split up at once." The young commander insisted.
"Very well. Let us synchronize our scouters." Lettusu seconded.
"I don't need one. I will have my communicator in you frequency though." Vegeta said placing the tiny device over his left ear.
After arranging their tech tools, each pod shot out in their own destination, starting their assault on the unsuspecting though not at all innocent population.
~*~
"Entire perimeter cleared Oujisama, Commander Cauli. You may proceed to your original destinations." Lettusu's voice came from the communicator devices on both saiyajin. It was several hours since they had split up and both, prince and female commander, were waiting for Lettusu's signal to carry on their missions.
The First Commander of the Royal Guard, Lettusu from the House of Burori, had effectively infiltrated in the enemy's premises without many hassles. His motto, "get in, clean up, get out, all with cold blood" was taken by the book. His face carried such a dull expression of blankness as he made his way in the corridors and different rooms, stealing masses of lives with a flick of the wrist or a tiny ki ball, impartially making his way to the main control room. The full blood was quite in time to avoid the revelation of his presence to the armies on the parlumnyan moons. Lettusu swiftly made short work on them, making a quick scan with his scouter and effectively eliminating the remaining members of the force.
Vegeta ran his tongue over his teeth in a gesture of arrogant anticipation; stopping only enough to fumble with the dials in front of him to program his pod for the mission.
Lettusu's intervention had been their ticket to absolute discretion and he vaguely wondered if his father knew it, that being the reason for his guileful scheme. The element of surprise; that's what he'd told the king.
And all of a sudden, their company wasn't so bad.
The purple water mass greeted him from 1000 feet as the pod once again engaged in static mode, hovering effectively in a picture-like state of inertia. The prince left the cramped confines with relish, as he looked all around at the ubiquitous fluid. There was no amount of terrain as far as he could see, so he unleashed his senses wide, pinpointing the exact location of the largest concentration of energies below the surface. Flying west for twenty miles, Vegeta stopped over a spot that looked darker than the rest of the sea. He smirked; enveloping his armor clad form in a ki bubble and diving underwater without more preambles.
After sealing the room he'd blasted his way into and disabling the alarm by cutting the power on the sector, Vegeta started through the corridor, exalted at the thought of once again playing the role of the hunter. His blood seethed in anticipation, his heart accelerated a notch when the first kis approached his position.
'Like moths to the flame'
They had been brought by the lapse of that sector's power, and the prince was waiting right there for them, confident and supercilious in the middle of the dais right outside the room with the engines. He stood silently, legs squared with his shoulders, arms folded in front of his chest, head down in a paradoxical gesture of infinite patience, eyes closed to savor the feeling of his other senses heightening and a small smirk of reminiscence as the soldiers came into view.
A few slowed down at a safe distance of the royal saiyajin, while the others kept running amuck.
"Hold it! There's someone there!" Somebody yelled; one of those that stopped on time.
'Oh, so there are some morons with decent senses at least.' Vegeta thought in amusement.
"Who the fuck are you!? Stay the fuck where you are or we'll blow your head off!" Another yelled also.
An icy chuckle reached the soldiers ears, causing a chill to run down their spines at the cruel tint that sounded so much like their master's. One of them produced a pulsating ki ball, illuminating the hall eerily as the shadows danced upon the face of the stranger. He just stood there. Immobile. The chuckle had receded a while ago and the silence was once again, unnerving. They noticed the armor and immediately recognized the crest emblazoned on the breastplate and as one, their expletives of shock resounded unrestrained, only one making itself exceptional.
"It's a fucking monkey!"
Vegeta's eyes opened in a caustic stare as blue ki encompassed his body in slow licking flames that caught the creatures off guard. Less than a second later they all avalanched towards him, preparing to finish him off rapidly. The first threw a punch at his face, regardless of the dangerous threat burning in those jet eyes. Upon coming into contact with his ki, his whole arm disintegrated into ashes, flesh and bone consumed by the hatred made energy around the intruder. A cry left his throat but it was soon cut off as a gloved hand put a gaping hole through the soldier's diaphragm, the saiyajin tilting his head to the side in a supposed innocent gesture that came out most macabre.
