Here's a new chapter of Almost Doesn't Count. It's been very hard to think where exactly I want to take this story. If I decide to change a few things when I write the next chapter, I will of course notify you of this, but I hope it won't come to that.

Sorry for the long wait! (Oh, and for the disclaimer, see chapter 1!)

Last time: The Z-gang found out Pan has been captured and decided to start looking for her and retrieve her. They considered her plan rather foolish and idealistic, but nonetheless set out to find her. Meanwhile, due to a time difference between dimensions, Pan has lived out many years on the planet where she has been captured, and is being used as a pawn in the Lord's plan to rule the universe. She cannot free herself of him and struggles with this on a daily basis. Refusing to give up hope, she continues to search for a way out. What will happen next?

Almost Doesn't Count

Chapter 4 - Falling Sun

It had been seven days since they had left home for space. They were only just nearing where Bulma and Bra had calculated the Ika system should be, when they found a planet where they could make a quick stop. The people on the planet were of different species, too many to possibly count. Vegeta seemed to recognize the lot of them, and some of them recognized him. There was a fear in their eyes when they saw him that uncharacteristically disturbed him, especially when he looked at his mate.

To his surprise, all Bulma did was smile politely; which actually bothered him even more. With swift footsteps, he neared her form, which was situated on a far boulder. Her head was bowed toward a small console in her hand, her longer hair flowing around her shoulders and hiding her eyes. Vegeta felt himself soften at the sight of her so concentrated, so focused. She was still beautiful, would always remain so in his eyes, despite the few grey hairs that sometimes presented themselves between her aquamarine strands. Or perhaps, because of those signs of older age. They showed that they had been together for a very long time.

He remembered all the times she'd complained of her aging body, the self-doubt he could often sense in her. Though she hid it well behind her confident appearance, he knew she was afraid that he wouldn't find her attractive anymore. And, he thought with a smirk, he especially enjoyed those times that he reassured her without words that she would always remain his; she would be gorgeous no matter what.

Vegeta glanced around as he stepped closer, not really keen on drawing more attention to the two of them than was necessary. She had already noticed it, had already cleared a space for him; their bond had grown stronger over time and she was always aware of where he was.

There was just a small worry in the back of his mind that pressed on him whenever he spotted those grey bangs. The urgent reality affirmed itself that she was human, and he was Saiyajin. And, no matter what he did, he would outlive her. His species just aged slower and lived longer, and it often felt like a curse to him these days. He did not even want to contemplate the thought of living without her.

Snorting silently at the uncharacteristically sentimental notion, he slid next to her and crossed his legs at the ankles, as well as his arms. Bulma aligned her thighs with his, applying a gentle pressure. If anyone had told him forty years ago that he would be living a peaceful life on a planet, mated and married to a mere human female, with whom he had two brats, and grandchildren, who he would die for if it would protect them, he would have laughed in their face.

And yet, he wouldn't want it any other way. Now, with their offspring both out of the house, they had time for themselves. If the stubborn girl hadn't skipped the planet and gotten herself into trouble, he would have been able to enjoy life as it had been. Though, he couldn't deny the anticipation he felt at the prospect of battle… and the possibility of a fight with his nemesis turned friend.

His thoughts returned to the terrified looks he had received from the few people who lived outside the city and out in the country, and he glanced at the woman next to him. Bulma had stopped working and was staring at the city's borders, her hair whipping in the breeze. What was it she had said to him, whispered so softly in his mind after they had finally bonded?

'You can't change your past, Vegeta… it has made you who you are now. What's done is done.' The soft feel of her skin sliding along his was imprinted on his mind, as well as the fingers running through his hair soothingly. 'All I can tell you is that I want a future with you, with our children. I know you, I know what you have done… and still, I love all of you. I want all of you.'

Bulma rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, catching the echo of his thought and smiling in remembrance. One of her soft-skinned hands reached up and lay over his beating heart. She was so fragile and small in his arms, he thought as he wrapped an arm around her waist and totally forgot about the presence of the others behind them. His worries were effectively quelled for the moment.

