Chapter 9
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Two Months Later
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Gohan gave a sigh of relief. A bright smile graced his face as he leaned back in his office chair. Finally... after months of experimentation and sleepless nights, the force field was complete. It was new, improved, and it didn't have any glitches! It was the perfect defense weapon to secure a planet from any of those who were planning to invade from space. Its radar system was top notch and very sensitive, so it could pick up any abnormal movement around the planet within a few million kilometers. He tried to hack into the system and tried to infect it with viruses so it wouldn't work... and many times, the fields that he would put up failed. But this field could be compared to a seven-mile thick wall of steel and diamond. It could only be opened with the computer in Bulma's lab. Of course, to use it, you had to be of the select few entrusted to open the fields so those of the good allied forces could enter with out harm.
"Finally I can go to the other planets and set this up," muttered the saiyan with a smirk. "It will be a cinch to set up!" And it was true. It would be very easy to set up, and the equipment use to set up the force field was very simple and quick to put together. But it proved to be the sturdiest piece of machinery that could with hold any type of element of the earth!
Now things had seemed to turn positive. A few days after Videl was kidnapped, Gohan made sure that all spy devices and warriors of King Cold's army were annihilated in the first week. It didn't surprise the emperor when he found all the tracking devices of the enemy in places of the world he usually visited. The ki's of the enemy were easy to track too. All the remaining warriors of Gohan's side on the planet, all saiyan, transformed to make their power increase dramatically. The other 'big' energies were soon tracked down, and destroyed once they confessed to being a warrior to Cold.
Gohan thought it was cruel and ruthless... he wasn't the one who killed the soldiers who didn't fight back. No. He killed the one's who tried to kill him! It was mainly Vegeta and Zarbon who killed the 'peaceful' soldiers.
Anyhow, they had agreed on a plan. Zarbon volunteered to stay on the planet Earth as the saiyans went out to destroy the remaining army that controlled the other galaxies. This alien, along with Piccolo, was going to continue some training with the two young chibi's. Both children and green skinned warriors aged two years for remaining in the Room of Time and Spirit. Goten was no longer the young four year old, but a child at the age of six. Trunks, about to have another birthday would soon be five... or seven because of the special training room.
Gohan did train in the room before... but only for a day. He was hoping to get at least two days when Cell showed it's ugly face, but he was called to a planet in the East quadrant. A riot started when some unknown foreigners began to terrorize the current citizens of the planet.
Space pirates they were. They had no connection to Frieza and his family, and they did not even know of the demise of the evil tyrant! Needless to say, they were very surprised to find a teenager telling them to stop their foolish acts. But, as any villain would do, they refused to listen to orders, and to a 'young' child. Gohan sure showed them who were boss! And soon after, peace was restored. The word was soon spread, and the new emperor had been labeled as a ruler of power and justice. It got rid of any doubts the citizens had about their new emperor.
Gohan was hoping his plan of attack to take back the planets would be silent, but quick. He already had many disguises and foreign technology to use so he could blend in with the society of the planet. He was also taught the traditions of the different planets and some of the history to help him familiarize with the society much better.
Overall... if felt like he was taking a history class. Because of his mother's dream of him becoming a scholar, learning all of these traits of the different planets was almost an cinch! ALMOST.
But the one that would always fill the emperor's thoughts was the girl who stole his heart.
Videl.
He couldn't help but give a sigh as he encapsulated some supplies. She was his one and only distraction from taking the responsibilities he should over his kingdom. She was aware of it also.
And Gohan now understood why Videl was willing to die those few weeks ago...
But now she was captured. She was a hostage on the main space station under the watchful eye of Cold. Videl was able to send him messages once in a while. There were times that she just sent a paragraph of what was happening in the space station, or they would spend a few moments text messaging to each other... that was a month ago...
She didn't send him a single note this month; this did make Gohan worry. The first week she was in the station, she was able to find places to hide and send a message every day... then the messages turned to every other day the next two weeks... and then the last two weeks of the month, it was only once or twice... And this month... she didn't send him a single message.