The war cries ceased as the minions saw the hand quickly retreat, letting the mangled mass fall bonelessly to the floor. The saiyajin's lip curled in a snarl as his eyes swept the flock of men before him, before a mighty kick sent the cadaver sailing straight to them, initiating the battle in the process. Punches flew, breaking jawbones that seemed most fragile as the crania caved in unnatural shape, pouring out blood, fluids and brain matter through all orifices. Blue ki turned gold as the flames came alive, eating at all flesh relentlessly if it got in close proximity. Limbs cracked, cries echoed, blood spilled and instincts flared. A capped figure seemed to dance in rhythm with the pumping of his heart and the sounds of battle and death around him. He was there, in his element, one undeniable by his genes and his upbringing.
Vegeta's hands ignited to ki balls big enough to be confused for basketballs. One there, the other to the side, cleanly decapitating a pair that was trying to run away. His hand caught a stray neck. How unfortunate. He squeezed until the vertebrae cracked, crushing the bones and nerves to leave something akin to a deflated bag.
A cease in action that seemed most consensual.
Cold's remaining soldiers saw their opportunity. They started sending blast after blast at the saiyajin prince, at the same time backing away to reach the cross-hall. They were so close. They could escape and bring reinforcements. What they didn't count on though, was the ouji's vast knowledge in the art of the kill, either his goal of not letting one go alive. Vegeta raised both hands in the midst of the fire, his left going to the side, palm facing the wall, his right some inches over his head, palm facing down, as a steady flux of ki left both, crossing in the middle and dilating to form a ki grid. A smirk tugged at the prince's lips before he sent the ki grid on the still firing soldiers, this gaining tremendous speed as it passed straight through them and burned its imprint on the opposite wall.
All sound halted.
One of the soldiers at the front blinked in shock as thin lines began to bleed all over him, just before his and all other's bodies began to fall to the floor in squared little pieces.
Vegeta's face fell into stoic countenance once again, throwing his cape back as he walked through the mess of gore and turning the hall on his way to his target.
~*~
A dull and boring surface of purple waves. An endless sea disturbed by strong gusts and something else ominous that loomed somewhere between reality and simple paranoia.
To an ignorant outsider it would seem a place you just went to fish a huge schramuse* or to watch the amazing savage sea creatures that solely inhabited the moon of Phrea, not ever suspecting the massive infrastructure beneath the depths of the bitter water mass.
Within these structures there were countless creatures of all kinds, all with the same purpose: to serve their lord and master in exchange for riches, power and pleasures. Shame how, being aware of the even worse kind of said master, they were blind enough to not see the high improbability of such promise.
This was a secret base assembled well in the middle of the Aisusaigetsu, serving mostly as a refuge from tyrannical stress and bootlicking sots when the master was in no mood for pleasantries. It was also a massive laboratory used to reengineer his soldiers and improve them for better use.
The lord was then sitting on his large cushioned golden chair in front of a long table reserved only for his own company. A fresh humanoid corpse still reeking of warm blood and other bodily fluids lay in front of him; the former soldier still partially clad in his duty armor. He was missing his bowels as well as a great part of his brain, while the tongue and heart still lay on the lord's metallic plate. He was detachedly looking out the window across from him, the side of his face queerly resting on his fist, which elbow rested on the table; and to complete the picture, his other hand lazily swirled thick red wine in his glass cup Or was it blood?
The lord smiled as the laser cannon shot a giant sea creature, one of the most vicious, as it attempted to trespass the security limits and was instead effectively beheaded, staining the purple water a dark black as the inert carcass was swept away by the strong currents. His smile accentuated the lines starting to appear at the corner of his eyes and mouth, while it never reached the beady red eyes.
