For the reviewers who sent me questions, I just wanted to let you know that they will all be answered in time. But I'll answer one or two... The one that kind of caught me by surprise was if Gohan was stronger than Cold. Well... I know that they made him seem weak in the original story line. But he is older than Frieza, and Trunks, in the anime series, didn't allow the King to transform, so thus he was weak. That was kind of what happened in the previous story. Frieza was defeated faster because he was only in his first form, and Gohan didn't give him the chance to transform... so there is more than you think... But for now, I think I'll say that King Cold is in his third transformation state. And the traitor... Eh heh... To be completely honest... I didn't even THINK of there being a traitor! But then again... I've read so many fics where there usually is one... there might be one later on in this fic... not quite sure, but if there is, there'll be a twist to it... As for android Seventeen, he isn't a spy or a traitor. I think he should get more respect! He is, after all, one of the characters that they didn't mess up drawing in DBGT! (Which I'm not a fan of... --;) I mean... haven't you seen Frieza in DBGT?! He looks like a friggin girl! And Cell... I don't even wanna get into that... Or Vegeta's haircut in the beginning of the DBGT series... ::quivers:: The person who messed with Veggies hair needs to BE PUNISHED! :: pauses for a moment...:: Okay... I think I'll shut up for now... Heh... Anyways... onto the fic! :: walks away all embarrassed::

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Chapter 3- Protected

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There was a knock on the door, and at such a late time. Gohan was the only one up at the small cottage; all he seemed to be doing was walking around. He didn't know if his lack of sleep was due to guilt, or as if he were waiting for someone. But the person at the door proved that someone must have been in trouble. He looked at the clock. It was well past Midnight.

He opened the door, and raised an eyebrow when he noticed Seventeen turned around, as if looking in the sky for something. The android turned to the young emperor. Gohan gave a gasp as he noticed someone in his arms! Videl.

Seventeen handed the female over to him, his face emotionless. "They tried to attack her at her home earlier," informed his monotone voice. The saiyan noticed Videl still asleep, and snuggling closer into his chest. She gave a contented sigh.

Gohan couldn't help but feel all warmth flowing to his cheeks, as he looked to the android. "T-Thank you for saving her... I owe you for this big time," he stated as he looked down to her. She seemed so peaceful.

The black haired android gave a smirk as he looked back to the female. "Just keep her safe. One of Cold's scouters attempted to kill her a while ago-"

"Did he get away?" asked Gohan gritting his teeth.

Seventeen shook his head. "No." His smirk came onto his face, "The weakling didn't have a chance to call for backup." Gohan gave a satisfied nod as he looked back to Videl. He gave a small sigh of disappointment as he looked to her.

"She's a lucky one..."

The emperor gave a small nod, but his brow slightly furrowed. He looked to Seventeen. "H-how did you know she was going to be attacked?"

The black haired human android allowed laughter escape his lips. He looked into the sky. So many stars there were... but if something wasn't done fast... they would be slowly disappearing from the night sky. Gohan looked down for a moment. Earth was already protected by a force field set up just two years back, and some of the other major planets used the technology also... But since Cold was able to take over all the empire... well... all but earth, it stated that the systems had a few glitches. The warriors of Cold who were able to enter the atmosphere unnoticed must have had some type of technology far beyond his own! That, alone, proved to be dangerous. "I followed her back to her home. After that mechanical bat was discovered, I knew something was fishy," whispered the android.

"So that's why you couldn't be found..." Gohan shook his head as he gave a small yawn, "You were making us slightly suspicious there..."

The android shrugged as he began to walk away from the door.

"I think I should be putting her to bed... she must be exhausted. But I will not forget this deed you have done, Seventeen." The android nodded as he blasted off into the night sky.

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"Has the girl been captured?" asked Cold as he continued to stare out of one of the windows. He loved the blackness of space. You never knew what lurked around in the dark. The messenger went down on one shaky knee and lowered its head.

"The scout you sent down... has been killed."

"By whom?" asked Cold as he was frowning. He didn't like for these missions to be stopped. He wanted this simple one to be completed soon; he had to take the emperor out. "I think I clearly stated I wanted her to be abducted when she was ALONE."

The messenger continued to look down and avoid his eyes from the dark lord. "Before the messenger was killed, he sent a message back to head quarters stating that the coast was indeed clear. He scanned it with a scanner. No ki's came up!" King Cold frowned as he listened on, "When the warrior had went down to attack, he noticed a ki-less man standing there!"

"A ki-less man?" asked King Cold with a snarl. "Don't you mean robot?"