Videl and Gohan were out farther in the field, laying on the ground and staring at the sky in each other's embrace. All of them had experienced cabin-fever; confined in a small space with only the stars outside to calm the nerves was slightly maddening. Videl sighed against the fabric of Gohan's gi, his arms tightening around her in response. It did little to ease their minds, sadly.

Chi Chi was on the other side of the ship, leaning against one of the large feet of the dome and looking down at her aging hands. She was younger than her blue-haired friend, and yet, she looked so much older. Chi Chi raised her eyes to the two boys sparring in the sky, smiling at her grandsons and remembering the time she'd tried to teach Goten martial arts. She hadn't been very young then, but at least she had been more limber and powerful. Sure, she had tried to keep up her training once in a while; had even watched Pan training outside and tried to copy the moves when she was alone. It wasn't the same though, because she tired so quickly.

Then there was the burden of worry, so heavy, too heavy on her slim shoulders. The worry deepened with each day, as she mentally calculated the time Pan hadn't seen them. This was all her fault, she thought as the pain intensified in her chest. If Pan hadn't gone to Namek to try and resurrect her dead husband, none of this would have happened. Her hands tightened on the small, familiar orange cloth in her hands.

Trunks was inside the ship, performing regular checks on the systems to make sure they were running properly. Anything to keep from thinking of what could have happened to Pan in all this time. She had acted rash and immature, leaving without saying anything. Mostly, he was holding onto his anger, thinking of reasons to be angry with her, to avoid feeling so desolate and - and afraid for her.

She had left without a word, stolen one of their ships, gotten herself captured despite her power and made them chase her all around the universe. He had had to cancel his plans with his girlfriend because of her; had made him have to come up with an excuse for leaving for a few weeks. He shook his head. Focusing on the task at hand, he continued punching codes into the keypad.

Outside, a little ways away from either crowd, Bra crossed her arms and looked over the landscape, contemplating where Pan could be. It was disturbing, this not-knowing, but it was better to focus on that than the fact that, to Pan, they hadn't seen each other in more than five years. Having had enough of sitting around aimlessly, she cleared her throat.

"Guys, I'm going to take a look around, ask if anybody knows anything." Bra glanced back at the others, who nodded absently. There was a distinct anxiety and discomfort hanging over them like a looming cloud, and it wasn't making the atmosphere any easier to live in.

Bulma pushed some hair behind her ear and slid off the rock, patting her backside to get rid of the numb feeling. Vegeta smirked, and she shot him a glare. "I'm going to recharge the ship."

"I'm going with you." Goten said to Bra, getting up from his perch on the small flight of stairs leading to the ship. His gaze settled on the stubborn figure of his wife and mate. Realizing she couldn't convince him to let her go alone, she nodded and took off, leaving a trail of her ki behind her.

As she looked back on it now, Pan realized that was the mission, the day, her humanity died. Her first kill, her first destruction of a planet, the first time she saw dead eyes looking back at her, and she knew with the infinite knowledge of a person wise beyond her years, that she would never, ever, be the same again.

The happy, intelligent, bouncy Pan Son had died with her first victim, and in her place was a cold, cunning, slaughtering animal. She killed without emotion, just frigid precision without mercy. At night, she could hear every single one of her victims screaming, yelling, dying over and over again. She didn't feel a thrill or boost of adrenaline when she took a life; she just did her job with an efficiency that satisfied her superior.

Her soldiers had learned over the years that though she was a woman, she was not to be trifled with. The way she carried herself like a sleek cat, the way it manifested itself even during the dance of battle was something that they could only dream of. Still, all of them tried their best to impress her, even though it seemed fruitless to do so. It amused her, to some degree, she pondered with a touch of irony.