The cup was put down, the eyes fixated on the voluminous heart lying in front of him before his attention was diverted solely on the bright golden glow that seeped in the window just before ceiling, floor and walls quaked strongly enough to send his precious food off the table.
"What is the meaning of this?" He growled low in his throat as he came to his massive feet and started to the door.
Upon reaching the hall, two more quakes shook the structure, causing the aisujin's anger to flare, thinking something had happened in his laboratories that could endanger the outcome of his plans.
Those blasted scientists and their obsession with experimenting on my subjects! If I find even a little singe in the equipment, I'll make ashes of their flesh and bones. Everyone is expendable*.'
Thin red bolts of electricity coursed his torso, as his titanic strides resounded throughout the serpentine passageways, which just now he started noticing were completely empty aside from his very menacing presence.
Cold made a turn to the right, approaching the labs' gray entryway, which lazily whirred open to reveal absolute mayhem where there should have been utmost tidiness and pristine machinery. Colorful wires hung from the ceiling, the lights agonizing in their sporadic blinks, while the smell of molten metal and charred flesh reached his nose. The chairs that were supposed to be occupied by his tormenting scientists were either torn off the floor or blackened raw, as if a minded flamethrower had been unleashed on the extremely expensive assembly.
Needless to say, King Cold was speechless, still no place for rage in his shock. That is, until a short figure was depicted among the wreckage and thin smoke; a figure that, as it came closer, began to take an all too familiar shape. As the face came into view, Cold's eyes widened greatly as the nonchalant expression on the figure's visage turned into the most devilish smirk the aisujin had seen on it before.
"Boo."
The childish, and at the same time mocking monosyllabic stirred things within the leviathan that he was convinced it shouldn't. It was preposterous! This had to be some kind of joke! This had to be a look alike, a-a clone of some kind! Yes. The little runt had perished; perished along with his son; perished to his very own Saishu saigo no wasa*!
And then there was anger, and dejection, and puzzlement.
"No. I'm very real." Vegeta cut in the tyrant's reverie as if reading his mind and all of a sudden two feet away from him.
Cold was not startled with such sudden movement. He was instead feeling betrayed yes, by the unfairness of the situation. Why had the filthy monkey survived and not his son!?
"Stunned, Cold?" the smooth voice drifted up to his ears as the vertically challenged monkey prince rounded him with unrequited calmness. Why he ought to the arrogant saiyajin! Who did he think he was!?
"Who are you?" The rumbling baritone, combined with the menacing bulk and the piercing red glare would have made any creature in their right mind to run for cover and pray to their individual god to make it a quick and painless death.
But Vegeta was not just any creature
He was the Saiyajin no Ouji, and bent on revenge nonetheless.
Vegeta looked up at the towering giant. Hn. He remembered Cold. He was always in his second transformation, Vegeta supposed because it looked more intimidating than the others, with the colossal height, bulging muscles, wicked sharp horns, long claws and sinister black lips that hinted of his not so discreet cannibalistic ways. But the fear inducing magic of his appearance was lost to the saiyajin prince.
"You know very well who I am. You're just in denial."
"What do you want?"
"What do you think?"
Cold snarled. He was not getting anything out of the intruding monkey. Well, that was not a problem at all, because not before too long, the saiyajin wouldn't be able to utter a word.
"What? You're not going to welcome your old friend back? See that your henchmen did. They were kind enough to." Vegeta said mock offended, only to add, " And foolish."
Cold's hand fell to the scouter hanging off his belt, slowly putting it to his left eye and pressing the button to see the disturbing reading of only two energy signatures on all Phrea. And you didn't have to be a genius to figure out the owners of those signatures.
The aisujin gnashed his teeth before baring them in a snarl as his form tensed and red bolts began to course his arms and chest. Vegeta smirked one more time. Oh, yes He would finally get revenge against the Aisujin Empire
And he would enjoy it.
