AN: Sugoi!! Another chapter! When I started writing this story it was all in one long block, I never realized how much of it there actually was it I started separating it into chapters. Looking back I can't believe I felt I hadn't written enough to start post, I had over 100k of space taken up! Well onto the chapter, hot of the press!
Cool Boogie!
-Mizuko
Chapter 3- Zion
'Wha...? Where am I? What happened? Why is it so dark in here?' She could faintly hear voices in the background. Her head was still throbbing dully; everything else seemed to be fine though. As for her not being able to see... ' Well, it'd help if you opened your eyes, wouldn't it?' she though mentally kicking her self in the shin. Opening her eyes Pan found herself stretched out on a bed in the infirmary. Her hand immediately went to the back of her head. There were clean bandages covering the wound. From experience she could tell it was superficial. Swinging her feet over the edge of the bed Pan sat up wondering how slamming into a wall could cut her. After being slammed into walls a generous number of times (during training) one knows what to expect.
'There must've been something on the-
"Oh your up, good. I wanted to have word with both of you." Said Captian Lithfrn coming in.
'Both of us?' she looked around and saw nothing but medical supplies and other beds. She almost missed, the lavender haired man lurking in the shadows. He was in the classic saiya-jin pose leaning back against the wall, arms crossed, face completely unreadable.
'How long has he been there?' she shuddered 'Creepy.'
"First," the Captain began get her attention "You two have managed to, single handedly, break at least half of all the codes of conduct in less than an hour, you constantly instigate fights with each other, and disrupt to the crew," she could tell he was really upset with them. 'Were we that bad?'
"And you disobeyed the captain's orders." He finished.
"But," he paused, "You have also save this ship and her crew, and for that I am thankful, so instead of giving you to Zion officials, I'm letting you off with just a warning and permanent expulsion from this ship, good thing this is your stop."
He was practically glowing, though she wasn't sure if he was glad his ship was ok, or he was just glad to get rid of them. It was probably both.
"Alright, then what time is the ship docking?"
"Already has and your uncle came by and got your stuff, said to take your time and have some fun before you come over."
'Already? Man that was fast.' She glanced at the lavender haired man, 'what exactly did he do?'
"Oh that was nice of him." She responded absently.
Afterwards the captain escorted them off the ship to Zion's main docking facilities. He was smiling the whole time; if she had any doubts about him wanting get rid of them, they were gone now. He really, really wanted them off.
As they reached the their destination he said.
"I've never met saiya-jin quite like you,"
'Ahh so the guy known as 'jerk' was a saiya-jin.'
"Possibly the oddest pair yet, I 'm surprised you didn't have an all out braw and totally destroy my ship." 'If he only knew how close...' Captain Lithfrn of the Mercushin bid her and nameless guy farewell. The young men with lavender hair then turned to her.
"Well Utsukushii, it's been fun." Ooooh the nerve of this guy
"Don't call me that! My name is Pan. P-A-N, Pan. Got it!"
"Pan, huh?" he said grinning obnoxiously, egging her on.
"Well what's your name?" His grin got traded in for an embarrassed look, and pink cheeks.
"It's Trunks." He muttered.
"Trunks?" she asked in disbelief trying to keep a straight face. (It wasn't working.) 'A purple haired saiya-jin named after human underwear...' She didn't mean to laugh in his face. Really she didn't! But underwear? She continued to snicker as he began to walk away.
He didn't mind her laughter being directed at him. Well it's not like he didn't deserve it, he felt almost bad being rude to her for all the time he'd known her, besides she had a nice laugh. "Sayonara, Boxerboy!" she chanted as she left.
'If I see her again it would be all too soon.'
"Good bye to you to."
He didn't know if she heard him or not but he had some business to take care of obtaining a cure for his mother. With the current situation between peoples in his side of the galaxy he had to call upon an old friend to help him out. He hadn't seen him in a while and it would be good to catch up with him again. Besides he needed a place to crash for the time being while on Zion.
If all went well there would be peace for saiya-jin, human and Neg'Vah alike.