The messenger shook his head. "NO! It was a ki-less man that the scout informed headquarters about! He did send an attack, but the man hurled it back, and that was the last we heard before his communications went dead..."

The dark lord turned back to the thick glass window. "So... he's dead now you say? How was that found out? I don't think you should assume someone's dead just because the communications have been lost."

The thing shook its head once more before it looked up. "A few mechanical scouters we have out on the planet have sent us back footage of what had happened... He was clearly blown to pieces by the ki-less... man."

Cold gave a nod as he gave a small smirk. "Well then, send down a squad. This time we'll go by a different approach..."

"Sire?" asked the fearful messenger.

The dark lord smirked. "We'll break his defenses. Get my squad to capture the weaker warriors on earth. If they are of too much trouble... kill them."

The messenger bowed down once more, "Yes, sire."

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Videl began to wake as the sun's rays began to shine over her eyes. She slightly frowned when she turned around in the warm bed to avoid the rays of the sun. But the covers proved to be too warm for her to handle. So in return, she slowly opened her eyes while giving a yawn.

Sitting up from the soft bed she opened her eyes once more. Something didn't seem right...

She wasn't in her own room... in her own bed.

The black haired female frantically looked around the strange room. She had never been to this place in her life, yet... she felt safe for some strange reason... She gave a sigh as she allowed her body to fall back onto the soft mattress. She shoved her face into one of the pillows, and sniffed it for some reason...

The scent reminded her... of Gohan. It was Gohan's! Now she remembered!

She sat up in the bed once more and stood into the hard wooden floor. She looked around. It was Gohan's room. It was smaller than hers, but then again, she DID live in a large mansion. She gave a gasp. That was when Videl realized that she didn't change into some nightclothes the day before... when she was attacked... The female sure didn't want to go thru something like that again! She looked down to what she was wearing, and her face seemed to become slightly paler.

She was no longer wearing her sweatpants, or her white tank top shirt. Instead, she was wearing a light blue, silk nightgown. She could state the obvious that it belonged to a woman... maybe to Gohan's mom? Videl was still slightly shorter than her... but close in size...

She began to walk around the room. Videl noticed the shelves of books lined up in order by author, all in very good condition! She pulled one of the random books from the shelf. Poetry. She gave a small smile as she skimmed thru the first few pages of the book. It was poetry of hero's and of heroic deeds. She placed it back into its place on the bookshelf.

Videl also noticed the oak desk sitting on the side of the room with his book bag to the side of his desk. She shuffled over to see what was sitting on the desk... She knew that she shouldn't be snooping, and she was looking around on the emperor's desk, nonetheless!

Slowly swiping her hand over the desk to feel the smooth wood, she happened to notice a few worksheets on the desk; she furrowed her brows. It looked too much like the scary math, which could only be found in the college textbooks...

"You awake!"

The young voice made Videl jump slightly, and she turned around noticing Gohan's younger brother with a wide grin, "You up!"

She gave him a smile as she went over to him, and gave him a small hug... but it soon turned out that she was to carry him. Figures...

"Mommy is downstairs. She making num num's!" he exclaimed in his little cheerful voice. Videl gave a small smile as she went back into the room looking around for her clothes. She frowned when she didn't find them. She would have to ask someone...

Videl looked back to the chibi with a smile, "Well then, Goten. Why don't we go downstairs, and see if your mommy has finished the meal. What do you say?" The young three year old nodded.

"Guess what, Vibel!" The female teen blinked as she looked to the young child. 'Did he call me... Vibel?' "I'm going to be four tomorrow!"

"You are?" she asked him with a smile. She began to walk out of the room and head to the kitchen with the chibi in her arms.

"Yes! And daddy... and Gohan's teaching me to fwy!" Videl slightly hesitated. Fly? She inwardly began to sulk. 'Gohan never taught ME to fly, and here he's made a promise to his younger brother!' She gave a large sigh as she slowly made her way into the kitchen.

"Momma!!! Vibel's up! Vibel's up!" exclaimed the chibi as he was still carried from his arms. But the teen gave a gasp when the toddler seemed to jump out of her arms! She gave a small squeak when Goten landed on the floor, but the fall was broken when he gently landed on his feet and began to laugh cheerfully. Videl's eyes were wide.

'Damn!' She looked down to the chibi. She could never do THAT when she was three! No, scratch that. FOUR years old.

Chichi turned around, and seemed unfazed by the jump her son had just made. "Good morning Videl! Did you sleep well?" she asked as she continued to dry a plate that was in her hands. The teen girl looked up to the black haired housewife, and she gave a small smile.

