Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
Author's Notes: Sorry pplz for taking so long. A while back, Darkreign was able to e-mail this to me but I couldn't b/c of my graduation…. and family. shivers I'm finally finished with that andto college soon so now I'mupdating again before it starts up, hopefully again soon so that Rei and Wufei (you know who you are!) won't kill me until these are done. Here's the chapter, I hope you enjoy it everyone! -
"Sayonara, Good-Bye" (A New Beginning)
Chapter Ten
"Did you finally fix that scouter?" Bandeku groused as he watched Trunks emerge from the hut. He was still a bit sore about the younger man using most of his credits.
"Hai," the Demi-Saiyan laughed nervously with a hand behind his head, blushing slightly at the topic. "It's as good as new."
"That damned thing better be when you used so much of my savings," Bandeku didn't let up, but he was smiling internally at the other's discomfort.
"Yes, yes, I know, and I appreciate all that you've given up," he tried to placate the hermit.
"I'm not interested in your gratitude. What else can you give me?"
"Err . . . . . what if I hunt for the both of us for the whole month?" Trunks offered hesitantly. He knew that his guardian was only kidding about being mad, but he still felt guilty over wasting his money. Correction, he was still feeling guilty over Kinu, Kokoro, and Shira making HIM waste Bandeku's money.
Now I'm starting to get a bit peeved at those three, Trunks sat opposite the hermit. They didn't even offer to repay me for the damages THEY caused but, oh yes, they're Saiyajins. What a crappy excuse and damn, I hate that stupid old man with his 'you break, you buy' policy. Maybe I'll just go back to his recycling center and . . . . .
"Oi," Bandeku called out and followed it up with a smack to Trunks' head. "Listen to me."
"Nani? Oh, gomen nasai," Trunks broke out (and painfully may I add) of his mental ranting. "What was it you said?"
"I said what else are you going to do?" Bandeku repeated, but this time he accompanied it with a slight nudge of his head to the left.
"Oh, gee, I don't know," Trunks stalled, senses reaching out to the direction his mentor was indicating. There was this single ki signature he could make out, very faint, almost powerful enough for a fly. . . . . then a squirrel? And back to a fly again? What the hell is going on?
"What if I tell you after I go hunting?" Trunks said calmly and nodded a bit at the same time.
"Good idea. Come back soon. I'm already hungry, and you know how much it takes to fill me," Bandeku smirked as he leaned back against a tree. He closed his eyes as he felt Trunks lift off and fly into the afternoon sky. To any casual observer, Bandeku would seem the perfect example for loafing around on a sunny day; however, this was the exact opposite.
A few minutes ticked past, but to him it felt as if time had stopped. Suddenly there was a loud crash and Bandeku was up a nano-second later. It took another second for him to run to Trunks' side. The boy had done a superb job circling the intruder. He didn't even sense the purple haired boy's ki as he ambushed the mysterious visitor from behind.
"What the heck is this?" Trunks asked as he held the stranger by the collar of its clothes.
Bandeku eyed the amphibious looking thing disdainfully. Its skin was a weird medley of brown spots on light green skin. From its dangling position, it probably only measured four feet.
With huge, rolly yellow eyes and a blunt mouth, it looked pretty damned pathetic.
"It's a Hebi-jin," he said gruffly. "And from that gadget on its wrists, it's also another spy."
"Honto?" Trunks looked at the creature keenly. "So, who sent you?"
"I'll never tell, you half-breed mutt!" he challenged back in a raspy voice.
"Just kill that infernal thing. We already interrogated the last one we caught. We know all that we need to know," Bandeku snorted.
"Perhaps," Trunks said smoothly. "But this one looks smarter than the last one. Maybe he has some more information he would like to impart. What do you think? Or maybe he doesn't. In that case we can have a bit of fun before we kill him." He added a sinister chuckle to strengthen the effect.
Trunks had gotten the idea of bluffing from a snippet of a movie he had once seen in the other timeline. If it worked like it was suppose to, the cowardly informant would blubber out the info and beg for mercy.
It worked. The Hebi-jin's face fell at the thought of being tortured. From what he had heard about what happened to the other spy, the Saiyajins weren't exactly gracious executioners.
Hmm, that laugh was pretty good, Bandeku mused as he watched the Hebi-jin quiver in fear. I wonder where he learned that from.
"So where do you come from? And who sent you?" Trunks inquired with a faint sneer on his lips.
"I don't know who hired me," the thing answered in a shaky voice. "My cousin set this whole thing up! He just offered me the job, and since it was good money, I accepted!"
"Why were you sent to spy on us?" the hermit asked next in a voice even more menacing then 'Trunks'.
"He said I didn't need to know so I didn't ask! It's probably just some curious scientist. You know how they are. You are the last of the Saiyan race so some fruity old man wants to catalogue your life or something. Come on, no one got hurt, right? I'm innocent!" he cried out as it kicked his spindly legs. "I promise, I won't bother you again!"