~*~
The bed sheets stirred and the boy under them muttered something. Videl was too far-gone to notice at first, but when he spoke louder her trance was easily broken.
"Gohan?" She inquired to the shadowed bed in the dark room. She then turned one of the dimmer lights that Bulma had brought from her capsule arsenal on.
The boy on the bed turned his face and squinted, bringing his hand to his eyes to shield them from what, to him, was very bright illumination. Videl broke into a grin at the sight only to be confronted with a raspy voice.
"Videl what happened?"
"You Vest'har those guys Vegeta-san" she couldn't form complete sentences to explain what had happened.
"Oh right. The fight." He whispered again looking down to his lap. Then he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry."
He felt so guilty, so vile. He felt so ashamed that he didn't know how he'd be able to face them again. Any of them. All of a sudden, Videl launched herself at him and enveloped him in the most sincere and intense hug he remembered ever having. But how could she, after what he had done? How could she hug him like that after what he made her witness? The monster hiding inside him, just waiting, stalking, for the perfect chance to jump out and wreak havoc while in control. How could she, after worrying so much? After what he had sensed, felt from her in that forest while fighting Vegeta. Then she pulled back and looked at him with tears in her eyes. She smiled with relief and something else he couldn't distinguish since she clung to him again in another hug.
"Thank Kami you're back." She whispered.
Then it hit him.
He hadn't been imagining it. He was feeling it again right now; just the same he had felt in that place during the fight. It had been real. It had been her. But how? How had she reached him?
"An embrace and a smile on hold." He whispered.
"What?" Videl asked while sitting back on the edge of the bed.
"Noth-actually that's what I felt in the forest, while I was fighting Vegeta-san. And now I'm getting the same feeling from you. You stopped me. If it hadn't been for you, I don't know what could have happened."
The girl smiled again, her happiness not letting her dwell on his words for too long. "It's okay. You're better now. That's all that matters. Want some water?" He nodded and she went to the table to pour fresh water in a clean glass.
"You've been running a fever ever since we got you out of the regen tank. We have been worried sick."
"How long?"
"Um about 42 hours."
"That's practically two whole days!"
"Pretty much."
"Where are the others?"
"Vegeta-san's with the kids, Bulma-san I don't know, and Goku-san's making sure Chichi-san rests for a while longer."
"I feel so tired."
"Well, then go to sleep and get some rest. I'm sure tomorrow, when your mom comes to see you, she'll smother you with hugs and kisses and pamper you like a baby."
He smiled and lay down again, scooting to the side a little to give the girl some room. She resorted to use another sheet for herself, in case he fell into another fever in the middle of the night.
The next morning, Gohan woke up really early, his body demanding some activity after the long hours confined to a bed. He threw his feet over the side, that being enough to strain him to the point of bringing cold sweat to his temples and upper lip, his breaths coming out deeper and a wave of dizziness hitting him full force. Videl also roused at feeling him stir, coming to his side to check on him.
"Are you alright? How do you feel?" She asked brushing the hair off his forehead while he kept his eyes closed with his left hand. He was pale in the face and Videl took immediate notice of that.
"Like the bed's calling me back. I feel so weak."
"Come on, let me help you to the chair. You have to walk around some." The girl instructed as she pulled the sheets off of him only to recoil in shock at what met her eyes
Gohan's thighs and hips as well as the bed cover and interior sheet were matted with dried blood. She couldn't help a gasp leave her lips as she stared at the dark red stains not knowing at all what to feel. Why was he bleeding? Did it mean something bad? Was it a wound that the tank couldn't heal? Was he going to be well?
"Ii Kamisama! Where did all this blood come from?" Gohan wondered in disbelief, making the sheets apart and touching the places where the precious fluid had caked dry under him.
He took to his feet and stood; only to fall flat on his nose right after. Videl came back to the land of the conscious, crouching to help him up.
