1Disclaimer - Yeah, right. I don't freaking own it.
Hotter Than The Sun
Chapter 2 - Kilan Port
It was storming. The thunder rolled like a seductive drum beat, rain hit the ground with enough force to carve out ravines, and the heat...God the heat was stifling. Steam clogged up her senses until a proper breath was impossible.
Where the hell was she?
Videl had found herself at the bank of a huge ocean, bubbling over like a tea kettle on the stove too long. Everything was tinged red, even the sky that split with bright crackles of lightening.
"Why are you here?"
She whipped to the side as a low voice caught her ear. A man, which was all she could tell about him, stood a foot away and had his face cocked in her direction. She wasn't scared, as he seemed to only be mildly curious.
"Am I not supposed to be?"
He didn't answer.
"WE WILL BE ENTERING PLANET VEGETA'S ORBIT IN TEN MINUTES, PLEASE HAVE YOUR SEATS IN THEIR UPRIGHT POSITIONS AND PROPERLY FASTENED. THANK YOU FOR YOU PATRONAGE. HAVE A GOOD DAY!"
Videl was startled from her dreams by the pilot's loud announcement. She touched her face and ran a hand through her locks, discovering both were drenched in sweat. Feeling a bump wrack the ship, she quickly adjusted her seat and began poking Bulma awake. Weird nightmares could wait until they were safely (ha) on firm ground.
"Hey Bulma, we're here."
Both of them had woken intermittently during the flight to eat, and chat with a few other dignitaries on board. Videl had gotten to know a diplomat from the 011-34 Quadrant, specifically Planet Nuleria. A lovely lady with dark thick hair, a vaguely humanoid appearance, and tawny skin color, which she said was because of their planet's four suns. Her reason for traveling to Planet Vegeta was to pick up her little boy, who's father happened to be a Saiyajin...
Cross breeding wasn't outlawed or anything but it was frowned upon by some planet's royalty; the sentiment of 'blood polluting,' had been, and still was a controversial issue. Videl herself, couldn't care less, her mother had been half Venetian and half Earthling.
"Come on, Get up! We'll be landing soon!"
Videl began shaking her friend in earnest, as she seemed to be in a freaking coma. Finally, after about a minute, Bulma snorted and shot up straight in her seat.
"MY NAME IS BULMA! DAMNIT!"
"Yes. Your name is Bulma Briefs. My name is Videl Satan. Do you know where you are?"
She had read somewhere that if you kept a calm and reasonable tone with the insane they responded better.
"Oh, shove that shit Vid. I'm fine...just had a fucked up dream is all. Brrr, I think I'm off men for a little while, if I start having nightmares about them it means, 'take a break, or become a lesbian.'"
Sighing, Videl turned to put a jacket and music player back into her sport bag. Weird dream, huh? Well, if she said anything about her own messed up one...
"FIVE MINUTES UNTIL SPACE DOCKING, PLEASE BRACE YOURSELF FOR TURBULENCE."
She hated space flight. Gripping the sides of the seat until her fists turned white, Videl turned and nodded to her friend who was currently re-doing some make up.
"Oh, come on now Vid," She slicked on red lipstick, "Stop being such a baby. Capsule Corp. itself created these ships. I could tell you what kind of metal is used, the backup and safety measures, how much power it's got, etc., etc."
"Right. How much does it weigh?"
"About 1600 tons."
"...Yeah? Well tell me I'm safe inside 1600 tons of metal about 200 feet above solid, unforgiving ground."
Bulma shook her head, a withering look on her face. Then she put her make up back into its proper spot and motioned Videl to lean over for a glance out the window.
"No."
"Look, it's really beautiful from so high up. You've never been off world, I want you to get the full experience. The first time I left earth was for a round trip to Saturn, and I'll tell you it was unforgettable."
The ship started lurching a little and Videl couldn't help squeezing her eyes shut.
Oh, she really did want to catch a glimpse of the 'Red Sun' planet too.
Finally, overcoming her reservations, she released the seat handles and forced herself to look.
It was breath taking.
The planet was a gorgeous ruby with two suns floating high in the sky, large alien buildings of a dusky crimson littered the area where they would be landing, and it seemed like there was some natural fog or something that clung to areas of habitation.
"Steam. It's usually so hot that when the clouds try to rain it turns into those white plumes, and since the more barren areas have better circulation it doesn't stick around so much there... I heard it's rare for them to actually get thunderstorm big rain."
Videl could only gaze at it in wonder. Pulling back into her own seat after a few minutes, she asked the attendant for a bag of peanuts.
The ship landed uneventfully, thank God, and they both headed towards the exit after the initial shuffle of people. Their 'entourage' as Bulma put it, would be coming from second class, so they would be meeting out in the landing port. The younger girl couldn't help the swell of excitement which erupted in her belly upon finding out. She wondered if there would be vendors selling food inside, since she had always wanted to try alien cuisine.
"Can I buy something Bulma?"
"No fucking way. You should know better, remember all the crime going on? This place is a cesspool, the black market here caters to every depraved thing, and they wouldn't think anything of grabbing a pretty girl."
"..Gah, Bulma I can take care of myself."
"I wasn't talking about you," she gave a pointed look, "I was talking about me stupid! You're not leaving me alone!"
Videl laughed as they walked through a sliding door and into the bustle of Kilan Port.
