In Search of Amity

Period 23: Close encouters


Goten quirked an eyebrow whilst poking his head out the gym door, he had worked up a sweat and now a twisted towel hung over the back of his neck, drenched in his bodily fluid. Whilst pumping weights he heard all the commotion and wondered what was going on up stairs.

Dende suddenly appeared from around the corner in front of him; the Namek's eyes focussed toward the cockpit door a few floors up. "What was all that about?" Goten asked, using the corner of the towel to dry sweat off the back of his head. Dende faced the floor and shook his head gently. "He's not well, something is really wrong but I just can't see it." He expressed, sadly pressing his lips together as he turned to Goten.

Goten blinked. "You know, I heard some commotion coming from the lounge too, anything I can do to help?" he chuckled as his hands grasped both ends of the towel; pulling at each end he dried the back of his neck.

Dende closed his eyes gently for a moment, shaking his head with the same gentleness. "Nothing happened, I just wish she would talk to me in a way that wont make me want to smack her across the head every time." He revealed using his hands to emphasise his frustrations. Goten raised an eyebrow, this sounded highly irregular. "Since when does Bra talk to you in a way that makes you want to smack her, you two usually get along." He asked, looking at the Namek with reservation.

Drawing his eyebrow ridge's together Dende looked to Goten. "Bra?" he paraphrased with his eyes out of character as they locked with his companions. Goten nodded. "Yeah Bra, who did you think I was talking about, she was the only one in there with you man." Goten smirked hesitantly and walked back into the Gym. Dende stood outside contemplating why he would mistake Bra for Savarna, it confused him, and he could not find any reason to have such a state of mind

He silently stalked back the way he came, heading for the kitchen, he decided it was time for a drink, his body needed all possible nutrient now for the planet below was draining to your health. Stopping at the base of the stairs, he released a small amount of ki energy invisible to the naked eye, gently he lifted himself and floated up smoothly to the kitchens level.

The door lay shut when he arrived; pushing it open, he found the light switch and flicked it on with the tip of his claw. The room was quiet and stale from the lack of floor traffic in the past few days, he preferred it this way, no elaborating sounds of food being chewed and swallowed, an irritating thing it is to one whom never heard it from his own mouth.

Grasping its iron handle he opened the fridges door, taking out an already prepared jug with his name inscribed in black marker across it, placing it on the bench by the sink. Looking up he opened the top cupboard and retrieved tall glass, placing it firmly on the bench he pored the jogs icy water into it until it filled to its rim.

Released His molars suddenly grinded together like gravel stones. "Dammit will you shut up." He whispered, unable to block out the voices of Trunks and Vegeta arguing in the cockpit with Goku trying to calm them down. Though logically he knew they could not hear him, by etiquette means he would not state his annoyance and louder than a whisper.

Turning to the glass in his hand, he then put it to his lips and with his eyes shut calmly, drank the fluid down smoothly. Placing the glass back down on the bench with his fingers still grasping it, he stood motionlessly.

Moments passed and sill he failed to shake her from his mind, releasing the glass he paced across the kitchen floor with his arms crossed. "There is no point to this why am I still worrying about it?" he asked himself with the knowledge that he had not the answer. She visibly hated him and he thought she was a demeaning brat, however with all that he still did not hate her, which is what he could not understand.

The time finally came… everyone observed their wristwatches anxiously; waiting for Trunks signal that they had began their ascent, each had picked a designated spot around the ship where they collected their thoughts and wits in preparation.

Now hear this, now hear this… We have begun our approach to Amrosis 4; ladies and Gentleman please make your way to the cockpit and your seats. Trunks formally announced to the crew, which signalled their relief. Goten grinned to himself and cupped his hands around his mouth he shouted. "Man you should have been a stewardess, that voice is so sultry and made for radio". He laughs jogging toward the cockpit.

Just get up here, fuck stick. Trunks responded humourlessly and shut off the mic, Goten laughed harder at his friends expense and as he reached the stairs, Pan and Gohan joined him. Their hearts pounding with half excitement and half apprehension as they drew closer to the cockpit door, their footsteps seemed loader than ever as they trenched up the stairs.

