Chapter Three: Court and Vacation: Part One
Star City Courts
It was several weeks after the incident at Videl's home and the only time Videl and Gohan got to see each other was during school. It became common knowledge at the school that Gohan and Videl were an item. They knew that the following day they would be in court, so they spent as much time together as they could. When lunch came they went to their usual spot, but were joined by Mirai and Lime, along with Duo and Sakura.
"Hey Gohan, Videl, have you heard the latest rumors?" asked Sakura.
"No, what's up this time?" asked Gohan.
"They say that you two are... err... um, a sleeping together," said Duo.
"Great, just what we didn't need, can you put a stop to the rumors?" asked Videl.
"Easily, find one more juicy than you two sleeping together, not that I'm saying you are," said Sakura.
"How about that Sharpner and his friends are in prison for ten years on the charges of attempted murder, assault, and battery?" said Gohan.
"You know that is good, how did you come up with it Gohan?" asked Sakura.
"I was the victim, that was why I was absent for three days of school. Do you think my mother would allow me to miss school unless it was life threatening?" said Gohan.
"Point for Gohan there sis, Vegeta is to training, as Chichi is to education for her children," said Duo.
"Hmm, so will we meet you two here again tomorrow then?" asked Sakura.
"No, my mom is having me stay home tomorrow to help her out, she's been stressed out lately," said Gohan.
"I can't either, my dad is keeping me home to... get to know Maria better as my so called mother," said Videl with a shiver.
"My dad's keeping me home tomorrow to train in the art of 'scaring humans' and the art of 'scaring the hell out of humans'," said Mirai as Duo, Sakura, and Lime chuckled at the thoughts of Mirai scaring people.
The moment lunch was over they went to their classes and then on home. The following day Gohan woke up and found his mother had dressed in her formal dress, while Goten was dressed in a small suit. Gohan dressed in his formal suit, but took a change of clothes along with him as they arrived at Capsule Corp. Vegeta came out dressed in a suit as well, but nobody made fun of him as he was in no mood for it. Mirai came out as well in a suit, along with Trunks, while Bulla came out in a buisness suit dress along with Bulma. They drove to the court where they found Hercule already waiting, with Maria and Videl both in dresses. Making their way into the court room they waited for the judge to arrive. When he did, it was Judge Steven Blade, who was as fair as fair could be. He had never been boughten out by anybody and always looked at and listened to both sides of the story. He hated being interrupted unless they had valid points or proof.
"This court is now in session, you may be seated. A custody battle, for Videl Star, daughter of Hercule Star and the late Sasha Geta. Alright now would the councilor's please approach the bench," said Judge Blade, "Now councilor's, remind your client or clients that attempting to bribe me will be held in contempt of this court and will result in his or her arrest for trying to bribe me and that will be all."
(Hercule is on the defense, while Bulma/Vegeta are on the plaintiff offense.)
The councilor's went back to their respected clients and awaited the Judge's decision on who would start. It turned out that the defense would start and they made their opening remark about how the man who saved the world is being threatened to loose custody of his only daughter to a loose cannon who has more than likely abused his own children by not being able to control his own temper, but of course the lawyer caught himself, by saying that it was mere speculation. Bulma's remarks were almost the same, except that they had evidence of Hercule abusing his daughter, along with two witnesses.
"Defense has the floor," said the Judge.
"Your honor, the defense calls to the stand Mrs. Maria Star, the new wife of Hercule," said the lawyer.
She took the stand and was asked, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"
"I do," said Maria.
"Mrs. Star, do you recall what happened several weeks ago, when your daughter arrived home with two strange men with her?" asked the lawyer.
"Yes, she said one of them was the one that had almost been killed. Of course if that were true then he would still be in the hospital," said Maria.
"Objection your honor, Capsule Corps Healing Center has been officially apporved by the Medical Association of the World and has been proven to heal serious injuries that the local hospitals can't handle," said Bulma.
"Ma'am I have the police report in front of me, stick to the facts and not your opinions," said the Judge.
"Mrs. Star, what was the reaction when Miss Star told Mr. Star, that the man with the spiky hair was her uncle?" asked the lawyer.
"Well, of course he would be suspicious, so he demanded proof and Videl attempted to strike her father, so he defended himself, but still accidently slapping his daughter to the floor, he doesn't know his own strength sometimes. When he attempted to help her up, she gave him a kick to the groin," said Maria.