Gohan shoved the capsules in his pocket and began to walk down the halls. He looked out the windows. It was early morning, and the sun was just starting to peak over the horizon. It was a cloudless day, a beautiful one at that.
A vibration was felt in Gohan's pants pocket.
His eyes widened as he looked down quickly shoving his hand into the pocket, and jerking out the phone, almost breaking the material of his pants.
Looking at the screen, he noticed a message sent. It was from Videl! His heart felt as if it were pounding in his throat and his stomach began to make knots as he opened the letter.
The familiar white screen popped up, and a small message was placed along with a little camera image. He read the text.
Hey Gohan, sorry I haven't sent a letter in a while...I thought only two weeks had passed... and a few days, but not a whole month! The hours on the space station are very strange. It's not your usual twenty-four hour day on earth. There are days I stay up and I lose track of time. I think the longest day I have had was 37 hours! I have to look on my phone at times to see what day it is! I can explain things better on the video I have attached to this message.
Gohan looked back down to the picture of the camera on the bottom of the message. He clicked on the small icon; a small bar appeared in the middle flashing the words: Loading...
The saiyan didn't know you could record video with this phone! He gazed over the phone once more. It must have more features than Bulma told them about! Turning it over once more, the Loading sign flashed once before the video began.
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Pressing the record button, Videl looked to the phone screen. Smiling she went into the view of the lens. She gave a wave. "Hey Gohan." She stepped back a bit more so the picture could take her full view. The picture of a female, almost skin and bones and not very much meat, was showing on the screen. Clad in only a black, spandex tank top and a pair of black spandex shorts her smile remained.
"I just found this option on the phone, so I decided to send a video of what's going on here in the space station." She paused as she sat down on a small cot. "There's not too much here, and I'm not aloud to leave my room till I receive my breakfast. The reason for that, as you can see... is I haven't been eating. Cold sends a medic down with my food to make sure I eat. He's been noticing that I have been getting thinner... and bonier... You'll see the reason why I have been skipping meals in a while...
"Now, changing subjects before you come charging down here, I wanted to tell you that I have found your mother. She's alive and well, and currently helping Bulma out with her projects. I think she might be going crazy because she hasn't picked up a cooking utensil in a LONG time... but it's the only way we can make sure she is all right, or she might get harassed... or possibly raped..."
Videl paused for a moment as she looked to the side for a moment before continuing," Oh! And some comforting news on your part about the lab is it's off limits to any unauthorized personal. Only those who have been critically injured are allowed to use the tanks, but after that, they are kicked out. So, both Bulma and Chichi have nothing to worry about. King Cold made that rule after I reported some harassing to him the other day. Speaking of the lab, I'll be making a stop there after I get my meal. It's now common knowledge on the ship that I make my way there almost every day... but usually after a good sparing cession. And speaking of sparing..."
Videl held one of her arms up and flexed it. The small arm soon turned to bulges of muscles. She looked back to the camera with a smirk. "Training with some of the soldiers in the sparring room has helped to increase my strength, speed, and stamina. And don't have a fit because these warriors are from your army. They're just working under cover to grab information in making plans of escape and/ or attacking at the right time. I didn't know... but there's one bit of information that all soldiers under you know, which the other warriors of Cold's army don't."
Videl gave a small smirk, "I didn't know this, but not many of the soldiers around here know your true name. What I mean by that is Cold's warriors don't know it, nor does King Cold himself!" she smiled into the camera as she crossed her legs as she sat on the cot. "I guess I and the other students at the school should feel honored to use your name. Hopefully they might become more respectful to you instead of using those nick names which are meant to insult you." Videl then ran a hand thru her hair... the short locks were ruffled almost to imitate the hair of a saiyan. "One more thing you might notice different about me is my hair length. It actually was burnt off a week ago in a sparring match using energy attacks."
Videl raised her hands just below her bosom, and then closed her eyes. She really did look tired... and it looked as if she had sagging skin under her eyes! The sleeping hours must be horrific! But when Gohan thought she was enveloped into the dark void of sleep, he noticed a small ball of white light being formed in her palms. It began to grow! Yet, as soon as it came, it vanished as Videl opened her eyes releasing a breath of air she was holding. She brought her hands back in; a huge grin was plastered on her face as she looked back up to the camera. "One of your soldiers taught me that a few weeks ago when I arrived on the ship, and he was also willing to teach me to fly! So, now I can surprise Cold the day he wishes to get rid of me!" She had a victory sign displayed on her fingers as her father usually would.