The place was like a bazaar.
Millions of different aliens rambled about, some people meeting, some separating, and others looked like they just needed a place to sleep. She had been right about the vendors. Everywhere you looked there were businesses set up to sell anything from food to parts to souvenirs. She almost ran back to gaze at a place which sold little silver egg-shaped gizmos that floated and played pretty melodies. Bulma, however, had restrained her and walked further along towards a seating area. As they approached a group of fellow humans, Videl angrily removed her arm from the scientist's grip and stood on her own. Damnit, she was supposed to be an ambassador of peace! And here she was being led along like a naughty child; it was so embarrassing.
"Well, now that we're all together, there should be a saiyajin escort to the palace around here somewhere..."
Videl looked towards the guards and scientists which had been sent with them to Planet Vegeta. She recognized three of the five guards, and one of the four scientists; the one she knew was currently starting an argument.
"I don't see anyone who looks remotely saiyajin around here, Jino."
"What do you want me to do about it, Reba! Did you expect them to come with a large sign that says 'Earth Ambassador?'"
"Oh, quit your belly aching. Maybe you should do your job as a guard, and locate this 'escort.'"
"My job! All you do is sit in a white wall little cubical, poke things with sticks, and ask questions you shouldn't be asking!"
"Shut up both of you! Reba, you work for me and I expect you to act with dignity in all places we go, foreign or not. Jino, you are a guard, your job is to keep silent and protect the ambass-"
Bulma finally noticed they were missing someone. Videl. She was going to rip that girl's arms off when they found her!...If they found her...
Getting very annoyed at the arguing people, the young ambassader had caught sight of a stand with a pretty blue alien seated out front. She had draped material with shimmery designs all over the place and was playing with some weird set of cards. Glancing towards her guards, Videl had backed away slowly and then padded off. She wasn't exactly sure if the alien could speak earthling, so she shifted to the Universal tongue which almost everyone knew.
"What do you sell?"
The blue female looked up from her casual flicking and smiled at the alien before her.
"I sell secrets. Past, present, future."
"...Oh. I know, my home planet does this too. You are a fortune teller?"
"Something like that."
"Do you...take credit as payment?"
Videl was motioned to sit down at a circular table.
"It depends, what planet's credit?"
"Earth."
"Yes miscat, that is a fine payment."
"What does that mean?"
"Miscat? It means, let's see, 'small one' or more commonly 'little dear.'"
"Oh, well I am not that small."
The alien laughed at the angry face of her customer. Such a charming thing, and she had such a strange aura too.
"Of course not, I only meant it as an endearment. Well, what would you like? I can trace your fate in the stars or find loves of your past, if that is your wish."
Videl leaned heavily on the table, her head in her hand. She had seen this sort of stuff done before by her mother, but it looked so much more magical done by a full blooded alien. Lost loves? Blah, way to mushy. What she really wanted to see was the cards, they vaguely reminded her of Tarot readings.
"Tell me my future."
"As you desire."
The alien woman spread out the pile with her fingers, then smiled mysteriously.
"Touch three cards and they will seal your fate."
Not really liking that last comment, Videl reached out hesitantly and paused over one of the glowing holograms. She tapped it gently. The card flew up in a shimmer of gold about even with her face, revealing itself to them both.
"Ah, the Lovers. Well, how nice for you, romance seems to be in your immediate future. I am envious."
Blushing, Videl tapped another.
"Hmm, Lady Luck's Wheel, it seems in your travels you will find great fortune. Fortune in what, I am not sure."
She tapped the last one, thinking her future seemed to be quite good considering the circumstances. As it floated up into the air, the blue alien stared inscrutably for a moment, not saying a word.
"Is anything wrong?"
"...No. This last one is the Assassin. It means...death. Not yours of course, but a death you may have a hand in. Whether accidental or on purpose I cannot say."
Turning to stare at the picture, a knife held above a sprawled body, Videl shivered a little. Okay, that freaked her out. After a few minutes, however, she was convinced it was only a silly game and chuckled a little at her stupidity.
"You mean I could just as well trip someone, they could go flying, and be dead?"
"Please do not mock, I can only see vague outlines not solid realities. I give friendly fortunes, and wise warnings, that is all."
"...I am sorry. It is just such a bad telling."
"With all things, unfortunately, we have little control. Most especially our fate."
Videl nodded quietly, and reached into her jeans to find a credit chip. Pulling it out, she imprinted her thumb so it could be exchanged for actual money, and vocally recorded the amount due.
"Thank you. At least my immediate luck seems good."
"...I hope it stays so, miscat."
Looking annoyed, Videl walked off in that dominating way of hers. Tinkling laughter followed as she melted into the port crowd.
"Oh great. How the hell am I supposed to find everyone!"
She pushed through groups of aliens who seemed to block every walk way. Finally, releasing a snarl of unadulterated anger, she charged through the throng until...
Wham!
Ouch. Did anyone catch the license plate of that Buick?
Someone grabbed her arms to steady her, and thinking a good bitch out was in order for this action, she started to look up...
...into the most gorgeous brown eyes she'd ever seen. The curses just died on her lips.
"Watch where your going."
The voice was curt and oddly familiar, but infuriating nonetheless. No one spoke like that to Videl Satan. It was just stupid.
Note - oooooo. Who do we have here? Gohan maybe? You'll just hafta find out.