Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the Dragon Ball series or any of its related topics. Dragon Ball is the property of Akira Toriyama. In respect to its creator, this fan fiction is created for entertainment purposes only, and is not part of the official story line. The plot is mine and any other characters you do not recognize. No reader/reviewer is authorized to post/translate this story anywhere else without my permission.
A/N: If you'd check the date of when this story was published and completed, you'd note that this story was written some time ago. Therefore this story no longer accurately reflects my current and preferred writing style. This story remains up in this site for archival purposes. It is highly unlikely that I will make revisions and proof-read the story, and in no means will I add or delete chapters. If do so, I will give a warning at the start of each chapter if it was ever revised.
Please read and enjoy, and reviews are always welcome.
Chapter 15
Launch!
"Alright," Vegeta started as he, 18, Launch and Tien walked down the hallway. Vegeta held his flashlight in the distance, the others held theirs as well. "We're going to drop you off in the kitchen." he said. "You guys know your way back?" he turned to them.
"Of course." Tien nodded.
"Be careful you guys." 18 told the couple.
"You too." Tien told her. 18 nodded.
"Here we are." Vegeta told them as he held the door open for them. "Get everything you need and then quickly go back." he ordered them.
"You got it." Tien said as he entered the kitchen, launch following closely behind him.
"Let's go." Vegeta told 18, 18nodded in agreement and she followed him to the elevator.
[Dining Hall]
"Hey look." Yamucha said as he got up from his seat and headed towards where Bulma was laying down. "She's coming around." he told them as Krillen joined him. Bulma stirred and moaned.
"What happened?" Bulma gasped out.
"Hey, B, are you alright?" Chichi asked.
"What happened?" she asked again.
"You fainted." Chichi answered. Bulma sat up and looked around.
"Where's everybody?" she asked.
"Launch and Tien went back to the kitchen." Chichi said.
"For what?" Bulma asked.
"To get some stuff for Goku's wound and something that can wake you up." Chichi asked.
"And Vegeta and 18?" Bulma asked.
"They went up back to the room." Chichi said, not sure is she should've told her.
"WHAT!?" Bulma asked.
"They have to B," Krillen said. "Your laptop's upstairs."
"What Laptop?" Bulma asked.
"The laptop your dad gave you for your Christmas present." Chichi said.
"That laptop." Bulma said. "I cannot believe I forgot about that!" she cried.
"It's okay B," Chichi said as she sat next to her friend. "We're still going to get out of here." she smiled at her.
"I just hope they're all alright." Bulma whispered.
[Elevator]
When the elevator stopped, the doors opened and revealed a dark, and long hallway. It was quiet, all you can hear was the strong wind. As they walk, 18 couldn't help but squeal a bit because of the thunder and the strange shadows made when the lightning strikes. Vegeta shushed her as they stopped in front of the familiar room.
"Ready?" he whispered to her. 18 just nodded her head. "Let's go then." he said, as if in slow motion, he twisted the door knob and slowly open the door. Lightning struck and 18 half jumped at the scene in front of her. Actually, it hasn't changed much, it was the same when they last left it.
They both entered slowly, step by step, 18 was huddled behind Vegeta. Vegeta left 18 by the door to check if anybody's in the room. After a minute of searching, he returned to the waiting 18 and motioned for her to come in since it's safe, for now.
"Where is it?" he asked as they both look for the laptop in Bulma's three giant luggage.
"It's in here, somewhere." 18 said as she and Vegeta continued on rummaging through Bulma's suitcases.
"Is it this one?" Vegeta held up a blue glittering laptop for 18 to see.
"Yes!" she cried and hurried quickly to him. "This is it." she smiled, all hope returning back.
"So what now?" Vegeta watched her as she opened it. The laptop went on and a 'Window 04' sign appeared in it. He continued typing as she watch 18 put her forefinger on the mouse pad making life to the little arrow on the computer.
18 opened Bulma's documents, looking for the right file to open. A huge smiled appeared on her face when she found the right one. She saw Bulma do this a lot of times so it's going to be easy job for her. A black screen appeared on the screen. She minimized the file and went back to Bulma's documents, she found the other file she was looking for.
"Oh god." she whispered as she clicked on it. "I hope this works." she whispered but loud enough for Vegeta to hear. He stood up and started pacing around the room. He stopped and leaned on the wall adjacent to where 18 was sitting; on the edge of the bed. He continued watching her. He held a tight grip on the yellow flashlight in his hands and looked way from her. His eyes stopped on a another familiar door.
The door that separates the girls room from the boys. He looked away, when memories from earlier started returning back. His onyx eyes stopped in another familiar door. The bathroom door. The door where everything started. Bulma's scream of terror echoed in his mind. Memories flowed once again.
[Kitchen]
"I got the towels." Tien called to Launch.
"Great." Launch called back.
"Did you get anything, or something to wake Bulma up?" he asked from across the room.
"None." she almost whispered but Tien heard her loud and clear. Launch walked around in the kitchen, looking at all the utensils; spoons, forks, knives. She smirked and headed towards the knives.
She took one and examined it. The knife glistened in the dark whenever the lightning stirkes.
"Launch?" Tien called. "Launch?" he panicked. What had happen, did the killer get to her? These thoughts ran over and over again in Tien's mind as he ran around the kitchen, looking for Launch.