"Objection your honor, I have two witnesses who have told me otherwise, along with evidence that the witness is lying," said Bulma.
"Present your evidence councilor," said the Judge.
"Exhibit T, for tape, may I have a TV and VCR brought in so I can play the tape?" asked Bulma.
The judge obliged and had a TV and VCR brought in.
Tape
"Videl what's this I here about you lying to me about how a classmate of yours was not actually almost killed?" demanded Hercule.
"Its true dad, even ask the police, they have a report on the incident. Besides this is Gohan Son the one who was almost killed and was healed by state of the art healing tanks at Capsule Corp. It took two days for him to be completely healed," said Videl.
"Well fine who's the other guy behind you his father?" asked Hercule.
"WHAT!?" bellowed Vegeta.
"Um, sir, Vegeta is not my father, he's Bulma Briefs's husband," said Gohan.
"Then why is he here, instead of your father young man?" asked Hercule sternly.
"My father died seven years ago sir," said Gohan.
"Oh, well, uh, sorry to hear that," said Hercule.
"Um, dad, I have a bit of a surprise for you," said Videl.
"You found me a decent challenger or your getting better grades in school?" asked Hercule.
"No, um, Vegeta here is mom's brother," said Videl.
"I didn't know you had a brother sweety," said Hercule.
"I don't she's obviously lying again darling," said Maria.
"No not her dad, mom, my biological mother!" said Videl.
Hercule slapped her across the face and said, "You know the rules Videl, you're never to mention that freak in my house! She is not your mother, Maria here is your real mother. That other woman was a back stabbing, lying, freak of a -"
Hercule never got to finish speaking as Videl had kicked him in the groin, hard, making Vegeta and Gohan both wince.
"Never say that about my mother! I was able to compare my DNA to Maria's over here and we are not a match in any way! Your just a racist pig dad and I'm ashamed to have your last name!" said a fuming Videl.
Hercule got back to his feet and back handed Videl across the face, or at least he tried to. Vegeta caught his hand in mid-air and was crushing it in his palm.
"You listen here fool, you will not talk to about my sister that way! Now what have you done with her?" demanded Vegeta.
"She's in hell now, for trying to kill me fourteen years ago. I had the police go after her and they gunned her down the moment they found her. Otherwise she would have come back and tired to kill Videl, she was an evil - aaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!" screamed Hercule in pain as Vegeta broke his hand.
"Your lucky I don't kill you now fool, I am taking custody of Videl. You have one of two choices, agree and never let your shadow fall upon her again or we take this to court where it will be shown that you have assaulted and abused your daughter. It would make a really interesting question as to why start now or if you have been doing it since you divorced my sister fourteen years ago," said Vegeta.
"That's black mail!" said Maria.
"No, its a question of choice, we can settle this out of court or in court. Either way I will gain custody of my niece. Who will the courts believe, me the husband of Bulma Briefs and Videl's uncle, or her father, who divorced her biological mother fourteen years ago, who has ironically never shown up again because the fool here told the police she tried to kill him," said Vegeta.
"I'll see you in court then buddy, now get out of my house and Videl get up to your room!" said Hercule.
End Tape
"Mrs. Star you are hereby held in contempt of this court and are herby place under arrest," said Judge Blade as the security arressted her and took her away, "Does the defense have any more witnesses at this time?"
"No your honor, the defense rests," said the lawyer.
"Your honor the plaintiff would like to call Miss Videl Star to the stand," said Bulma.
She took the stand and was asked, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"I do," said Videl.
"Miss Star, can you tell us what happened after Mr. Briefs and Mr. Son left your home?" asked Bulma.
"My dad had sent me to my room, which was fine. But later that night he came up and started to beat me for speaking about my biological mother. He kept on telling me through the beating that she was evil and deserved her fate," said Videl as she started to cry.
"Your honor I request that we watch the rest of the tape at the discretion of the witness, since it has to deal with her," said Bulma.
Judge Blade nodded and the tape was stopped before it could continue any further.
"Miss Star, I understand this is hard for you. Your honor I request that the court room be cleared of all people who are not related to the witnesses, plaintiff, or the defense, with the exception of yourself sir," said Bulma.
"Very well, but I want to know why later. Everyone not related to the witnesses, plaintiff, or defense clear the courtroom now!" said Judge Blade.
The court room was empty in two minutes of everyone was not related to the witnesses, plaintiff, or defense.