"Good morning... I actually did," she muttered shyly as she crossed her arms over her chest. For some reason, standing here and talking to Gohan's mother was slightly unnerving, and she had to inwardly sigh. This was the same woman she met yesterday that treated her as the mother that she never had... "Do you know the time?" asked Videl almost in a whisper, as she seemed to stand off more in a corner.

Chichi looked out the window before nodding, "It's almost noon time," she replied as she placed the clean dish on the counter. "I should begin to make lunch," she muttered while turning around to the younger female in the room. "Could you help me? Feeding four saiyans is quite a job!"

"S-saiyans?" questioned the teen. 'Where have I heard that before?' she silently thought. Chichi nodded.

"Yes. Other wise the boys would be rolling on the ground whining that their tummies hurt..." Chichi gave an exaggerated sigh. "I swear... they're bottomless pits!"

Videl just remained silent as she gave a small nod. But then remembered another reason why she wanted to find someone who lived here...

"Mrs. Son?"

The older female turned around with a smile on her face. "Yes?"

A small blush began to stain her pale cheeks. "Do you know where my clothes are?" She looked down to the silk nightwear once more before the blush brightened.

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Raditz panted as he held his broken arm steady. He gritted his teeth. The wild haired saiyan was sparing with his younger, but some how STRONGER brother. He didn't know what caused this to happen... and he didn't understand how his younger brother could be stronger when he was just in the super saiyan transformation.

Raditz wiped blood away that fell from his lip. Sure his brother seemed to have larger muscles. A good picture that he could use to describe how is brother looked was his head looked like a small tick as it stuck out from giant shoulder and arm muscles. It was crazy!

Goku must have reached the next level.

"Tired?" asked Goku with a small smirk. He couldn't get over that habit. The younger full-blooded saiyan wasn't exactly back to how he was when he was younger; the sweet, caring, naïve character that we have all grown to know and love. He wasn't the ruthless warrior either that he had turned into over ten years ago... He was a mixture of the two. More egoistic when he was around the saiyans, but kind to his friends, and romantic to his wife...

"I've had better days," stated back Raditz as he sat down on the soft, cold grass. The weathers were changing again. Autumn was almost here; it was already in late September.

Goku gave a hardy laugh as he floated down to the ground and breathed in a large gulp of the fresh mountain air. He was glad that he and Chichi chose to live out here. It was quite nice, and very spacious. Good sparing grounds too. "I'd have to agree with you on that part Raditz."

"Don't you think it's about time for lunch to be finished?" asked the older brother as he began to move his broken arm slowly. Goku stared at it with concern till Raditz shook his head, "It'll heal."

The younger brother began to laugh nervously. "Well... I guess she might be... should we check? We should get cleaned up; I don't want my wife chewing me out like last time we spilled blood on her expensive rug..."

Raditz gave a laugh as the two began to walk up to the home. "Say... where's that nephew of mine?"

Goku turned back as he wiped away a stream of blood that fell from his forehead. "I think he's still meditating... wait... is that him walking in the house?" he asked pointing to the small cottage.

Raditz attempted to fold his arms, and gave a nod. "I think he might have had the same idea as us... let's go."

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Gohan walked in the kitchen entrance and noticed his mom stirring the cooking food in the pan. He gave a small smile... but something seemed odd... She looked... shorter than he remembered. And her hair wasn't the same bun. It was tied in a low ponytail... He just shrugged it off.

"The meal smells good, mom!" stated Gohan with an excited voice and he walked closer to the female to see what was in the pan. He looked over her right shoulder. "When'll it be finished?"

"In about ten minutes," answered his mother's voice from the other side of the room.

Gohan blinked, and he snapped his head over to the right, noticing his mom sitting at the table sipping on some tea. His eyes widened slightly... just ever so slightly.

"M-mom?!" He asked blinking numerous times. She just seemed to be smirking at him as she continued to sip on her morning tea. He pointed to where his mom was sitting. "I-if you're over there... then... who's here...?" He slowly turned his head to his left to come face to face with Videl.

Their noses were almost touching. And the two couldn't help but stare at each other; blushes on their cheeks were also noticed! The hybrid saiyan's mother just sat back and smirked at the two. 'Just perfect!'

Just moments before, Chichi had given Videl a set of her clothes to wear. The housewife was washing the teens clothing, and they were currently hanging out to dry. Videl had also felt that she should help the older female since she knew Chichi must have been on her feet all day...

Gohan became embarrassed as he continued to stare at Videl's bright blue eyes. He couldn't seem to break away, that was till she broke away and looked back down at the food. She then gave a small shriek as she noticed a few flames from the stove lick the sides of the pan for a moment. The hybrid teen shook his head, and he walked out of the room. The guilt that he had from yesterday was still there... and it hurt to come face to face with her.