**************
A tiny vessel flew steady threw the vast endlessness of space, undeterred by the enormity of it's surroundings or sheer distance. It's single passenger, asleep, just as unconcerned with the dangers of space that had nothing to do with enemies and wars. Other dangers like space dust, gaseous nebulas, asteroids, and gravity wells or harmless looking meteorites traveling at mind boggling speeds. It was one such tiny piece of flying rock that unwittingly changed the future of an entire race. The rock hit the vessel knocking its navigational computer out of alignment.
The meteorite flew on.
The vessel course changed and sped on ward to it new destination; a small blue and white sphere in the remote Sol galaxy.
*************************
Pan spent a few hours seeing the sites of the infamous Zion space station, it had many shops and so much to do, and after being on a crammy little ship it felt good to be in an open space again. She still needed to see her uncle; she decided to eat first though. Finding a nice cafe she treated her self to an old earth cuisine, called lasagna.
She took her time eat just watching the different people go by. A man passed by with a familiar looking woman with him, her hair was... That was the same woman from the spaceport! The ones who were looking for and saiya-jin with odd hair. Odd hair... that sounded a lot like Trunks. There weren't too many saiya-jin running around with lavender hair. But why were they after him, or why was he running from them? She shrugged it off. She'd probably never find out anyway.
Not wanting another run in with that woman and her friends she quickly finished her meal and went straight to her uncles place.
Her uncle lived here far away from the fighting. He used to fight; in fact he was the former general of the Hitohi army. Her father had said that though her uncle was good at it, he couldn't stand it any more and left. He came to visit every once in a while, he was always fun to hang with, but he never stayed for long; he and her father didn't see eye to eye, like they once had.
As she came to her uncle's door she could hear laughter coming from inside, it was nice to hear. She didn't hear it as often at home ever since...
She knocked on the door. The laughter stopped.
"Who's there?" She heard a muffled voice ask from inside.
"It's Nice Ta."
"Nice Ta? Nice Ta who?" he asked opening the door a huge grin on his face.
"Nice ta see you!" She smiled a similar grin as he gave her a giant Son bear hug as they finished the cheesy greeting they had had since she was a little girl.
"How has my favorite uncle been?" she wheezed, "Just fine a what about my favorite niece?" he asked releasing her. "Okay, You would believe what happen to me on the way here."
"Sorry to cut you off but there's someone I want you to meet a real good friend of mine. Known him since we where kids." Said leading her into his simple, spacious living room, just a couch and a few chairs a bar that connected to the kitchen. A man was sitting at the bar wearing a cloak.
With lavender hair.
"Oh no, no, no, NO! If this is some kind of joke, it really isn't funny!"
Trunks turned around an amused look on his face "Well, it's a small world after all."
Her uncle, Goten, spoke up "Oh, you know each other?" he asked innocently. They both glared at him. "Yeah, well I see you must have got off to a bad start-
"Bad middle, bad ending...especially since it hasn't ended yet." She added.
"Okay well we don't really have time for this, so I'll give you a new start." he said steering her to the living room couch "Trunks this is my niece, Pan. Pan this is my best friend, Trunks."
"Best friend? I can barley survive two weeks with the jerk and he's your best friend?" she muttered, glaring daggers at Trunks.
Goten sighed and rubbed his forehead, he could feel a headache coming on. "Guys..."
"I can't believe you two are even related. She nearly busted my jaw!"
Trunks complained rubbing a slightly tender jaw.
"Guys.."
"Not like you didn't deserve it." Pan responded with nothing close to remorse in her voice.
"Guys! Chill okay. I don't have time to baby sit. Grow up and quit acting like kids. You don't like each other? Fine, I got that. Now get over it and start acting like adults." Goten let out a breath finally having silence.
They settled on ignoring each other's existence. Goten frowned at the childishness of the two. How were they supposed to bring together the two strongest Empires in the universe if his own best friend and niece could sit in the same room together? He sighed mentally; this was going to be such a headache.
******************
~20 years ago~
The leaders and their wives or husbands sat around the circular table.
Vegeta stood and raised his glass, "To our union," Bulma stood beside him, and to peace for our children and future generations." A chorus of agreements went up as they toasted.
Videl took a sip and then almost spit it out, remembering that she was now pregnant. She put the glass down as inconspicuously as possible and began eating. 'Gohan will be so surprised.' She mused to her self.
The meal went well until Chichi suddenly started noticeable uncomfortable, "Chichi are you alright, hon?" Goku asked concern, the rest of the conversation at the table died.
