An Unsettling Message

"So, how's everyone doing back home?" Gohan asked his elder as he sat down on the odd bed. He hadn't had any time alone with Vegeta since they had found him, and he hadn't really wanted to talk about his family and friends around everyone else.

"The last I knew they were all fine, enjoying their peaceful oblivion," Vegeta murmured angrily, eyeing the open sky outside. "Except for that Namek. He was the only one who had enough sense to follow me. Although I just think he was worried because that infernal energy was coming from the direction of your home. AARRRGGG! If I knew where we were, I'd leave these stupid humans behind, but there's something about this infernal planet that makes my skin crawl." Vegeta stared at his clenched fists as if the gesture would crush his enemies by will power alone.

"You too?" Gohan had noticed it from the first, but he'd kept the feelings to himself for fear of offending someone. "I feel like I know this place."

"As with I," Vegeta agreed. "It is quite uncomfortable. I must learn more from them..."

Gohan didn't need Vegeta to finish his sentence to know what was coming. He hesitated himself on the subject, but it was going to come back eventually. They might as well talk about it here by themselves rather than with everyone else. These people seemed to find the most normal things like flying frightening. "So," he started, studying his reflection in an odd shaped blue orb that served as a light, "What do you think of what Cloud said? You know, about the Jenova?"

Silence answered his question, but it didn't last too long. "I," Vegeta began. "I do not believe that this will be much of a challenge for us Saijins. However, on a strange world like this a little thing such as... what now faces us could be deadly. We must learn more of this place before we make a plan of action. A great warrior always knows his enemy."

Gohan nodded. It was perfect logic, but he wasn't so sure of his own thoughts on the matter. He trusted everyone. They seemed to be nice, and even Cloud was okay if you ignored how cocky he was. They had, after all, saved Vegeta and him from that scientist. Who knows what would have happened if they hadn't been rescued. "Don't you think we should trust them?" Gohan voiced his opinions. "They don't seem too bad."

"You never know what is going on in a stranger's mind," Vegeta warned him. "You trust them too easily."

"But," Gohan argued. "They saved us from Hojo. Doesn't that say something?"

"And for what purpose?" Vegeta asked. "It seems to me that they are using us for their own ends."

Gohan couldn't argue that. Cloud had gone after Vegeta solely for information. But, even there, weren't their motives good? "But, they're trying to help us. They want to save their planet."

Vegeta didn't seem convinced. "Think what you want boy. But, ask yourself, where did that man come from, the one that appeared on Earth. These people seemed to know him rather well."

"That's because he's their enemy," Gohan offered. Vegeta merely snickered.

"Of course he is. That's what they say. But they also say that that man, Hojo, is their enemy."

"I believe them," Gohan answered. "Why shouldn't we believe them?"

"You're so young," Vegeta answered. "You're thinking with your heart boy and not your head. They said that Hojo was their enemy, but twice when they came to 'rescue' us he escaped easily. How many people do you know of who would release their enemies so freely?"

Gohan paused to look at the idea. Sure Hojo had escaped both times, but was it really Cloud's fault? He and his friends had tried to stop the scientist. Gohan had tried himself right along side of the others, yet Hojo had still been able to slip away. "I think you've got it all wrong, Vegeta."

"Think what you want child," Vegeta wasn't the slightest bit convinced. "I will rely on myself and no others."

The two Saijins sat awhile staring at the scenery out the window. What an odd city they'd come to. What had Aeris called it? The City of the Ancients? It had taken her a lot of arguing to get Cloud to agree, but here they were. Gohan patted the soft bed he sat on. He was supposed to be getting rest, and the bed sure looked welcoming, but he just couldn't sleep. There was something about this place that that was unsettling although Gohan couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. At any rate, he was supposed to meet Aeris when he was done resting. She had something to show Vegeta and him. Glancing down to the bed, he let his mind think about more important and less frightening things. Maybe he should get some sleep, just in case he didn't get the chance later...