"Ow. Talk about lack of balance." Gohan complained.
Videl helped him sit only to have him yelp and jump to his knees with eyes bright in what anybody would think unshed tears.
"That hurt!"
"That may be where you're bleeding from. Your pants are stained back there." She observed wondering what he'd say in face of the embarrassing situation.
"Would you be so kind as to leave me alone for a while? I want to check just where the blood's coming from."
"Okay. Let me help you up then." She said as she took him by the arm and aided of the bed, he rose to his feet only to sway and lean over afterwards.
He was just getting his balance back when Videl shrieked and jumped away from him, startling him witless for long enough to lose his footing again.
"What!? You almost got me deaf!"
"Look." Was all she said while pointing to his shorts. Gohan looked down only to gain the same expression that adorned his friend's face, as well as the calamitous rush of thoughts in his mind. For there, just jutting out of the shorts' leg, was a long, brown, furry and blood stained appendage that he hadn't seen in 12 years:
His long gone tail.
Dono suffix = I believe it denotes titles of politeness like Mr., Mrs. and Miss, usually reserved for addressing someone by writing, but I have seen it in the Rurouni Kenshin manga, as Kenshin refers to Kaoru as Kaoru-dono.
Kyuusaisha = savior
Kuura = Cooler, Cold's oldest son
Wakarimasen = I don't understand
Schramuse = edible sea creature from the waters of the Phrea moon
"Everyone is expendable" = our VP's favorite line at work o.O;;
Saishu saigo no wasa = Desperation attack (Vegeta's suicidal technique)
Ginyuu Tokusentai = Ginyuu Force
A lot of work on this one Uff!! I'm thrilled that you guys like this fic so much. And I hope that I'm doing justice to your wonderful reviews. Sorry for the late chapter though.
About the layout of the last chapter, well, I was kinda sleepy and weird so I lapsed into Quentin Tarantino's scene chronology shuffling technique. Does that even make any sense? And I see you liked Gohan's real-live thought style. Have you ever notice that we people think like that? Well, pay some attention. You might get surprised of what you'd find.
I forgot to say before that if you want to know the status of my update, just check my bio. I'll post any notices there.
You know what? I had been thinking something and I know that it won't quit nagging at me until I share it. Don't you think it would be awfully interesting if somehow, FF.net did a fanfiction convention were the members and readers can share ideas, autographs (:-P) or just get to know each other. It came to me as I was browsing this manga magazine and found an article about the Anime Convention held on I think it was Chigaco. Anyway, babbling babbling.
Special thanks to:
Anthony, Psycho Ann (OMG!! I can't believe you read my fic! I adore your work! Please update Veritas, P&P, DC and PotE), otepoti, Goten's Guardian Angel, WeyrdSister, I, dbzgundamgurlie (Whoa! Thanks!), jurgen, DarkHeart81 (I didn't wanna give a peak, but here it is), A-man, Dany le fou, Andromeda of the Moon, kaden dark (oh my, thank you!), BeyondLSD (God! You make me feel so good everytime you say those things! Your questions will be answered in the long run. Don't wanna spoil the fun! ^_~ And about animating this? Yeah right! But don't you think I haven't thought that!?), t, SaiyanPrincess77 (It was you! I know it was you who prayed to the Writer Angel! THANKYOU), shadow, Gohan wanabie, blaqz, Kagome Kaori Gryffindor, Luna's Meow, Silver Eyes Bright, Aurora, CC, Pia Bartolini (Wow, now that's a review I love! Thank you, and to tell you the truth, the same has happened to me in the past. Now I don't judge the book by its cover), Kkcoolio, Darkness Vampire Videl (Hey, you changed your nick! LOL, you always have to be so funny! And the Days of our Lives? If you say so), Sessy, Slam, vegito044, gaul (does this chapter answer your question?), Kiddies Should Not Watch Porn, MiraiGurl (*beams*),
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