In Search of Amity

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Period 12: Training Day

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Meditation for him was to concentrate upon the breaking of water as it impacted the ground in the form of a small dewdrop, its distinct sounds of unlinking from its icicle then its short decent to the surface below before the final explosive sounds of slashing.

The heat was melting the ice ever faster.

It took Connor some time to pull himself out of his meditation; the others were awaiting him outside for another attempt at breaking through the energy barrier.

"C'mon Connor we might not get another chance at this!" Kukel called as he hurriedly tore off his purple cape tossing it to the water logged ground, disappearing down one of the tunnels.

As he stood from the ground Connor brushing the small shards of stone that stuck to his skin, he sensed something familiar in the air and also something strange.

Squinting his blood shot eyes he looked toward the high cavern ceiling with his arthritis affected mouth gapping. He couldn't form words; it would waist far too much energy that he now needed.

*Yes.yes.yeeeeeeees* his mind screamed merriment and faith.

With a burst of hidden energy he stepped forward with more speed and endurance than he thought possible, making his way toward the others for their stand off, on the way stepping on Kukels water and blood soaked cloak.

***

24 hours later aboard capsule 4, Goku gathered the crew together to explain the roadster he had put together with Gohan assistance.

Standing atop an empty crate he gave a quick observation of everyone standing below him, all were present so he felt he could now begin.

"Ok.as I promised I have prepared a roadster for the training of out three unexpected passengers, all of you are aware that they are novices and are to be treated with some leniency at first" Goku explained.

In this pause he make eye contact with each of the girls, their faces full of apprehension and regret, a good sign to him.

"We have six months left but you three are going to be trained in 4" He said suddenly, pacing past each of the girls like an foreign drill Sargent.

"Your going to work you asses off weather you like it or not, blood sweat and tears are going into these terms" he added pacing back the other way.

"Remember, each trainer has something different to teach you, I want to see what you learned at the end of this mission" he stopped pacing.

Pan was emotionless taking in the pitiless lecture in her stride; Bra and Savarna were inwardly shell shocked at Gokus sudden change from a gentle loving man to a pitiless skull cracker.

"Gohan, start off the pairing for the first term"

Gohan stepped forward with a notepad in hand; adjusting his glasses he stood tall and began announcing the names.

Pan the first 2 week term you will be training with Vegeta," he said, flipping the page to Bra's schedule

"Bra you will be paired up with Piccolo for your first 2 week term" flipping to the last page he pushed his glasses higher up the bridge of his nose.

"Savarna you will be with Trunks for your first fortnight, any questions?" closing the book he allowed a few seconds for queries from anyone.

Savarna's mouth was about to open but wasn't given a second of time.

"Good, your trainer will assign you your schedule, deciding when you train, eat, sleep and everything else you think you have authority over" He added with a concrete pitch.

The girls tried to stay composed, they had no idea their small plan to come along to give their families support would end this way.

"This is a need to be here only basis, those of you who don't need to be here get going" Gohan final note was and everyone accept the trainers and their students dispersed.

Piccolo took Bra to one end of the ship to train under his methods, Vegeta escorted Pan to the gravity chamber and Trunks lead Savarna to the cockpit.

Gohan and Goku watched as each pair disappeared, Gohans eye was naturally on Pans the entire time and it was clear he feared Vegeta methods of training.

"Hey, suck it up, she needs to do this Gohan, she wont have a chance without it" Goku tried to comfort his son with a gently hand upon their shoulder.

Gohan nodded slowly before turning away, leaving Goku alone in the centre of the ship.

***

Savarna was two steps behind Trunks on the staircase wondering where they were going, this didn't seem like your run of the mill training area, but that wasn't her biggest question at that moment

".Trunks may I ask you something" Savarna spoke hesitantly.

"Fine. Go ahead" he answered.

"Will we train with everyone. including Goku?" she asked timidly.

They reached the top of the stairs before he answered her.

"Yes after these two weeks you will train with someone else until you go around the entire circle. And by the way im not training you to fight, im training you to fly this ship" He declared pushing the cockpit door open and entering.

Savarna felt overwhelmed with relief, her fear was so great that she would have to train to fight straight away, perhaps this training roster wouldn't be so bad after all.