A knock was heard on the door.
"Damn..." she muttered as she grabbed the phone and shoved it under the pillow.
"What?" she stated in an irritated tone. The sound was slightly muffled since it was shoved under a pillow.
"Your food is here," stated a deep male voice. And a plate of some type was set down on something hard... maybe a study wooden table?
"Thanks," stated Videl in a bit more vicious tone, as the material of the cot was moved around.
"But Cold requests for me to watch to eat," added the food provider. Another loud sigh was heard, and then footsteps on the metal floor noticed. Finally the crunching of some sort of food was heard.
"Happy?" snapped back Videl a few moments later.
And soon the shuffling of feet was heard along with the door sliding closed. Another sigh was given as the pillow was raised showing view of the room once more. Videl turned it around once more to face her and she placed it on the table once. She quickly took her seat on the old folding bed once more before she continued to chew on an apple.
"They started doing this just two days ago," added Videl as she continued to nibble on the fruit from Earth. "I feel guilty eating when I know there is someone else who has been starved for the same amount of time I have been captive on this ship." She also frowned as she looked back to the apple she bit into. "I guess that's why I have become anorexic. I know, I know! I shouldn't be doing this. But if you want, I'll promise that I'll eat at least one piece of fruit for lunch, and one for dinner that way I can have SOME nutrition for my body. I will, however, go back to normal eating habits when I'm able to get the prisoner out of his cell."
She took another bite of her apple.
"I met him almost a month ago, starved. He looked more like a corpse than a man, and he had wounds galore! It took me a while to help clean them to the point where they could properly heal on their own. This guy is the one who I've been giving my meals too so he could get back into proper health. He even stated that you knew him."
Videl looked to a place on the wall, and she smiled. "And I should get going to the labs quick before I head down to the prison. Usually by the time I get there, I have about fifteen minutes to visit with him before the next shift of guards comes down to watch, but I'm running behind on schedule today. The meeting I'd have with him would only last about five minutes... since it takes a good ten minutes to get to the prison from the labs."
Taking a few more bites, eating the core and seeds, Videl licked her fingers before wiping them on her clothing. And jumping up from her seat, she grabbed a piece of black cloth from the floor, and wrapped it around her firm waist. Quickly tying a knot to secure it in place, she turned back to the lens of the camera.
"And yes, my clothing style has changed from extremely baggy to extremely clingy. You should have seen me the first day I had to put on a spandex uniform. That was a laugh." She began to giggle softly as she grabbed the pair of white boots, and sat back down on her bed. Shoving her hand into the capsule, Videl pulled out a hidden capsule. And then she quickly slipped on the footwear.
"Although I was a huge hater of skirts, I don't see them as so bad any more. Um... the long skirts, that is..." Videl stood up once more to smooth out the 'skirt' she just tied. "Bulma suggested it the first day I arrived; she also thought I should wear some armor... There wasn't any around at the time though... And being the thick headed person against skirts, I didn't listen to her and walked out of the room wearing this spandex leotard looking uniform and nothing else." She shook her head and ran a hand thru her very short locks of hair. "I still can't get over the images of those men who began to grope me... But I did take Bulma's advice soon after and wore the material as a skirt. I didn't have any more problems after that... well... almost. But Cold took care of that."
Standing beside the camera, she grabbed the fruit placing it right beside the capsule in her hand. But out of the view, a popping noise was heard in the room before the capsule was noticed once more. But forgetting that the camera was there for a brief moment, Videl looked down and pulled open her spandex shirt from the top. She then used her other hand to reach in the shirt and carefully stuff the capsule under one of her breasts.
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Now going back to Gohan. He was currently walking into the living room, and he took a seat on one of the leather recliners. And in watching this, his face soon became a BRIGHT red as he watched her. He could clearly see where her hands were thanks to the stretchy material. He did try and break his eyes away from this... but they didn't seem to listen to his perverted reasoning.