At this point, they had not passed any windows and seen how close they were to the planet; Goten pushed open the cockpit door as he reached it and instantly the sight before him was mesmerizing. Gohan and Pan pushed past him and Pan too then stared through toward the great space rock that had an unmatched amount of craters. "Ohhh man". She exclaimed slack jawed.

"Go on take that one, ill take the one next to it." Gohan whispered, motioning pan to the third row of seats. "Sit down please, we don't have time to pick and choose." Trunks asked looking into a small rear view mirror saddled upon his specialized headset, the headset also had specialized night vision specs that hovered adjacent to his eyes. While looking through the small rear view mirror, he couldn't help but focus on Pan as she adjusted her restraints across her chest and hips, her eyes suddenly tilted toward him and abruptly he looked away, a pail pink graced the apple of his cheeks.

Goten took a seat beside him and reached into a foot locked beneath the control panel, retrieving a headset that was identical to trunks. No one turned to look whether and Gohan. Goku who was seated in the first row had a sudden rush of negative energy pass through him, looking over his shoulder to the passengers he hurriedly unbuckled his restraints and stood, approaching the cockpit door with urgency he pushed it open. "Piccolo!" he shouted, with his hands rested on the doorframe, he could feel the ship vibrating harder as turbulence hit them.

Trunks looked to his rear view mirror and gasped. "Sit down Goku if turbulence gets worse you might go flying through the viewing window!" He shouted, with his head lodged firmly against the chairs backing he was unable to turnaround. Bra had her eyes shut tightly as she held Savarnas hand, Savarna tried not to panic when she also noticed Piccolo was missing. "What about Piccolo!" Goku shouted back unwilling to leave the doorway, planting his feet he held on tightly keeping his muscular arms tense as the floor shook harder.

"Sit your ass down Kackarot we don't have time to waste with that head case!" Vegeta shouted. "Please dad he can take care of himself, forget him for now!" Gohan urged hoping his father would detach from the doorway, now the ship was shaking harder and becoming a challenge for Trunks and Goten to keep it level. Goku looked out into the hull and saw no sign of the Namekian; with all his reluctance he released the doorframe and slammed the door shut, taking the nearest seat beside Dende he buckled himself in quickly.

Relieved, Trunks turned his full attention to landing the ship; the planets atmosphere was very tough to navigate with a ship not built for it. Both hands grasping the thick grip around the control stick he turned gently to the left so he would be head on with the planet, from here he spotted a lane of hovering lights arranged in a runway fashion, as Trunks flew them through between the lights Goten scouted ahead using his radar equipment.

"I'm picking up a beacon about 300 kilometres ahead of us, and I just received a translated message instructing that once we reach the beacon we need to take 'Gate 60 to 70'. From there someone will direct us to platform 65". He explained. Trunks nodded and kept a lookout for it up ahead, he spotted it in the form of two yellow lights flashing simultaneously. "I see it, we are almost there," He confirmed, Goten nodded and continued to scout ahead.

Slowly the ships shaking eased but it was still unsafe to stand, Trunks slowed the ship down as they arrived at the flashing beacons and as they had hoped the sign Gates 60 – 70 hang over head indicating them to turn right. Trunks looked to Goten "Keep your eyes open." He asked and eased the ship to the right as the sigh instructed. "Stop." Goten exclaimed, pointing out the viewing window toward a small ship that hovered on the sidelines. "I guess that's our valet." He noted. "Don't move yet." Vegeta ordered abruptly, past visits here had taught him that the guards like to be sure before escorting anyone to the platforms. "Let him come to us and when he leaves you follow, understand." He ordered, receiving an obedient nod from the boys who observed the small ship cautiously.

Seconds later the small ship hovered up and gently turned toward them, it was bitch black with a flat, pointy nozzle and roof. It reminded Trunks a US SR-71 Blackbird, only this was at least ten times smaller with room for only one. "Should we arm ourselves?" Goten suggested. "No he may think our intentions are hostile." Vegeta pointed out calmly.