***

"Get up girl. my hair is turning white already" Vegeta ordered impatiently.

Pans skin was soaked with dampness as she struggled to get to her feet in the 100 times earths gravity environment.

"Please.I cant" she pushed from her lungs, her chest inches from the flor as though she were half way through a push up, her fingers white from lack of blood circulation and her wrists quivering.

"Don't 'please' me girl, your going to pay the price for thinking you had a chance at this, now push your fucking torso up and then to your feet" he commanded, circling her with his arms folded characteristically.

"Go to hell!" she managed to blurt out amidst her husky breathing.

Vegeta stopped and strolled eloquently to her front end, kneeling down to her eye level inches from her face he sneered at her.

"You first" He snapped, standing up with a leap he slammed his heavy boot down onto transferring all his weight into her middle back.

Pan cried out but amazingly managed to hold her poise, her limbs shook twice as hard and her face pulled into one of greater pain, but she held on.

"C'mon, show me what the daughter of Gohan is made of...the child-winner of the world tournament.or are you as pathetic as he is that you disgrace the saiyan race with your lack of knowledge and practice. Pathetic" Vegeta battered without restrain, a steel grin plastered upon his face as he grinded the heel of his boot in.

***

The blackness would have been enough to drive her insane; the pain in her hips was double the mind power it took to resist screaming.

With eyes shut she twisted and fidgeted her pelvis around on the matted floor while her hands massaged her bent ankles.

Opposite her with his hands cupped in his lap, Piccolo cracked opens his left eye before frowning with a throaty grumble.

"Is there a problem?" he inquired.

Bra stopped fighting and opened her eyes; she forgot Nameks has acute hearing and could hear even the quietest of fidgeting.

"My ankles are killing me and so are my hips, can I please sit with my legs crossed normally?" She asked with frustration.

"No" he replied bluntly and closed his eyes.

"Fine" Bra frowned and re closed her eyes.

"Remember to breath through your nose" he reminded her, even meditation had its proper way of being implemented and he wanted to be sure she did it right first time.

Bra did as she was told, cupping her hands in her lap she began breathing in calmly though her nostrils and out again, her lips pressed together and she pushed the air past her teeth gently.

Piccolo suddenly heard something that made his skin crawl.

"Don't do that," he said aloud.

Bra stopped humming and looked at him.

"We are meditating aren't we, were suppose to hum" she said with certainty.

Piccolo exhaled nasally.

"Humming through a meditation is a ridiculous homo sapiens idea, it doesn't assist in making you feel detached from reality so drop it" he explained with a constant grumble coming form his throat.

"You know I could go find a throat lozenges for you or something" she asked with concern and slight wittiness.

Both Piccolos eyes split open and he stared at her with a look that bore holes through solid iron.

"Just say one more word and your vision will be permanently interrupted" He warned keeping his eyes eerily focused with hers, she could have sworn his tiny pupils shrunk back into the white.

Without another word Bra shut her yes and followed previous instructions.

***

The flush of the ships toilet sounded and Gohan exited closing the door behind him and entered the bathroom, washing his hands he walked out tucking his tank top into his gi bottoms, he passed by one of the sitting rooms and looking inside he spotted Goten stretched out on the couch with his feet propped up on one of the armrests.

Gohan smiled and walked toward him, as he approached he noticed Goten fiddling with something between his thumb and forefinger that glinted under the light.

"Hey goten. what that your holding?" Gohan inquires, leaning his elbows onto the couch, it was then that Gohan realised what Goten was fiddling with.it was his wedding band.

Goten looked up and chuckled, his eyes slowly drifted back to the golden ring against his skin.

"Didn't realise how different it feels without her around, even after only one night" he said, keeping his attentions focussed with the band.

Gohan nodded, feeling the same way he looked down to his own wedding band, the corner of his lip lifted as he remembered he and Videls last night together before the journey, the thought bringing a tickle to his cheeks and broadening his smile

Goten still hadn't said a word and Gohan felt this meant he wasn't interested in discussing it.

"Yeah it does, but you can talk to her on the comm whenever you feel like it. I know she will be there for your call bro" He assured before standing and leaving the room to give Goten some privacy.

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Thankyou for reading.