[Bedroom]
"I did it!" 18 smiled more as she maximized the black screen and typed the numbers she was suppose to call. 9-1-1
Vegeta ignored her and was in deep thought. 'Bulma screamed, Launch opened the door and he stormed in, he asked where she was and Launch told him she was in the bathroom, he found her in the bathroom and carried her out.' he rubbed his chin, still deep in thought.
'Goku, Chichi and 18 went in afterwards, Krillen took 18 out. Goku pulled Chichi out. Goku told everyone about Maria the housekeeper. I pointed out the blood on the floor.' he thought. 'Then Launch pointed out that the bathroom floor was clean.' Vegeta closed his eyes. He gasped and his eyes snapped open.
'Wait a sec.' he thought. 'Nobody went in the bathroom but Bulma, me, Goku, Chichi, 18 and Krillen.' he continued. 'How the hell did Launch know that the floor was cleaned from the housekeeper's blood?' he asked and looked at the smiling 18. He continued on piecing it all together. 'When I barged in the room. How the heck did Launch know that Bulma was in the bathroom when she didn't had the time to go look since after she woke up he knew that she quickly headed to open the door.'
"No way." he whispered.
"I did it!" 18's cheery voice joined in. "I typed in 9-1-1 and it worked, I got us some help, and I told them everything," she told Vegeta proudly. "They're arriving in fifteen minutes." she told him. Vegeta just nodded. "What's up?" she asked when she noticed that something was bothering him.
"I think I know who's behind all of this." he said.
"Are you sure?" she asked in disbelief, the smile on her face disappeared.
"Not yet," he said. "But the killer told me that he's doing all of this because of family." he said.
"Family?" she repeated.
"Exactly, I was confused at first at what he was talking about, now it all makes sense." he started and walked towards her. "I think it's Launch."
[Kitchen]
"Launch?" Tien called, then he sighed in relief when he saw her standing there, safe. But something was wrong. Why was she holding a knife? "Launch?" he called.
"You're too noisy." she said and smiled as the knife glistened once again.
"What?" Tien half whispered.
"You're too noisy, " she repeated and walked towards him, knife still in hand. "I hate you!" she screamed and trusted the knife into Tien's abdomen. Tien gasped as the cold metal made contact with his belly. He couldn't believe it. The girl of his dreams, a killer? No, he couldn't accept it. He stared at her cold blue eyes.
"Why?" he managed to gasped out before passing out. He was still alive, this Launch knew. She kneeled down and touched his unconscious face. She smiled. She withdrew the knife and placed it on his throat and with a quick movement she slit his throat. Showing no mercy as she stood up and left his dying body on the kitchen floor while she took the towels that Goku needs for his wound.
After doing so, she walked out of the kitchen and headed towards the dining room. Everything was going as planned. She smiled as she saw the dining room doors.
[Bedroom]
"We have to get out of here and get to Tien, FAST!" Vegeta said as he grabbed 18's wrist and pulled her out of the room.
"How are you sure?" 18 asked. "Launch will never do such a thing!" 18 argued.
"Then tell me how she knew everything that I had told you!?" he asked back.
"There must be some kind of explanation." 18 said.
"We'll see." Vegeta said as he and 18 entered the elevator.
[Dining Room]
"Hey Launch, you alright?" Bulma asked as she saw her friend entered the room.
"Yes." she smiled at her.
"Where's Tien at?" Yamucha asked.
"He told me to go ahead, he needed to go to the bathroom." she told them, they all nodded in understanding.
"Here, give me those." Chichi said as she pointed to the towels in Launch's hand.
"Here." she almost hissed and gave the towels to her, Chichi didn't noticed but Bulma sure did, she watched Launch with full curiosity. She half gasped but quickly hid it when she saw a few trickle of blood on her shirt. Bulma quickly dismissed it since she was helping Chichi with Goku's wound, so she probably got it from him.
"Launch, can you help me here?" Chichi asked.
"What about Bulma?" Launch asked.
'What about her? She needs to rest." Chichi half snapped.
"Right." Launch whispered but everybody heard it loud and clear. "Everybody needs rest, not only her." she whispered, which nobody heard, this time.
[Elevator]
The elevator doors opened and Vegeta and 18 emerged from it. They quickly walked to the kitchen. Vegeta opened the door and the kitchen was quiet. They looked around and saw nothing.
Vegeta entered, 18 following close behind him. They continued walking around, once safe inside they both separated in search for any clues.
"Aughh!" 18 screamed. When Vegeta heard her scream he quickly rushed to her and almost tripped on her. She was sitting on the cold hard floor, her forefinger pointing to something in the dark. Vegeta held his flashlight to where 18 was pointing and saw the body of his friend which almost made him puke.
There, Tien's dead body, the stab on his stomach, with blood still gushing out of it. The blood making bubbles on his cut throat.
"Holy fuck!" Vegeta whispered as he tried keeping his balance and tried helping 18 up. "Come on." he said once she was up on her feet. "Let's go."
"I can't believe this!" 18 whispered. "I cannot believe she did this!" she cried.
"Let's go, we have to warn everybody!" Vegeta said.
"Right." 18 whispered as she followed Vegeta. But before they could reach the exit somebody blocked their way.
"PAOLO!"