Chichi silently watched as her son leave the room, a small shadow looming over in his face. She gave a small frown. That was when she noticed Goten running in the room, all muddy with a frog in his hands. Joyful laughter came from him as he ran past his mom and into the main house. Chichi frowned as she stood up and ran after her hyper child. "Goten! Get back here this instant! Don't get mud on the furniture!!" she exclaimed chasing after him.

And Videl was left alone in the kitchen. The black haired female was able to get the stove back in order and she set the cooked vegetables in a bowl before she went to check up on the noodles.

That was then the full-blooded saiyans decided to come in.

(AN: ::cackles::)

Goku and Raditz walked into the room and the aroma of food hit their sensitive nostrils. That was when they realized how hungry they really were!

The younger full-blooded saiyan walked up the back haired female and wrapped his arms around her petite waist. He noticed the woman freeze up. 'Strange...' He then began to place feather kisses on her neck to try and loosen her up a bit. He had to admit... she did seem slightly different in appearance... smelled different too...

"The food smells wonderful, Chichi-"

Videl turned her head to notice Goku looking at her.

Goku noticed the female teen look up at the older man in horror.

A few seconds felt like an eternity when the older man realized that the young teenaged female was not his wife. And as two negatively charged magnets, he immediately broke from her, jumping back a few feet, with a HUGE blush staining his cheeks from embarrassment.

"I'm SO, SO, SOOOO SORRY VIDEL!" he exclaimed as he waved his hands in the air to her, his face becoming bright red.

Raditz couldn't help but burst out in laughter. He had to support himself by placing a hand on the wall to keep from falling over.

Videl, too, had a blush. But she knew this was all one big misunderstanding. She then began to laugh nervously. "I... guess I look too much like Ms. Son... don't I?" she asked nervously as she tried to calm herself down. She then looked to both men. "Nothing happened."

Goku gave a quick nod when Raditz tried to calm down his laughter... well... somewhat...

Videl looked up noticing Chichi walk back in wiping her hands on her apron. The teen then took that time to rush out the door stating before she left, "I'll be back... please watch the pan..." And then she was gone.

Chichi slightly blinked as she walked into the room noticing a blushing husband, and a laughing brother-in-law. She furrowed her eyebrows and crossed her arms, "Is there something your not telling me?"

Now, back to our heroine.

As she left the room, extremely embarrassed, she couldn't help but look up to notice her guy friend standing there with a glare in his eye, mixed with a hint of sadness, and of humor. She expected him to say something... but in response, he shook his head and began to walk into the kitchen once more.

Videl let out a shaky breath as she leaned against one of the houses walls. She looked up into the ceiling and closed her eyes.

'This day... is going to be long...' she muttered as she lifted herself into a standing position. As quickly as she left the kitchen, Videl left her spot in the hallway to return to the room she had woken up in earlier.

She needed some time to think...

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Yamcha was slammed into a rock wall. His body made a perfect indent in the limestone, but it seriously injured his fragile body. The man began to cough up globs of blood as he looked up to his attacker with one eye.

The attacker smirked down at the broken human and created another ki ball.

"Well... well... well... the little human warrior is here, all alone with no one else around but me. His to be murder." The smirk never left his lips.

Yamcha groaned loudly in pain as he tried to lift his broken body from the imprint that he made just moments before. "T-th-ey w-ill ki-ll you..." he said in a strained voice.

The assassin gave a cold bone-chilling laugh. "Oh, that's just cute. I think I'll leave the dirty work to my master though... I think he'll have more fun destroying your precious emperor."

Yamcha winced as he sat up. "W-wh-ho? T-tell m-me wh-ho he i-is..."

The warrior began to laugh as his energy ball increased. "Is that your death wish? To know who my master is?" The warrior leaned down to Yamcha's level. They were only inches away. "I'll tell you."

The ki ball was set at Yamcha's chest. "King Cold, he is my master." With that said, the energy was released and a chilling scream echoed in the rocky hills.

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Krillin gasped as he looked up into the sky. Tien almost landed a punch on the shorter warrior and Krillin just stood there oblivious to it. The three-eyed Z-senshi frowned.

"What's wrong?"

Krillin gave a gulp as he looked back to his friend. "I can't feel Yamcha's Ki any more... It just seemed to disappear!"

Tien stared at him for a moment before he closed his eyes, and felt around. It was no were! But he did feel a stronger ki in the area where Yamcha was to be training.

"Come on... let's go and check this out... something's wrong."

Krillin gave a nod as the two men powered up and zoomed out of the area.

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