"I think...I think I should turn in early I not feeling to well." She rose from the table; Goku stood as well, "Please excuse us evero- Chichi!"
Goku caught his wife as she crumpled to the floor. "Chichi!"
"Can't...Goku...I..." she said barely above a whisper
"Shhhh we're getting a doctor right now just stay still." The older woman nodded weakly. "Your gonna be okay." Goku told her comfortingly to her and himself.
"I know." She whispered back, "I...love...y...
Chichi was rushed to the medic facilities, but it was in vain. She died in her husband's arms on the way there.
******************
"Yes, well. Pan do you have the medicine with you?" Goten asked.
"Yeah, it was to fragile to put with the rest of the luggage."
Pan pull out a small case out of her pocket, the size of her palm. It made a small hissing sound as she opened it; she pulled out a small vile containing a clear liquid.
"Is that it?" Trunks asked eyeing the small vile.
'He needed this? What for? He looks fine too me?'
Putting the medicine back in its case she handed it to Goten.
"No, the last thing is on Bejita-sei it's self." Goten answered Trunks' question
"Why didn't you tell me to bring what ever it was here?" Trunks asked skeptically.
"Because, we have too be there too."
"Who's we?" Pan asked not liking being ignored.
"What! Why? You'd get captured and thrown in jail." Trunks stated objecting to the idea immediately. "What they do to POW's' isn't pleasant. I don't think I'd be able to help you." Goten got up and began making drinks for everyone.
"Not if we bring my father with us," he said from the kitchen.
"Grandpa?" Okay now she was really out of the loop. Pan wished they wouldn't talk as if she weren't there.
"The Ambassador? That'd be nice, but no one knows where he is right now." Trunks said critically taking the mug of cocoa Goten offered him.
"I do. He's on Old Earth right now." he said nonchalant handing Pan a mug as well before sitting down in chair across from them.
"He is? How come you didn't tell me!?" Pan asked a little hurt that no one had told her about this. Pan had not seen or heard from her grandparents in ages; not since mom and grandma died...She fingered the trinket around her neck, as the Goten and Trunks continued their conversation.
"Alright, but what good will that do?" Trunks asked, "And I serious doubt any delegates from Neg'Vah's Consulate are going to lets us get close enough to the planet to talk much less come quietly with any 'barbarian'. Son Gohan still might not come."
'First Grandpa now Dad. What's up?'
She felt more than a little left out; she had no clue about what they were talking about. But from the sound of it, it was really serious. 'Come on Pan you your head! Let's see...why would any one want to get the ambassador?'
"I don't have any idea about what you people are talking about but Son Gohan wouldn't set foot on Beijita-sei if it was just, Goten and his father, because they can pretty much take care of themselves, but if I come..." Pan thought aloud.
She trusted Goten not to do anything that would endanger his brother or herself.
"Exactly," Goten picked up "He'll come get you himself. I hate to use him like this; he is my bother. Any ways, with your mother back in good heath, the King will be easier to work with. Oh Yeah, Trunks I have a favor to ask."
"Go ahead"
"Could you escort Pan to Old Earth? I wish I could do it myself but, my brother will be watching me like a hawk; he'll probably call in the next few days looking for Pan. He'll get mighty suspicious if I'm gone too. I can't even leave my room without drawing attention." he said exaggerating a little to make a point.
"Hey I can go there myself! I'm not a little kid any more!" she fumed almost breaking her mug. Why did he still treat her like a little kid? He was almost as bad as her father!
Goten nodded, "Yeah I know but if anything happen to you I could never forgive myself, your father would never for give me either. I know you can take care of your self, but this is just in case. Okay Panny? Thanks, I knew you'd understand." he said, not giving her a chance to object.
"Also I need Trunks to go for another reason. This place will be been swarming with security from both sides. An informant of mine has told me that they know your here." He addressed Trunks
"If they catch him now there would be no way to get into Bejita-sei, much less get my brother there." he said to Pan.
Pan suddenly remembered something "Oh, I saw some of those people before boarding the Mercushin. And I saw the same ones here also..."
"What'd they look like?" Trunks asked leaning forward a bit.
