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Hero's Path

Thanks to Gadoken King for helping me on this chapter

Yamcha inched forward, getting ready for an attack. He then charged quickly at his opponent, Tien who was standing across from him. When he got close he faked a punch, and went in with a knee to Tien's stomach. The three eyed warrior was caught off guard, and he was knocked to the ground. Yamcha pressed his advantage and continued to charge as Tien bounced off the floor. This time, when he got close, Tien dodged to the left and tripped him. Yamcha rolled to his feet, and prepared to counter attack.

"Gentlemen, we need you to report to the briefing," Gero said over the intercom in the Gravity room, interrupting the training session.

Both men powered down, and smiled at each other, "Well that was a nice work out," Yamcha said with a smirk. His face was filled with pride at the progress he had made in the last 6 months.

"Your getting pretty good, Yamcha, I bet you never figured on being this strong," Tien said as he walked towards the machine to turn it off.

"I wonder what Gero needs, it has been pretty quiet recently," Yamcha said, wiping off the sweat on his brow.

"Yeah it has, maybe a bit too quiet," Tien said with a concerned look on his face, "Well at least we are more ready then ever to fight them."

"Yeah that is the truth. Well I guess all that working was worth something," Yamcha said smiling.

"Hey, lets get going, I don't like it when Gero gets mad, he's scary for a scientist," Tien said before walking out the door.

When the two arrived at the meeting room, both Floppe and Gero were already sitting talking to each other, more then likely about some scientific idea one of them had. Also in the room was a woman with striking lean features, with long black hair, and bluish purple eyes. Tien sighed when he saw her from some reason, but Yamcha couldn't place the woman, though he knew that face from somewhere.

"Great, this means something big is going down, right," Tien said giving the woman an unhappy look.

"Well it nice to see you too, Tien," she replied, glaring at Tien, "Though you're correct this time."

It then just clicked in his mind who she was, "Oh, I know now, you're Mai, aren't you?" Yamcha said aloud.

"Wow, good to see you still know how to think Yamcha, surprised you remember at all," Mai said harshly.

"Sorry, I just couldn't place you for a second," Yamcha said feeling more than a bit embarrassed as he looked at the ground.

Mai sighed and looked at Yamcha, "I'm sorry, it just seems that the world is falling apart, and there is nothing I can do about it." Her face went from tired to alert in less than a second as she switched gears. "Now, anyway here the report, we found out the Saiyans are going to make examples of the last of the red ribbon army. They have them in three camps."

Suddenly a map appeared behind her as she continued, "They are in camp SC1, SC2, and SC3, and we want you to go in and rescue all of them. You are obviously going to have to split up into three groups for this mission. The choices of the teams are up to you Tien. We know that the saiyans at the locations are weak, but the exact strength is unknown. Are there any questions?"

"Yeah, um what is this being made an example mean?" Yamcha said looking confused, "I was kind of out of the loop for a long while, and have not heard about that."

"Well simple, it's where they kill you in the most painful ways possible on live TV that is about all" Mai replied.

"Oh, ok," Yamcha said getting suddenly really quiet.

"Then if everything is settled, Tien we want you to pick out your teams and leave asap," Gero said looking across the table at Tien.

"Yes sir, can and will do, we will be moving out as soon as possible," Tien replied in a serious tone.

Tien and Yamcha made their way out of the room, "This sounds like a lot of fun," Yamcha said sarcastically to Tien.

"Yeah, I know, but we got to do what we got to do," Tien replied walking into a elevator.

"Yamcha, wait up, I have something to ask you," Yamcha heard from behind him.

He turned to see Mai with a bit of a troubled look on her face, "I am sorry about getting mad at you and all."

"No problem. Oh, how is Pilaf, is he still around and kicking?" Yamcha asked, smiling.

Mai looked a bit sad at the statement, and replied, "No he and Shu where made examples of near the beginning of the war."

"I am sorry about that, they where both great foes to have back then," Yamcha replied.

"Anyhow, enough about the sad stuff, how is Bulma, I have not seen her around here. Are you two married yet?" Mai asked with a curious tone.

Yamcha just shook his head, "Well it seems this world only brings sadness¦." He paused for a moment before continuing on. He hadn't given much thought to it lately, as he found it only brought him down. He was trying as hard as he could to focus on his training. "She was taken from me by the Saiyans about six months ago."

"I am sorry to hear that. I always figured you two would have gotten married someday," Mai said. There was an awkward silence, and as always happens in these situations, one can't help but fill the gap. "Well, better not keep the others waiting on you, good luck."

"Thanks, I hope I get to see you again," Yamcha said walking into the elevator.

"Don't worry you will, it just a matter of time," Mai said to Yamcha before the elevator doors closed.

When he got to the first floor he found Tien and Krillin standing talking.

"Hey Yamcha, what took you so long?" Tien asked when Yamcha came into view.

"Oh it was nothing, are we ready?" Yamcha questioned, his face turning serious.

"Yeah, Chaozu, Tao, and I are taking the first camp , the Namekians are taking camp 2, and you, Krillin, and Gohan are taking camp 3, got it?" Tien said looking at Yamcha.

"Do you think Gohan is ready for this Krillin?" Yamcha asked with concern in his tone.

"He's a lot stronger than he looks." Krillin began to laugh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Plus, I don't think the kid would allow me to leave without him." Krillin said.

The three old friends laughed for a moment, trying to forget the world of pain that surrounded them. It only worked for a second, and the defenders of humanity came back to the grim reality of their task as their faces lost their humor, and they set off to prepare.