"Gohan!" a familiarly harsh voice shouted.

"Mr. Piccolo?" Gohan jumped up excitedly and ran to the glassless window. "Is it really you?" The green face that stared back at Gohan made his heart soar. With his teacher here, somehow everything would be okay; Gohan was sure Piccolo would know what to do. He felt warm tears welling up in his eyes and tried to hold them back in vain. Bursting through the window, Gohan didn't care anymore. He didn't care if giant sea monsters attacked or if evil scientists meddled with things they shouldn't. He didn't care if he had to run around a strange world after somebody he didn't even know; he just didn't care anymore. Mr. Piccolo was here and now everything would be okay.

"Are you okay?" The green Namek hovering outside the window of the shell-like house asked gently as Gohan latched onto him. He wasn't sure exactly what to do, he'd never been the touchy type, but apparently the boy needed a hug, so he decided to let him have it. "I came as quickly as I could."

Gohan nodded, "I'm fine!" Still, he didn't let go. There was that awful nagging feeling beneath his sudden joy, that if he let go he might never see Piccolo again. He might never...

Vegeta watched the scene calmly without emotion. Now he would have to deal with that moron of a human again. Cloud would most definitely go through his information frenzy all over again. The thought was enough to make the Saijin Prince sigh with frustration.

"You guys, we have to find a way back home quickly," Piccolo stated as Gohan finally let go of him. "There's real trouble."

"How much could have happened since I left? As I recall, you were right behind me. Not too much could have happened in that short of a time."

Piccolo's fate contorted with thought. "Vegeta, how long have you sensed me here?" Vegeta shrugged as if it didn't matter.

"Let's see," Gohan murmured, thinking back to when he'd first sensed Piccolo's power. "It was when we were on the Highwind yesterday afternoon." Gohan paused to make sure. "Yup, then we went after Hojo and found Vegeta instead. We had to walk through a snow field to get back to the Highwind, but we still got to this city last night just before nightfall."

Piccolo remained silent for a moment then voiced his thoughts, "I wonder what this means?"

"What what means?" Vegeta demanded.

Piccolo's eyes locked on Vegeta's, and an unspoken message was passed between the two warriors. Danger lie ahead, lie in wait to spring on them because they had no idea what to expect or when to expect it.

"When I left, the Earth was just beginning to feel the effects of its newest foe," Piccolo started. "No one quite knows what it is, but," Piccolo's gazed washed Gohan in sympathy. "Goku hasn't been himself lately. After the first fight with the monster he's been crazed and it takes everything we have just to keep him under control. That being as it is, we can't afford to fight right now." Piccolo sighed. "For the most part, Trunks is the only one who can even stand a chance against the monster, but he's also the only one who can match Goku enough to keep him out of trouble."

"IMPOSSIBLE!!" Vegeta shouted. "Kakarot crazy? I laugh at the thought."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed as he glared at the short Saijin. "You better believe it. That's the way it was when I left to try my luck against the beast," Piccolo's eyes narrowed even further, "two months after you disappeared."

"I don't get it," Gohan murmured, choking back the familiar tears that news of his father brought gushing to his eyes. "How is it possible if you only appeared here a day ago?"

"I don't know either," Cloud said gloomily, stepping off the top of the latter that led into the room behind the Saijins. "But if anyone can find out, it's Aeris. The only place more closely linked to the Planet than here is the Temple of the Ancients, but that was turned into the Black Materia by Sephiroth and never recovered again after his death."

Everyone turned to adjust their sights on Cloud.

"She can talk to her ancestors here, and hopefully we'll get the information we need from them," Cloud continued, walking up to the window and staring out at Piccolo and Gohan. "Tall, flying, green... I take it you're Mr. Piccolo?"

Piccolo nodded, "But I don't know who you are. Would you care to enlighten me?" Apparently the man wasn't a threat, since Vegeta didn't make a hostile move.

Cloud didn't hesitate, "I'm Cloud Strife, ex-SOLDIER, and I'm here for Gohan."