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Soon after, Videl went over to the phone and grabbed it in her hands, covering it with her palm. Videl was nowhere in view, but her voice was clearly heard.
"I don't think I'll be in view of the camera that much longer. I need to hide it the best I can while taping this as I go."
The shadow of Videl's petite self was noticed as she began walking to the door of her room; soon it opened and she walked into the hallways. Blood of all colors was noticed, dried or freshly spilled from this day, it didn't matter. Then Videl began to speak again, but more softly just so the watcher of this video could hear what she was whispering.
"I guess this is going to be a good day. Not a corpse in sight! I usually have about three or four littered by my door each morning."
The camera continued to move thru the halls before it was turned, and stopped before a door. Soon, it slid open and the camera began to travel once more into the labs of the ship.
"As you can see... this place is much cleaner than the halls. The main reason is because it's dubbed as 'The Evil Harpies Territory'. Um... AKA Bulma and Chichi. Some of the men on the ship fear both these women when they are a team. It's quite humorous."
Videl brought the camera up once more and gave the camera a view of the area. It stopped on both women, who were currently cleaning up around the regeneration tanks.
"Bulma! Chichi!" exclaimed Videl as the camera began to shift, and zoom towards both human females.
And turning around, they both smiled. "Hello Videl," greeted Bulma as she set the mop to the side of the room. She used her arm to wipe away some precipitation away from her forehead. "Getting a late start I see?" she asked grinning.
The camera shook up and down.
Chichi also turned around, dropping all towels in her arms to the floor as she ran up to the younger female. The mother of Gohan quickly embraced her and squealed.
"And good day to you Videl!"
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Gohan paused. Did he hear choking? He shook his head... his mom was something else. And the hybrid saiyan also seemed to fail to notice the men standing from behind watching the screen also.
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"Morning Chichi," stated Videl strained as the phone dropped to the hard, tiled floor with a crash. Thankfully, the phone remained in tact and continued to run. A few female gasps were heard before the phone moved once more, and a few curious faces were shown for only seconds before the screen was moved once more to a different part of the room before it was back in it's original position.
"Are you writing another text to Gohan?" questioned Bulma as she crossed her arms. She and Chichi were clad in a black spandex shirt with very stained overalls. It was obvious that both women haven't had time to bathe. They had oil stains and dirt smudged on their arms and faces.
"Not exactly," stated Videl from behind the phone, "I found an option that allows the phone to play as a video camera. I'm sending it to Gohan-"
The mother of Gohan gasped as she looked into the screen and glared. "Gohan! You had better keep up with your studies! Cause if I find you have a 99 in your classes... I swear... I brought you into this universe, and I can take you out!!! You hear me young MAN! You had BETTER keep up you-"
"Chichi!" exclaimed the female scientist as she grabbed Chichi's shoulder. She stared at the other lady's eyes. "Calm down. I bet the schools, heck, the whole town closed down from earlier attacks!"
"But my son's education is on the line-"
"Many people's lives are on the LINE!" exclaimed Bulma glaring. "I seriously doubt that school is the first thing on your son's mind! He has an entire empire at risk here!"
Videl turned the camera around to face her, and her rolling eyes were noticed along with the mouthed words, 'They're acting so immature...' The camera was turned back around to the two arguing women before Videl spoke once again, "I'm going to the prison cell of you know who."
The verbal fighting was immediately stopped as both women reached into their clinging shirts. Both pulled out a capsule from their shirts and handed it to Videl. She, in return, opened her shirt up shoving another capsule under other breast and the last capsule in between her cleavage. And setting the camera down on a table, Videl untied the material from around her waist, and wrapped it around her neck. The material would have drug on the floor if it weren't folded in half when she wore it as a skirt, but when it was wrapped around her shoulders; it covered her from head to toe. A perfect cape it was. And picking up the phone once more, she nodded before turning around.
And as the door to the room slid open, Chichi's voice was the last thing heard before it slid shut once more. Her words stated, "Send him my love!"