"Of course not," Bandeku smirked. "How can you do that when you're in Hell?"
The thing didn't have time to protest as the older Saiyajin let lose a small energy ball. Trunks, in his surprise, let go of the Hebi-jin's collar and left him to his doom. He didn't even have a chance to scream as the blast disintegrated him in an instant.
"Nani? Why did you do that, Bandeku?" Trunks demanded angrily.
"He could give us nothing more from what we've already learned," the man said coldly. "It was a waste of time allowing him to breath."
"You could have at least saved the device he wore," the Prince said sourly as he watched the ashes waft away on the breeze. He knew that he'd only be fooling himself if he believed that the Hebi-jin would live for an extended period of time. Saiyajins didn't believe in keeping prisoners, only slaves, and since this creature was of no real use, it would only be time before someone killed him.
"Why?"
"To see what it was made of, what if can do, that sort of thing," Trunks said irritantly. "There's more to life then just fighting you know."
"Bah," he dismissed it with a grunt and watched as Trunks flew away, this time for real. But he couldn't help but feel a little bit contrite at what he had done. The boy had a point, and this time, the gadget the Hebi-jin was wearing didn't look like an intergalactic transmission device.
"The fool," someone whispered in the shrubs. "He deserved to be killed." He watched as the one with purple hair left. The older one watched him go before slowly making his way back into the hut.
"I better report back to the boss," he whispered before silently hopped off, ki level no bigger then a raccoon's.
Trunks sat at the base of a large tree and brooded. It bordered the field he and Kinu use to spar in, and the peaceful air around the place provided the perfect location to think.
What is going on? he thought with his arms folded and an uncharacteristic scowl on his face. I don't buy this 'documentary' story that Hebi-jin said. What other race could have known that the Saiyajins were destroyed? The ones that had bought planets from us? No, I doubt it. They wouldn't care if we did die or not, certainly not enough to send spies. So who could have gone through all that trouble to see if there were any survivors, and then to send others to secretly observe us? This whole thing doesn't make sense. I really wish Bandeku hadn't completely destroyed that guy. Well, it was my fault too since I let go of him instead of yanking him away like I should have done.
Sighing loudly Trunks continued to stew in his own thoughts. He was so busy thinking about the danger that he didn't notice a familiar ki approaching. By the time he did sense it, it was too late to leave in order to think in peace.
Rolling his eyes in irritation, he hardened his features and retracted his ki as much as possible. He really wasn't in the mood to talk to that particular person right now.
Unfortunately for him it seemed that his visitor had already locked onto is position. In a matter of seconds his unwelcome guest landed at his feet and stared at him. Her greeting (which was more of a grunt anyway) was cut short as she noticed the sullen look on his face.
"Oi, Trunks," Shira finally said after a contemplative minute or two.
"What do you want?" he inquired in a controlled voice.
"To see you of course," was her indignant reply. She didn't like his tone of voice and never took that kind of treatment from anyone.
"I'm sorry. It's just that my mind is full right now. What was it you wanted to see me about?" Trunks lightened his voice, but his face stayed the same. The sooner this conversation was over, the better.
"I came here to ask you to train me, just the same way you trained Kinu," Shira said a tad gruffly, hiding her nervousness by being mean.
Oh God, not again, Trunks moaned internally.
"Why should I?" he asked, his interest raised a little by the strange request.
"So I can beat her, why else?" the female Saiyan plopped down near him. "Come on, I can even pay you if you want. I've already won a few tournaments so I have some extra credits I'm willing to part with."
She's desperate, the Demi-Saiyan mused. From his previous experience (like the one in the previous chapter!), Saiyans were unscrupulous hagglers and took every advantage presented to them. They rarely paid for anything when they could 'beat' it out of the proprietor. So why was she being so humble now?
"Really?" Trunks narrowed his eyes slightly. He got the feeling that there was something more to this. "Why is it that I don't totally believe you?"
"Maybe because you're a jerk," she snapped, her tail's fur puffing out a bit in agitation. "Or is it that you only train people you want to mate with?"
"What?" the purple haired man looked at her in total shock. "What are you talking about?"
"Why did you train Kinu, huh? Did she offer to bear your children?" Shira prodded on, sensing that she had hit a sensitive nerve.
"That's not it at all!" Trunks said defensively. I trained her so she could 'humble' that bastard Kokoro. She may have done too good a job, but oh well.
"Her reasons are between her and I only," Trunks said stiffly.
"Really?" Shira got a malevolent look in her sharp black eyes. "Well perhaps I might . . ."
"How about this then," the man interrupted her. "Instead of training you, we'll spar a few days per week. You'd probably pick up the moves better that way. Besides, I think you're a skilled enough fighter to skip training."
"Alright, it's a deal then," Shira smiled suddenly. "We fight against each other for a few hours each day. When I see it fit to disengage our arrangement, I will. But it will be me who decides whether I'm ready or not. Agreed?"