"I almost forgot!" Gohan shouted. "Thanks for reminding me!! Piccolo, I have to go meet Aeris now. Please come too."

Piccolo smiled, it was nice to see that Gohan wasn't completely crushed by hearing about his father. What a little warrior Gohan was becoming! Piccolo couldn't help but swell with fatherly pride. "All right, Gohan. Let's go meet this Aeris."

Cloud watched the two fly off before turning to Vegeta. "So, how's the Jenova treating you?"

Cloud opened his eyes slowly; the pain coursing through his jaw was immense. It throbbed horribly, and Cloud had to take a moment to remember what had happened. It didn't take long for the fist solidly connecting with his jaw to come back to him. Glaring at nothing in particular as he cast Cure on himself, Cloud decided to keep an extra close eye on that one. The man was definitely not thankful for being saved from Hojo. He rubbed his jaw and moved it to make sure the spell had done what it was supposed to. It had, and Cloud started to climb down the latter. It was bright enough out to be high noon already, and he should go see if Aeris was making any progress.

"Can you hear it?" Aeris asked excitedly.

"I don't hear a thing," Piccolo commented. He'd long since grown bored and started thinking about possible "why's" and "how's."

Gohan listened with all his might. He'd been at this for nearly five hours, but still nothing had happened. "Aeris, I just don't hear anything."

"But, I don't understand," she said crossly. "Can't you hear their voices?"

Gohan didn't like the sound of that. The only voice he'd heard was that one, and he didn't want to hear it again ever. "This is just energy," Gohan sighed staring at he blue orb he was touching. It was kind of odd, and Gohan couldn't help wondering how such a dense mass of energy could be just sitting there like that. He did have to admit, though, that it felt like it was living. "How am I supposed to hear voices from it?"

"It's lifestream," Aeris answered forlorn. Had her first ideas been wrong? Wasn't this boy a Cetra? She'd been so sure of it. She still was now; she just didn't understand why they avoided him. She knew Gohan had the potential to understand the Ancients, but, for some reason, they got quiet every time he tried. It was just unnatural. "The wisdom and knowledge of the Ancients is stored here." She shook her head. "Anyone can hear the words of the Ancients from these, even Cloud. But they just keep hiding from you. I don't understand."

"Maybe you should take a break," Cloud suggested, walking up to the trio.

"It's about time someone suggested something useful," Piccolo's expressions told how readily he agreed with Cloud.

Aeris looked back and forth from Cloud to Gohan for a while, then reluctantly nodded. "If I'm alone, maybe they'll start talking again. Then I can hear what they have to say, but I just don't understand this." She bowed her head in frustration and let Cloud lead the guests away. What was wrong? Why wouldn't the Ancients answer when Gohan was near? It just didn't make any sense. Why?

Because he can understand us.

But, Aeris thought, the sudden reappearance of the thousand voices speaking in unison comforting her, why must you avoid him?

Because he must not know.

Know what?

His truth.

What truth? Why? I don't understand!

We have yearned for the day we again could see his face, but he must not know the truth yet. All would be lost.

Why?

Time.

Time.

Time is of the essence. The time has not yet come, has long since passed. The time of his truth will yet come, has already faded from memory. He will see, and forget as it comes once again.

"It's no good! I don't understand!!" Aeris shook her head. It was always like this. Nothing ever made sense until it was too late. But, at least she'd tried. "Could you tell me one thing at least?" Aeris asked the question out loud. "Where are they from?"

The place you know most well.

She'd been afraid of that. Nothing the Ancients ever said was strait or simple. It was always in riddles that she didn't understand. Oh well, she thought. As events unfolded, the truth of their words would be made obvious to her. Turning to leave, Aeris was caught off guard by some last words.

The city of demons stirs in its sleep. The pains of birth are coming and we know not what they will bring forth from its womb.

Sorry it took so long, I had to rewrite the whole thing because I thought it sucked. Well anyway, I hope you like this new and improved chapter!! ^_^