There were strict rules she had set up from day one, rules she lived by. She always looked in the eyes of her victims, whether it be a child or a mother or an animal; killing someone while they couldn't see their attacker was dishonourable, and, as Pan had made sure to imprint on their memories, punishable by death. Another rule to obey was that she demanded they were to kill the people on the planets they purged instantly.

Once, she caught a soldier playing with his prey; torturing the poor woman with his blaster weapon and nearly forcing her to do anything he so wished. Pan had made it very clear then, that she would not tolerate anything of the sort. She could still remember her fury, the explosion of power that had followed, and the painful death the man had received.

After that, no one questioned her authority ever again.

"Are you serious?" The man asked, his voice making it clear that it was ridiculous that she would ask him such a thing. Bra raised an eyebrow, then sat down at the table he was sitting at, intrigued. His roguish grin at her looks had disappeared at the gravity of her question.

Initially, she was surprised to find that this man spoke English on a world full of alien species, but now she wasn't so sure. The man was dirty-looking, but then again; everyone looked like they needed a shower around here. She was at a small, dingy looking café, trying to find some information on Pan's whereabouts. It was in a lower, seedier part of the city, she realized that, but it was the first thing that caught her eye. Besides, if they were drunk, they wouldn't notice her odd-coloured hair and presence; standing out was the last thing she wanted.

"That man is crazy," he was shaking his head, "hell, he freaks me out. From what I've heard, the technology on that planet is way more advanced than ours." He slugged back another shot of foul-smelling liquor, and she was hard-pressed not to scrunch her nose in response.

"Who is it? Do you know more about him?" Bra asked, her eyes a little widened in interest. The man noticed, eyeing her suspiciously, but answered nonetheless, slurring.

"His name is Ikaika. I don't know too much about him, but I do know that he's very powerful. There are planets on the outer rim that have been completely destroyed by his armies, because his General didn't like their attitudes. Because we are a trade planet, he left it intact. He trades through us." The man answered, his voice lowered to prevent attracting any unwanted attention. Bra leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes in thought.

"The guards patrolling outside are his?" The man nodded, and Bra glanced out the window casually. Her eyes came to rest on a uniformed soldier; the stony face and cold gaze that stood out from the drunken crowd. Her mind was processing all this information, wondering where Pan fit into this picture. The time difference must have had a large effect on her over the past few weeks; the years must have affected her. Bra decided not to consider or contemplate that frightening information for too long.

"What do you know about his armies? What powers do they have?" She dared to ask the question, feeling the crowded atmosphere pressing on her senses. If she weren't Saiyajin, she would never have entered this festered hole of an establishment. The men were eyeing her a bit too closely for her, and probably her absent husband's, tastes.

"Lady, all I know is that I wouldn't want to be on the end of their attacks. I don't even know if they use weapons or just freaky mind tricks. They just landed and took over a few years ago." The man scratched his beard and took another swig of his drink, sputtering when another patron clapped him on the back to draw his attention. Bra saw an opportunity to duck out, and seized it silently.

The open air brought only little comfort to her lungs; her breathing was a bit ragged from the impact of the man's words. Obviously, they were up against another enemy in the long line of villains that had tried to destroy the Earth, or for that matter, Goku. Yet this threat was not aimed at the planet she raised her child on; or at her late father-in-law. It was a threat to the universe and for all they knew, to the missing Pan.

Bra wasn't necessarily afraid to face this notorious Ikaika and his armies; she was righteously confident in her own abilities, and in the band of powerful friends and family members that came along on this journey. But, as long as they were in the dark about this man and his powers, they should be cautious. For not the first time, she questioned the wisdom of taking the children with them.

Sure, they were Saiyajins, but they were little. What if something happened to them? Pushing those particular concerns aside, she began strolling down the sidewalk in the direction she'd seen Goten wander off to earlier. Thoughts and worries about Pan were weighing heavily on her mind and heart, the uncertainty of what to expect when they found her was disconcerting to say the least.

