BM: Yada yada, blah blah
Disclaimer: No
Chapter 9
Capsule Corps. And a Shattering of Solitude
Yamcha dusted himself off and Dr. Briefs took a step towards him, intending to hug him, but was repelled by his stench which, despite Eighteen's efforts (dropping him in a lake), still clung to him like white on rice. The Saiyans looked at each other and back to him, each wondering if he looked as bad as Yamcha.
Dr. Briefs' mind was still digesting the news that Piccolo had brought him. He was vaguely aware that Gohan was still holding him up, but even the noise of the construction droids could not pierce his concentration.
"Oh, Piccolo" Dr. Briefs exclaimed "What brings you here?"
"I have some news I thought you should know"
"Oh?"
"Yes, your daughter and wife are still alive"
"What?!"
"They've been captured and taken away to a slave planet where they're being worked day and night with little sleep, food, and water. They're tortured almost daily, and many have been addicted to intergalactic drugs, you're wife included"
Dr. Briefs fell into a chair, his head in his hands, as tears welled up in his eyes.
"You're soon going to have visitors, the Saiyans and Yamcha, and most likely Tien. They'll be brought by the androids. We're"
"You're going to need my help" Dr. Briefs interrupted "You don't intend to get to a planet as far away as the one they're on without a spaceship do you?"
"No" Piccolo smiled "Actually, I was wondering"
"I have a spaceship, I should be able to have it ready before long"
"Good, though we won't be needing it for a while"
"Oh? Why's that?"
"You'll see"
end flashback
Now he saw why. With this rag-tag group, it would take quite a bit of training to get them ready to face intergalactic demons. First they'd each have to face they're own personal demons, then they'd have to get ready to face physical ones.
The phone rang, and Dr. Briefs stared at it as if it were insane for a moment. Then he blinked and picked it up.
"Hello?" he asked unsurely
"Dr."
"Seventeen"
"Tien won't be joining you, he'll meet them at Korin's"
"Okay then" he said
"I'll meet you there, then we can go back to Capsule Corps. And I'll help you with the spaceship"
"Alright then Seventeen, I'll see you then" Seveneen hung up, and Dr. Briefs did the same
"Tien will be meeting us at Korin's Tower" Dr. Briefs said, leading the way out the door "Along with the others. Now, if you'll be so kind as to follow me, I'll need to get our mode of transportation" he said. He lead the way down a several flights of stairs, talking as he went.
"I always make sure to have a spare lab SOMEWHERE, this is the best one I have, next to the one I was using." he keyed in a combination and a glass elevator opened up, allowing them to see as they went. He stepped inside and they followed. He continued to talk as they went down.
"Whoa" Goten said. They looked and found a large spaceship which appeared to be finished
"The newest level of space travel. The fastest I've ever made. It's still under construction"
"It looks done to me" Trunks said, hoping it would be done soon enough to be used in the rescue
"Oh, is nearly complete. I just haven't seemed to be able to get the coffee maker just right. When I say decaf, it gives me caffeinated" the entire group fell over
"Grandpaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" Trunks yelled
"Don't worry, I'll have more than enough time to fix that, as well as make some OTHER modifications" he said, muttering something about plasma projectors and rail guns that was incomprehensible to even Saiyan ears
"Now, there is one contribution I need to make to your readiness before we leave for Korin's Tower"
"What's that?" Gohan asked. Dr. Briefs pressed a button on his remote, and an army of Valet droids descended on the group, grabbing them and taking them to the showers
twenty minutes later
"Now that you are battle worthy" Dr. Briefs said. Goten and Goku were dressed in their signature clothes, while Gohan was dressed in a blue version of Goku's signature look with a red inside shirt and wristbands. Trunks, Vegeta, and a deodorized Yamcha (Capsule Corps. Does perform miracles) were dressed in their signature fighting gear as well. Each had his own weapon, Goku having the Power Pole, Vegeta and Trunks having swords, Yamcha having a Chinese broadsword, and Goten having a bo staff while Gohan still had his Sword. The group was all together better kempt (All demi-Saiyans Yamcha had haircuts, all adults had shaved).
"Now then, it's time to go" Dr. Briefs said, leading the way into a dark room.
"This is my newest invention! It's faster than all of my fastest ships" he said
"Whoa, no way" Trunks said. Dr. Briefs turned on the light and they were in a blank room, reminiscent of the Hyperbolic time chamber, only mechanical.