"Now Miss Star can you tell us what happened fourteen years ago?" asked Bulma.
"My mother was helping the staff clean the house, when my father came in boiling mad. He yelled at my mother for having a tail and said he didn't want her as wife, because of it and because she didn't have any known place of birth. As she retrieved hers and mine belongings, he said that I was to stay with him. So she gave me a hug and her pendent, and told me he wouldn't love me because of my heritage. As she gathered her belongings she slapped him across the face and left. Later that night I could here my father talking to his girlfriend who was then Crystal about how he was going to make sure she couldn't get custody of me. I heard the two of them go over plans to get her arrested or killed, he called the police and said she tried to kill him and that she was possibly armed and dangerous. I never knew what happend to her until recently, when he devulged the information that she had been shot on the spot and killed. For fourteen years I was treated like dirt, because like my mother I had been born with a tail. I was able to record my beating on a hidden digital video camera. Here it is your honor, my beating for the past several weaks, especially that night," said Videl as she broke down crying.
Tape
Videl was in her room doing her homework when Hercule came into the room and backhanded her across the face, sending her sprawled out on the floor. He then proceeded to start stomping on her, kicking her, shoving her with his feet, all the while yelligna ther about how not to mention her biological mother again, because she was evil and deserved her fate. This treatment continued for a few hours until Hercule left a bruised and battered Videl on the floor crying for her mother.
The next day Hercule was beating her over and over while she was curled up in a ball on her bed crying. He kept on yeling about how her mother deserved her fate and that she was in hell for it. He kept on beating her, until she blacked out and then the beating continued until he left. The same thing happened over a series of several weeks and she was always left bruised and beaten while she was unconscious.
End Tape
"Miss Star you may step down now," said Judge Blade.
"Your honor the Plaintiff rests," said Bulma.
"Mr. Star rise, from the evidence I have seen thus far, you are unsuitable to have custody of Miss Star. All I have seen from Mr. Briefs is an over protective uncle who's sister was murdered by police who did not even give her a warning. Now I happen to have here a report from the government about how there are two distinct races that are foreign to earth living on earth. The first race is of King Piccolo, whom nobody bothers with, to aovid a repeat of the past and a race of nearly extinct humanoids, which Miss Star is apart of, along with Mr. Briefs. You are hereby removed of all privelages to visitation rights of your daughter and custody of her is handed over to Mr. and Mrs. Briefs until she is of legal age to be an adult, also there is no chance for you to reclaim custody. You are also under arrest for multiple counts of assault, battery, abuse, and suspected accomplice to the murder of Ms. Geta, now only a miracle could give her a second chance. This case is hereby dismissed!" said a furious Judge Blade.
"You can't do this to me, I saved he world!" said Hercule.
"Mr. Star, you give all father's a bad name, take him away now!" roard Judge Blade.
"Thank you, your honor," said a crying Videl.
"Don't thank me Miss Star, I'm just doing my job, now I also have here that you are requesting a name change to your last name. What would you like it to be?" asked the judge.
"If its alright with Aunt Bulma, I'd like to be known as Videl Briefs until I get married," said Videl.
"I like it and agree, your honor my blessings are granted, but I have a better idea. How about Videl Geta Briefs, in honor of her late mother," said Bulma.
"I like that better your honor," said Videl.
"So be it your name is now Videl Geta Briefs, until you are married," said the judge.
They left the court room and went and picked up all of Videl's belonging including photo albums that the staff had hidden of Videl's biological mother. She had each of them capsulized and put into a carrying case so they wouldn't be damaged. After she had collected all her belongings she said goodbye to the staff as they wished her well in her new home. When she arrived at her new home, she and Bulma called the school to let them know that Videl had a new address and a new name. The next day in school Videl acted as if everything was normal, she met up with Gohan, Mirai, Duo, Skaura, Lime, and Erasa at their usual spot at the bench under the tree.
"So Videl when were you planning on telling us about yesterday?" asked Sakura.
"When I felt like it, besides I'm free of my father now," said Videl.
"So Videl, like who do you live with now?" asked Erasa curiously.
"My Uncle Vegeta and Aunt Bulma at Capsule Corp," said Videl.
"Your related to Mirai, like wow, how cool is that?" asked Erasa.
"Very, I have so much more freedom, I just have to steer clear of Uncle Vegeta when he's training. What happened the last time you interupted him Mirai?" asked Videl.