"Fine," the halfling nodded, glad it wouldn't be one of the all day sessions he sometimes had to do with Kinu. "When do we start?"
"Tomorrow, in the morning," she got up and dusted her behind. Trunks couldn't help but notice how her long blueish black hair hung enticingly at the nape of her neck. Flicking the shoulder length locks away from her face, she turned to stare at him again.
"Oh, and let me remind you that this arrangement is to be kept secret. We'll meet in this field for our spar."
"Fine," Trunks suppressed an amused grinned. Were all Saiyajin females this manipulative and commanding? Probably true.
Without a thank you or even a good-bye, Shira flew off towards the colony again. The lavender haired man leaned against the trunk of the tree and placed his hands behind his head. What was it with girls involved with Kokoro coming to him for help? Shaking his head in confusion, Trunks got up too and started scouting the forest. He had promised Bandeku that he would hunt for dinner so he had better begin. Both of them could probably clear out a whole herd of animals if they really got hungry.
Hard black eyes watched as the small alien made its way up to the dais. It stopped a few feet away from the steps and kneeled.
"Back so soon, Hebi-jin? I thought I paid you and your relative to stay on that planet for more then three days," the man seated on the raised platform spoke harshly.
"My apology's, Ojoku-sama," the spy cowered a little as the two men, one seated on a stone throne, another standing beside it, glared at him. "But we ran into . . . . . complications."
"What kind, you worthless idiot," the other person in the room snapped. " My father and I don't tolerate incompetence."
"Of course not, Karai-sama. We successfully completed our reconnaissance mission on the colony in New Vegitasei. However as I was collecting information on the current life style of the surviving Saiyajins, I heard a few men talking. Apparently, there was a hermit living in a far away forest. His name was Bandeku."
"Bandeku?" Ojoku raised a fine black eyebrow. "I have not heard that name for a long time."
"Who is he, Otousan?" Karai inquired with arms folded.
"He was the squad leader of a special middle class group that eliminated alien species that were too troublesome for the regular Saiyajins to take care of. His crew presented King Vegita with many prized planets through out the universe. We should take special consideration of him when we decide to make our presence known to the other Saiyans."
"This Bandeku should prove no problem to me," Karai smirked. "I'm more powerful then any other Saiyajin in existence."
"I know. I trained you to be that way," Ojoku smiled evilly. "But we should see if we could get him on our side first. It would be to our advantage to have such an experienced warrior, even if he is of lower rank."
"Pardon me, Ojoku-sama, but I have other important news," the Hebi-jin interrupted nervously. "The hermit does not live alone. He has taken in a ward, a half-Saiyajin by the odd name of Trunks."
"Trunks? Isn't that the half-breed from Chikyuusei?" Karai asked in bewilderment. "What would he be doing there?"
"Hmm. I thought that he would have died along with the rest of the humans due to those androids. Evidently I underestimated his will to live," Ojoku mused. "Is that all that you have to report?"
"Yes, my lord that is all I could find," the Hebi-jin bobbed in acknowledgment.
"Then leave us," he made a dismissive gesture with his hand at the small creature.
"Begging your pardon, master, but about my money . . . ."
"Why would I pay you for such worthless information? All you and your useless cousin could get for me was that two other people live away from the colony. Be grateful that I even grant you your life! Now be gone from here! And don't bother coming back. I could have found more proficient spies in a nursery."
"Y-yes Ojoku-sama!" the Hebi-jin cowered before scrambling to his feet. Although he wanted the money badly, he wasn't desperate enough to try and challenge the Saiyajin noble and his son. Rumor had it that Ojoku's offspring was some sort of fulfillment of a Saiyajin prophecy or something like that. He did not want to find out if it was true.
"What is this Trunks like?" Karai asked after one of their many spies were gone.
"I'm not completely sure," the father said honestly. "The spies I sent to that planet were destroyed by the androids as well, unwittingly it seems when they annihilated the human cities. The last time they reported was when Vegita-Ouji was killed. One of them also mentioned there was a half-breed Saiyan named Trunks. However, they weren't sure who had sired him, Vegita-Ouji or Kakkarotto. Since he was only a baby when his father died, I did not expect him to survive into manhood. No matter, he is still no match for you. He is a half-breed after all."
"Yes, I don't think so either," Karai agreed. "So do we have enough information already?"
"I believe so. We have been sending spies to New Vegitasei for long enough. I think it is time to let our fellow Saiyajins know of the glorious future ahead of them, a future where our family will rule as the new royal line."
"A long deserved fate if you ask me," Karai smirked. "We will rebuild the Saiyajin empire, this time without the mistakes the Vegita family made. Our kingdom will be the mightiest one the universe shall ever know!"
"And you will ensure that, my Legendary Super Saiyajin. Tell the Shokko-jins that we leave for New Vegitasei at once!"
End of Chapter 10