Suddenly it approached them at a snails pace and Goten noticed its windows tinted pitch black like a limousines. "Have you seen what these guys look like Vegeta?" He asked over his shoulder, Vegeta looked to him and noticed sweat beading on the young mans forehead. "Of course I have, enough question just follow instructions when I give them." He ordered, Goten turned back and sat tight, his fingers pressed firmly against the control panel.

The ship pulled up beside capsule 4 along Trunks side coming to a halt by the side window, the tinted window suddenly liquefied into a clear glass. Peering out were large, insect eyes on the sides of its diamond shaped head, its skin was the texture of tyres grip with black and amber striped scales running through it.

"Hoooly shit… anyone bring bug spray?" Trunks whispered, his eyes locked with the aliens as it stared through him. "Oh god he looks like a mummified praying mantis." Bra said with disgust and her lips curling into a grimace. An incoming message caught everyone's by surprise and they all jumped slightly out of their skins; Trunks slammed his hand down upon the communiqué button with an open palm. "This is capsule four ... we... we read you, over" he babbled releasing the button.

Vegeta unbuckled himself and stood behind his son, he looked out the window and to the small ships pilot, when he locked eyes with the alien it visibly tensed in its own unique way, Goten's readings indicated that the aliens ship had suddenly armed but not yet locked on a target. "This guys just armed, someone give him a reason to? " He asked looking at Vegeta, Vegeta smirked and stepped back from the window before buckling himself back into his seat.

"Capsule 4, you are scheduled to dock on platform 65, follow." The alien informed the voice clearly from a translator. "At least they are translating for us, wonder what other customer service strategies they have." Goten commented to a quiet audience. In the seats behind them Savarna was sitting nervously, her stomach twisted and fingers gripping the seats armrests, Goku noticed this and reaching over Dende he grasped her hand, surprising her she looked to him with apprehension. "Its ok, we are already halfway in, just a little longer and it will be over." He comforted with a smile and released her hand.

"Hurry up boy and follow him, they wont wait for you!" Vegeta huffed to Trunks impatiently, Trunks frowned "I'm moving alright, what do you want me to do jump over the top of him?" he answered with a fluster, then accelerated them forward; lining up perfectly with their escorts ship.

After following the escorts ship for a while Gohan shuffled in his seat. "Look there I see the doorway." He pointed Trunks and Goten turned to where Gohan was pointing and focussed their sights upon an enormous warehouse like entrance, so large that it could fit the entire Capsule Corp estate through the doorway. Reaching the entrance the escort slowed down and Trunks did the same, the communication button flashed again and Goten reached over pressing it.

"Capsule 4, when the doorway opens you will enter and dock your vessel in the space provided, you are required to disembark your ship while maintenance and refuelling is carried out." The voice explained and the transmission ended, the small ship also left the scene quickly and went back the way they came. "Uh. Thank you very much, bye." Goten responded pointlessly, Vegeta rolled is eyes, removing his restraints he stood up and stepped up the to pilots. "Dad sit down until I shut off." Trunks said with irritation since no one seemed to be following procedure.

As Vegeta was about to relent, an immense sound of air decompressing caught their attention, looking out they watched as the warehouse door began opening eerily, sliding upward the cloudy air inside rushed out into the atmosphere. Stopping when the opening was large enough for capsule 4 to fit through, Trunks accelerated the ship forward slowly and with uncertainty.

"Faster than this the door will close on the ship fool!" Vegeta cursed reaching over and clasping the control stick from Trunks. "No let go your going to kill us you idiot!" he cried, unable to pry it back from his fathers hands, instead reaching out to the side grasping anything close by as the ship sped forward, everyone in the room did the same, grasping anything that wouldn't come loose. Turning their eyes away as they came closer to affecting the warehouses back wall. "Vegeta stop!" Goku called and stood up from his chair almost ripping his restrains with him in an attempt to pull the prince away.

"Dad please stop you'll kill us all!" Bra screamed full of fear, Vegeta turned to Goku and scowled. "You have no idea how things work out here so park yourself and shut up!" He snapped, pushing Goku back into his seat with one hand as he controlled the ship with the other, turning back to the front he found he had driven the ship so fast, that they were only feet away from the solid back wall of the docking bay...


Thank you for reading