"I got pulled into the training as well and came out more worn and tired than I ever had been in my life," said Mirai.
"Wow, Mirai, complaining about training, when I've seen you train longer than Vegeta," said Gohan.
"Your one to talk Gohan, your one of the strongest on the planet from training so much. So has anyone heard about the new movie in town? Nobody would tell me a thing about it, since I don't like Hercule," said Mirai.
"Its like supposedly a reactment of like what happened after the camera's went out during the Cell Games," said Erasa, "I'm like going to see this weekend, its supposed to have like the mysterious Gold Fighters with names that aren't all the same."
"Well I think I'll head up into the mountains for a camping trip with my little brother. Besides we got a whole week of spring break and a week directly afterward dealing with the Cell Games or other things that were happening during that time," said Gohan.
"Yeah, but like this year they having every student in the city come to school during that time to like do a report on like whatever," said Erasa.
Gohan groaned, as did Videl, Lime, Sakura, Duo, and Mirai.
"Like what's wrong guys?" asked Erasa.
"My father is probably what we have to do the report on, if not then the Pre-Cell Games. Luckily we don't have to listen to his boring speech about how he beat Cell. Still you would think they would have given this a rest by now," said Videl.
"Like why would they Videl, your father saved the world from Cell. He may have been a fraud, but he had enough fire power to devastate the world! Right?" said a shocked Erasa.
The others only looked around not able to meet her gaze or contradict what she said. When they left for the rest of their classes that day and afterward Videl and Gohan went to Capsule Corp. to see if Videl could officially meet his mother, under better conditions and terms. They were granted permission, so they left for the 439 Mountain Area. When they arrived Goten came rushing out to greet them. Tackling Gohan to the ground Goten started to ask his brother to hide him from their mother.
"Goten what did you do this time?" asked Gohan.
"Nothing, I just said damn, because I heard Trunks say it and she got all mad at me," said Goten innocently.
"That's a bad word and only grown-ups are allowed to use it," said Gohan.
"Oh, I didn't know, I'm sorry. Is this your girlfriend?" said Goten as soon as he heard his mom come into the hallway.
"Yes, she is my girlfriend," said Gohan pulling her close to him.
"Goten come here right now young... Gohan who is this, your girlfriend?" asked Chichi hoping to embarrass him a little.
"Yes mom, this my girlfriend, Videl Geta Briefs, Bulma and Vegeta's neice," said Gohan hugging her closer than before as she snuggled up against him.
Chichi seeing this started to cry tears of joy and a little sadness, realising that her son had grown up, then realization dawned upon Chichi. She was Vegeta and Bulma's neice, but that would make her half saiyin as well.
"So your Vegeta's neice, you don't act one bit like him. I take it that you got that from your mother, but who is your father?" said Chichi.
"My father Mrs. Son is in jail, and I gope he is for a very long time. He took Gohan's credit for beating Cell, he beat for most of my life, he had my mother killed, and had the audacity to try and prevent me from seeing the only family I had left other than him. My father is none other than the pathetic weakling Hercule Star," said Videl.
"My, if he is as bad as you say he is, then I would have to agree with you. So you know Videl, you are always welcome here," said Chich as she led the her and Gohan to the kitchen where they could talk privately.
"Thank you Mrs. Son, now I wish to have your blessings on mine and Gohan's relationship before we take this any further," said Videl.
"Call me Chichi and you have my deepest blessings Videl, now what was your mothers name?" asked Chichi.
"Sasha Geta," replied Videl.
"Sasha married that assholde?" asked Chichi shocked.
"Yeah, you knew my mother?" asked Videl shcoked.
"I knew her from high school, she was considered an orphan, because nobody knew who her parents were. Unfortunately Hercule also went to our highschool and would constantly hit on her, with her always brushing him off, like he was nothing. We always got along, now that I think about it, Vegeta and I get along better than most people. If I hadn't been married to Goku and him to Bulma, we may have gotten together. Though that would have ruined your relationship, making you step cousins. Besides I don't think he coud handle my temper, its worse than Bulma's and he wouldn't have a head left," said Chichi while Gohan and Videl smirked.
"Yeah good thing mom," said Gohan.
They talked, well mostly Chichi and Videl talked while Gohan sat holding Videl's hand and her snuggling against him. Chichi herself thought it was cute and knew instatnly that they were bond partners, but had not gone all the way yet. She was glad they had such restraint and were waiting for her blessings and for them to wed Earthling style.