"Ahhh well, there was this old guy with a long scar on his face, his was with this really obnoxious lady, she was so rude, it made you look cordial!"
"Hey!"
"Why are the after you anyway?"
He didn't answer right away, instead Goten answered for him
"The same reason as you. His father is looking for him just as diligently as yours."
'He must be someone of high rank, I guess' silence presided over them for a moment.
"So when do we leave?"
"When my ship is finished with its tune up, probably sometime tomorrow morning. Trunks, I need to go over few things so you'll be up to speed." He said getting up. "Oh and Pan, your father was livid when he found out you weren't home, if he catches you here he'll have both our heads on a platter with silver lining
"Thanks. It's going on 1800hrs anyway so I think I'll turn in. I want a full explanation in the morning. Good night."
"Goodnight, Panny." Goten called as she left.
"Yeah, goodnight Panny." She heard Trunks mimic.
"I hope the bed bugs bite you; hard." she spat not really in the mood to listen to him. That guy, if wasn't for her uncle she'd....
"Bed bugs?" Trunks asked Goten confused.
" Just an expression from earth. You guys get along so well." Goten chuckled sitting in the spot Pan had left empty.
Trunks rolled his eyes, "Yeah right, so well the captain of our transport wanted us off his ship permanently."
"Really?" Goten looked genuinely surprised. "You two have more in common than you think. You to probably didn't give each other a chance,"
"Didn't get a chance! Feh, first thing out of her mouth was-
"I'm sure you'll get along get fine, this time around." Goten interrupted "Any ways, another reason I need you to go with her is because, Pan's never been planet side before."
"Really?"
"I'm worried she'll get lost or something on her own."
"I understand."
"Thanks, the ship will be set in it's destination, but you me take any course you see fit. I don't recommend the fastest one either. Zion has so many search crews hanging around it's impossible to sneak or streak out so going and a normal pace would be less obvious, but it can't guarantee you won't be stopped or anything....
********************
~20 years ago~
Vegeta held the poor doctor up by his collar.
"What did you say!?"
"I...I s-said that the cups were poisoned. The females' cups were poisoned, and when they drank they would ingest the poison too.
Bulma looked at man being held by Vegeta and with the composure calm that surprised even herself she asked, "Is there a cure?"
The Doctor looked at Vegeta nervously, then back to her, "No known cure."
"That's not the answer I wanted to hear!" her husband raged ready to fling the man across the room. "How did this get past security?!"
"Vegeta calm down! Getting upset will not help." He dropped the doctor, who scrambled as far away as possible from his King.
"So why aren't I dead yet?" she asked bluntly.
The doctor looked at her with as much, if not more fear than he had Vegeta, "That depends on how much you drank."
Vegeta looked at her expectantly. "I drank half of it."
"My guess would be you have a few hours a day at best."
Inside she felt like throwing up, it was like her death was already planned just waiting for her. The worst thing was known she would never see her babies grow up and get married. Never see her grandchildren when she and her husband were old and wrinkle. Never...
"Get out of my sight." Vegeta snapped at the doctor who quickly complied.
Bulma scowled at her husband, she knew he was just worried about her, but it was as if all their hard work was crumbling down around them. It was obvious someone was trying to put a stop to the treaty.
"I think I should go spend some time with our children." If she had only a few hours to live she was going to make the best of it.
"I'm not going to just let you die woman." Her husband said stubbornly, as he approached her; his voice was harsh but his expression was a sad one. "Vegeta a few hours isn't enough time to do much but I'm not going to argu-" His lips interrupted her as he kissed her tenderly.
"Bulma, I'm not going to lose you." He murmured, "Not without a fight," he declared holding her close. She hugged him tighter wishing everything were as safe, and soothing as his embrace.
*******************
Quotes of the day:
The reason dogs have so many friends is because they wag their tails not their tongues.
-Unknown
From the reviewers:
Be careful what you wish for because it may just come true-Chinese Proverb
******************
AN: Thanks for the quote Starlight!! The other one confused me too much, @_@ but thanks anyways! You read so now it's time to review, come it take less than five minutes, only a second to click on that little blue button down there!!
I really want to know what you think, responses from readers let me know whether or not I'm doing a good jod as an author. And if this story dosen't completely suck.
Ja bai bai!
-Mizuko
(' ')