Clearly, this leader had to be strong; otherwise he wouldn't have been able to capture her friend. Bra pushed aside the voice within her that whispered Pan might have chosen to stay with the man. No way would Pan Son condone actions like those the raggedy man in the café had spoken of. It was impossible, improbable, unthinkable.

Pan had always been the perfect example of innocence to her. Despite all the fighting she did and the tomboyish fierceness she possessed, the younger woman had never been anything but kind to those she was close to. Whenever a boy had rejected her in high school, in fear of her powers or personality, she had bounced back and kept it all inside. That was just Pan. Bra had tried on numerous occasions to pull something from her, but it rarely worked.

The quarter Saiyajin had been spared all the horrors of dating after those few hurtful occasions when she had actually let boys into her heart; she had simply avoided more pain by stopping her attempts at relationships altogether. Instead, as she grew from a young, cheerful girl into a moody, focused adolescent, and finally into a beautiful, determined woman with fighting skills that surpassed even Vegeta's expectations, she unknowingly maintained the innocent aura of a person that grew up in a sheltered, loving environment.

And that, considering the dangerous journey she had been on with her grandfather and Trunks, was a miracle.

"Bra?" Goten's hand on her shoulder startled her from her thoughts and she stiffened for a fraction of a second. His dark, worried eyes met hers inquisitively, and she just gave a sad smile, silently conveying what was on her mind. He wrapped his arm around her and they continued down the street that way, quietly making their way back to the ship on the outskirts of the town.

Neither of the two noticed the watchful eyes of the guard follow them as they walked.

"This planet is controlled by a guy named Ikaika. His soldiers monitor everything; they're from many different planets. It seems like this is a convergence point for traders and smugglers." Bra announced as they sat around the conference table in the large ship they called home for this period of time.

"Did you find out anything about Pan?" Videl jumped in, impatiently. Goten shook his head in response, sorrow colouring his features. Bra leaned her elbows on the table and cradled her chin on her palm. Bulma sat down on a chair next to Videl and laid a supportive hand on her friend's back.

"I'm sorry. The guy I talked to could tell me only so much without being caught. These guards are everywhere. I did find out something on the powers. The man referred to them as 'freaky mind tricks', so I suppose we're talking about mental powers." Bra said contemplatively, meeting her father's eyes across the room and urging him to put his two cents in. Her father was a well of knowledge sometimes.

"It was said that the early Saiyajins had the power of mind control, but the knowledge died with the planet. All I know is that when a Saiyajin bond is established, telepathy is possible and imperative to keep the bond intact. Besides that, our entire race was capable of telekinesis, as we are now." Vegeta responded from his spot against the wall. Well, that wasn't very helpful, Bra thought absently.

"Alright. I say we try to find out more about this Ikaika, before we do anything else." Bulma commented, punching some codes into her palm pilot.

"This is only one of the planets he controls. Also, he's destroying them at will. The guy talked about the outer rim of this galaxy, so maybe we can go there and find out some more." Bra decided to prepare them for the sight that would be greeting them. The children would have to be kept inside as they investigated.

"Great. Another Frieza on our hands. What, do they crawl out of the woodwork as soon as we finish one off?" Gohan murmured, but his words were caught by everyone in the room. Vegeta narrowed his eyes at all this information. If this guy was anything like Frieza, it was possible that he was using Pan and her powers for his means.

He hoped that he was wrong, but it was a fool's hope.

The naturally reddened sky was alive with light as a large ship descended through the atmosphere to the ground and landed on a field blooming with flowers and wildlife. She had noticed it as soon as her eyes had snapped open from her meditation. The time differentials affected her only slightly now after all this time, but it was still a shift from a planet were one day equalled nine months, to a universe where one day was just what it was.

Anticipation boiled up inside her. Maybe this would be the day...

Her eyes narrowed when there was a soft knock on her door. Before the door could open and reveal her first in command, she waved her hand and the metal slid away.