And in the view of the camera, the halls seemed to become darker. And darker they became still... until a steel door was noticed. The only light noticed in the dim halls was a lit torch on the side of the wall. And Videl reached her hand on to the cold steal door. A creaking was heard as the door opened slightly, but the room that was given for her to enter the room was just enough to slip thru.
Turning around once more to close the door, the back haired female gave a small nod as she continued to walk in the torch lit room. In the camera, Videl frowned as she covered her nose with her hand. "This room always smells horrible!" And the camera was pointed down to the ground as Videl began to run down the halls she became very familiar with days ago.
And the camera seemed to stop 'spinning' as she abruptly stopped before another door; this one, however was of rotting wood. Anyone could have easily gotten out of this with little effort! That was... unless you were a person at the line of life and death...
Videl opened the door slowly, to avoid any noise created by the old hinges, and quickly slipped in. Then she shut the door behind herself.
And the camera, to the phone, turned around. The view of a pale and beaten looking man sat in the middle of a semi lit room. And when his lowered head turned up, a bright smile was noticed on his features.
"Videl..."
The female walked over to the saiyan, and she placed the capsules of food, she just pulled out of her shirt, in his hands.
Goku gave a bright and thankful smile as he opened the capsules in a cleaned out area in the filthy cell. A few space rats were heard squealing and squeaking as the food was removed from the capsules and into the clearing, But Goku began to inhale all the fresh foods before any of the vermin's had a chance to attack the meal. And after completing the last bit of fruit in a bowl, he looked up and handed the female her capsule back. Although there were two more left filled with food, he shoved them in the brown looking material he wore. It was his old gi... but more cut up, and burned. Dried blood was covering his dirt covered skin and the remaining parts of his clothes, and the wounds, both old and fresh, were clearly almost to the point of gaining an infection.
Pausing for a moment, the father of the emperor looked up to the door with a frown soon following.
"You should be leaving within the next few minutes, Videl. I can sense the jailers coming back." He looked up to her, the shining in his eyes losing the happiness it had shown earlier. He would be clearly be missing the company that Gohan's girl friend gave him.
"I guess so," stated Videl softly as she held up the phone so it was more noticeable to the saiyan. "Just wanted to inform you that I'm making a video to send to Gohan." There was a pause as Goku's eyes brightened once more. "Is there any words you want to send to him before I leave?" she asked in a concerned tone.
Goku looked to the camera and a small grin reached the lips of the older man. "Don't give up son. And don't let the things you see here sway you to come here; you have a whole kingdom to watch over. They need you more than us." And another large pause was created before Goku's eyes darkened, "You really need to leave Videl, they're very close."
And the camera quickly turned around and faced the floor as the female crime fighter dashed to the entrance once again. She turned around once more stating in a soft voice, "I'll be back later with lunch and dinner."
And then she slipped thru the doors.
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Gohan shook his head as he ran one of his bulky hands thru his short spiky hair.
His father was alive!
A low whistle was noticed in the back, and Gohan turned his head toward the warrior. He noticed his uncle shaking his head.
"That son of a bitch survived." A smirk was noticed on the older saiyan's features. "He's one lucky guy..."
The young emperor gave a small smile as he turned his attention back to the cell phone screen just as the screen began to brighten up.
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In an empty hallway, Videl turned the phone around and looked into the lens. "I'm sorry to say, but I should put this up for now. The soldiers will get suspicious if I don't arrive to the training room in a few minutes." She smiled, "I just wanted to make sure you were aware that we are alive and well. So please, keep your mission on the others in your empire that are most likely worst off." She placed two fingers on her lips and kissed it before she brought it up to the lens, then brought it back down. "I love you Son, Gohan."
And the camera was turned off.
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That's all for now... because I am ambushed with homework!!!! !!! So, please leave your comments in a review if you liked this or not. I'm not sure if I will get to posting next week because I might be getting my wisdom teeth removed. I've heard it's painful and I might be spending my time sleeping as I recover from the surgery. So... It might be two weeks till I update again, other wise, read my info sheet on my bio page. It should explain a few things more clearly.
-Takuma