"I call it the short range instant transmission room" he said. He punched a few numbers into a pad by the door and the door shut. The air around the group shimmered and rippled, and the group felt themselves fading away. Their surroundings melted and rearranged until they found themselves on Korin's Lookout. More specifically, floating in the air above Korin's Lookout. They fell on the ground with a thud, and they saw Korin looking at them with an amused expression, while Yajirobe just blinked.
"I suppose you decided to drop in for some senzu beans" Korin said
"Well we're obviously not here for your sense of humor" Vegeta said, jumping to his feet, more like scrambling, in an attempt to salvage his dignity.
"Well then, I guess I'll have to see what I can do" Korin said, going over to a pot "Things have been so peaceful lately, I've had time to fill these pots again" he filled several bags with senzu beans, still leaving plenty in the pots. He took a reading while he was working, and frowned.
"Not good, your ki is too low"
"That's the other reason we're here" Piccolo said, walking up the steps. Eighteen, Seventeen, and Tien behind him. The Saiyans plus Yamcha finished climbing to their feet, and Trunks sent a look of disdain at Dr. Briefs.
"I need to work on those landings" Dr. Briefs said, writing a note on a pad.
"Here they are, Piccolo" Korin said, handing the Senzu beans to him.
"Now what's this about another reason"
"We'd like you to help us train them" Eighteen said. He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm, I suppose I could do that. It's been a while since I trained anyone, and Yajirobe can handle things here" Yajirobe blinked at the mention of his name
"Alright, I'll do it" Korin said. "Yajirobe, take care of things here" he pointed his staff towards the edge of the lookout and several silver clouds flew up as well as flying nimbus. The Sons climbed onto flying nimbus, while the Briefs and Yamcha each climbed onto a cloud. Korin waved his staff again and the giant mother nimbus appeared, and he carefully picked a cloud off of it. He nodded and climbed on.
"Hello my new friend, you and I are going to be friends for some time"
Dr. Briefs and Seventeen waved as the others left, then Yajirobe looked at them.
"What are you doing?"
"We have other things to attend to" Dr. Briefs said. He took out what looked like a TV remote and Yajirobe watched as he pressed a button, then the air shimmered around the two and the air seemed to swallow them up. He blinked
"I'll never understand these people" Yajirobe muttered before returning to caring for a crop of Senzu beans.
On the way to Kami's Lookout, Yamcha maneuvered his cloud next to Tien and said hello.
"Hey man" he said. Tien looked at him and acknowledged him with a nod
"You seem to be doing better" Tien said
"Yeah, well, Eighteen has a way of doing that to ya" he said. Tien could only IMAGINE Eighteen's reaction to Yamcha when she found him. He'd also tried to help Yamcha, but hadn't had much luck. He remembered his encounter with Seventeen, and how he'd broken into his world, and shattered his solemnity.
Tien dodged the ki blasts, one nicking his shoulder on the way by. They rounded and came back, and he moved to dodge them, but his legs gave out and they pelted him without remorse. He laid there, panting, knowing he had to get up. He went to move, and barely dragged himself to his feet.
"Impressive, your power has done nothing but increase" Seventeen said, floating to the ground. Tien looked at him blankly before continuing his training.
"I see, solitude. Hmm, I would expect nothing less" Seventeen said "Solitude and steady growth, preparation for the day when you will avenge your loved ones" Tien seemed to jolt.
"You know nothing" Tien said "I don't plan to take vengeance, I'm planning a rescue. I tried to tell Yamcha, but he won't be any help"
"A rescue hm? Interesting" Seventeen said "Then I don't have to tell you much"
"What?"
"I know a few things you may want to know. First, your best friend and your cherished one are not on the planet. Two, their captors are the ice-jins, Cell, and Dr. Gero under the control of Bibidi and Babidi. And three, as you may have guessed, you're going to need help. If you want that help, come with me. If you don't mind waiting and training under some old and new trainers, that is."
"Why do we have to wait, if we get Goku and the others, we don't need to wait"
"You're not the only one they hit" Seventeen said, a look of sadness entering his eyes for a second. Tien sent him a look of confusion, but he nodded towards the house.
"Get your things, I'll explain on the way"
end flashback
"We're here, now the training can begin" Goku announced. Tien was glad he'd brought his old weapon, his spear, Vegeta had given him when he and Yamcha trained under him not long ago. If what Seventeen said was true, he'd be needing it.
BM: The end. And as for the weapons. I know, I'm jumping the gun by putting this story up before my other one's even finished, but this story can stand on it's own, and does. To make a long story short, in one of my older stories which I need to re-write, Yamcha asked Vegeta for help on his techniques, which may have been out of character but oh well, and Tien joins them later. Don't worry, I'll make it logical. Anyways, that's all.
JJ: Good, you're rambling
BM: Later