"I will be right out." Another wave and it closed in Lieutenant Losori's pale face. Pan levitated down to the ground and placed her feet firmly apart before landing. With the unconscious grace she had always possessed, she made her way to the window and stared outside.

The planet was a small one this time, with low population and few micro-organisms. She shot a glance at the data pad that lay on her desk, containing all the information her scouts had been able to acquire on the planet and its inhabitants beforehand. Gazing back out at the beautiful landscape, she shook her head and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Nobody would be able to capture beauty. These were the few moments before ultimate destruction would dawn on this peaceful folk, who were busily living their lives. They were oblivious to their impending doom. There was a tightening around the edges of her consciousness and she shivered at its presence. He was keeping an eye, or as the case may be, his mind on her.

It was best not to dwell on this anyway. In low, hushed tones, Pan prayed for the lives of these people, like she always did. Though it would never be enough, it seemed to help her enter the void she always immersed herself in. Detached from reality, it almost felt like she was watching someone else slaughter all those people, without emotion.

Sometimes, she wondered if her Grandpa was able to see all this merciless destruction his own granddaughter was inducing on the universe. She had nightmares about it; it haunted her, it was always present in the back of her mind. Futilely, she attempted to quell it with the one hope she secretly cherished in her heart. It didn't matter, would never matter.

A wistful sigh escaped her. The pained expression on her face was already fading into cold indifference as she made her way to the door to her quarters. It had taken practice to perfect the cold face. Five years changed a person, and at twenty-six, she was a long ways away from the rambunctious girl she once was.

With a flick of her hand, the door slid open and she stepped outside, her boot heels clicking on the metal floor.

She only had a small squadron with her on this mission, but it would be more than enough. Sure, if she powered up fully, she would be able to destroy the life on the planet herself, but she let her soldiers do the grunt work. Her Lord's goal was to create a large army that would take care of business, with or without her, so he could dispose of her whenever he so wished. She would obey him; Ikaika did not yet know her full potential, and that was her minor edge.

From the hallway, she heard thirty voices laughing and joking around in the common room of the large ship. Pan glanced down the hall as she neared the door where the noise was coming from, while absently straightening her tight spandex and her armor. Her red cape hit the backs of her calves annoyingly. She would never get used to the damn uniform. The thought of Vegeta's love for the particular article of clothing brought an unbidden smile to her eyes, not her lips. Never her lips anymore.

Her lips twisted in a snarl as she turned the corner and stepped into the room. The men were almost instantly lined up, staring intently ahead. Their postures were tense, yet she paid it no heed and pursued a way out the opposite door and off to the large exit. She signalled for them to follow her, and she heard their footsteps behind her.

"Don't mess this up, boys. Clear them off, neatly and efficiently. I'll keep my eye on you." She warned in her hoarse, cold voice, a reminder of a night at the Palace. Curtly, the men affirmed her command and halted behind her as the ship's pilots opened the hatch for them.

Immediately, the heavy scent of the beautiful flowers invaded her nose, and for a moment she was reminded of home. Home, on stretched fields where she loved to spar with Goten and Bra, or her father, who had decided to pick up his training again because he wanted to be able to keep up with his young son. Gohan had wanted to pass his knowledge of martial arts on to his son. Her brother.

Pan scowled to chase the thoughts away and motioned for the men to file out of the ship and start their attack.

"General?" A large, burly man barked, his eyes aflame as he stood before his superior. Pan was levitating above and in front of him, her eyes heavy-lidded as she glared down at him. She had been meditating in mid-air, hoping somehow to find peace of mind in this chaos.

Her mental powers had increased and developed greatly, and she was able to scout and observe the mind's of others. The men under her command were mostly weak-minded fools, so entering their mind was easy, and this gave her the opportunity to make sure they didn't do anything stupid. They didn't even notice her invading their minds.

She was seeing his thoughts right then; all fired-up male testosterone, his blood pumping and his heart beating like a sledgehammer from the thrill of the killing. Disgustedly, she sneered at him, and the fire in his eyes diminished to subdued obeisance. Her first in command inclined his head slightly in respect, realizing his mistake.

"General, all life has been terminated." Pan briefly closed her eyes and reached out with her sixth sense, just as the last life form's ki diminished. She had taught them basic ki discipline, it had taken them a long time, but now they were able to kill effectively with just a point of their finger. Their powers were very limited, and mostly ineffective during hand-to-hand combat, yet they had learned quickly and could concentrate small amounts of ki in minor blasts.

Pan reopened her eyes and straightened in the air, crossing her arms in front of her while expanding her mental search. Soon, she had reached all of them and her voice echoed inside their minds, ordering them to return to the ship so she could scrutinize their work and give the dead inhabitants the respect they deserved.

When she was sure that all of them were inside of the sleek battleship, she turned her back to it and strode over to the rows and rows of men and women and children, whose bodies were lined up properly. Once at the end of the long rows, having flown over them slowly, she mentally calculated the number of people on the planet, the number they had killed.

400,456.

It mentally registered that this was lower than what her stats had told her. She had known that the populace was low, but not like this. Mentally, she ran over random calculations to keep from screaming at the sight of those mangled bodies, but the screams inside of her were not to be silenced and pulled her attention away from rational thinking. One child specifically caught her eye; the kid looked to have been about the same age as Goku Jr., and in a flash, she saw her own brother there… a terrifying vision that would surely accompany all the other horrible nightmares that invaded her subconscious.

In her native tongue, a language she hadn't used in ages, she whispered words of goodbye and begged for forgiveness to a God she had lost faith in. Then, with a swiftness that took her by surprise, she held out her hands and let her ki flow from it like a blanket over the lands. The victims incinerated immediately in the harsh winds of her power, and the two strands that hung loose from her tight bun stirred with it.

My Lord, I wish to stay here for a little while. If you allow it, I will send your armies home and follow them later in one of the small shuttles. May I?

The subdued tendrils of thought slipped passed her barriers, aimed at the man who controlled her. Years ago, she had hated him thoroughly… but now her hate had ebbed and mellowed slightly and all she was left with was the responsibility of her own actions. And, a small seed of hope that was buried deep inside of her, hidden from everyone else, kept her in place.

A presence slid along her mind, like a fleeting caress, and Pan suppressed a shiver at it. All right... you have a day. Don't try anything, my sweet. I'll be watching you. His voice whispered in her ear. She gave a curt nod at seemingly open air, and turned to the ship, relaying her message to the pilots mentally.

The lift-off went smoothly. Her eyes silently followed the sleek ship as it lifted into the atmosphere and left her alone. The blessed silence enveloped her, sharpened her senses and soothed her. Silence was usually unnatural, a deep, profound clue that something was terribly wrong. Now, nothing was wrong, if you didn't account the lack of life.

Narrowing her eyes, she became aware of the fact that Ikaika had retracted his hold from her mind for the most part, his thoughts only a light blanket on her mind. With little concentration, she managed to uphold her mental walls and block him out.

Sharp, dark eyes trailed along the scorched treetops, the setting suns creating a magnificent view on the horizon, the colors muddling in the skies. Its beauty washed over her and calmed her further, until she felt ready for meditation. As a guise slipped over her mind like a veil, she relaxed completely and sunk into her own mind. Over the years, she had perfected this routine just so, that if her Lord should feel compelled to search the surface of her mind, it would seem to him like she was deep in a meditative state.

Pan's eyes lost focus as she removed a pouch from the back of her belt, a place at the small of her back where it was hidden from prying eyes by the cape. Said cape flapped behind her, moving wildly while she saw the numbers on the capsules in her mind's eye. Clothes she hadn't worn in ages, battle gear, food, housing…. A shuttle.

Then, one of the other capsules caught her eye. The one she had been searching for.

Hope you enjoyed that!