Chapter 1: Introductions

"Trunks, we're about to land." Announced his overly chipper sister. He was in his normal getup, deep purple spandex with the traditional white and gold torso armor, and his personal sigil over the top left, white boots and gloves. Bura's outfit was identical to his, except that the boots were knee high and the spandex was lavender.

"I know," the prince said with a sigh. His sister was a royal pain. "I'm standing in front of a fifteen foot monitor that has the mountains of Orange district on it. I can see the bloody house where the half-breeds live. Shut up."

"Fine." she pouted. She was actually quite brilliant, just like her mother and brother, but she acted like this solely to grate on her brother's nerves, and he knew it. At sixteen and twenty-two, they should have been past such sibling animosity, but they had never grown out of it.

"Bura, I know you love being a ditz," he said calmly. "But while we're on this mission please remember that you are a Saiyajin princess, and a first class warrior, not a teenage Chikyuujin." She sighed.

"I hate you." She said with mock ferocity. Secretly, she was angry with him. He knew she wasn't stupid! Did he really think she would jeopardize the mission by acting like an idiot in front of the demi-saiyajins? One of the elites, Parse, announced landing.

"A small group of people have gathered around our ship." He reported. "My scouter...can't read their power level." He said in awe. The scouters, with the queen's help, could read power levels far beyond that of an elite, In fact, she was working on a new one for when her husband and son surpassed what hers could register.

"Are you sure?" Bura asked, suddenly serious. "Wait...zoom in on one in particular."

He gave a sigh of relief. "Princess, they're on the scouter now, but still...the female is about even with the Prince and his father, and all of the males are higher. And Princess? I think they're holding back."

"That's okay Parse," Prince Trunks broke in. "So are we. No scouter has ever been trained on the king, the princess or myself while at full power. They all explode." A slight trace of humor colored his last statement and the warrior looked stunned. For Trunks, that was the equivalent of rolling on the floor in laughter. Then again, that was something the prince would find funny.

He broke them out of their thoughts by opening the ramp. "Bura." he snapped. She walked calmly to his side, slightly behind him. "No, Bura, even with me. We're co-leaders of this expeditions from here on out, seeing as there is a female demi-saiyajin." She nodded and stepped even with him as they descended the ramp.

There was a group of about seven waiting for them at the bottom. Two were obviously Saiyajin, with spiky black hair, dark eyes, and a fierce glint in their eyes. One, a female about Bura's age, had the same black features and Saiyajin look, but her hair was silky smooth, if a little ruffled. The only other female had dark hair and blue eyes, and a human countenance. A short bald Earthman with no nose looked nervous, if ready to fight, and the last one was a Namekian warrior. Bura gave a low hiss to notice none of the warriors had tails.

As the two royal siblings reached solid Earth, the Saiyajin girl gave a startled jump. One of the Saiyajin men turned to her, but Trunks spoke before he could.

"Greeting, Earthmen, Saiyajins, and Namekian," Trunks said coolly. "I am Prince Trunks of Vejitasei, and this is my sister, Princess Bura." He didn't bother to introduce the warriors behind him. "We have come to bring the demi-saiyajins home. To Vejitasei."

Two of the warriors immediately fell into defensive postures around one of the females, who fell into an attack stance.

"And what," the female said in a cool tone meant to mock the Prince's, "if we do not choose to return with you to Vejitasei?" Trunks snapped his fingers and Parse, Lete, and Mardon launched themselves at the three. Parse and Lete each took on one of the men, while Mardon went for the girl.

"A bit hasty, brother," Bura said, amusement coloring her tone.

"Pan!" The men cried at the same time, as the girl took a punch squarely to the jaw and went flying. It didn't seem to phase her, and she turned her fall into a graceful landing. Relieved, the males turned to face the men hurling at them.

They blocked all of the attacks Parse and Lete sent at them, but offered no attacks of their own.

"Its like they don't want to hurt them," Bura remarked, watching the spectacle. Trunks grunted, and made a small motion towards Mardon. "How un-Saiyajin of them."

"This 'Pan' seems to have no problem attacking," he said, and it was true. After being hit, Pan had gone on an all-out attack against Mardon, and he was taking a serious beating. About ten seconds into her onslaught, he fell, not getting back up. "Check on Mardon, Bura. Diplomatically."

Bura nodded, understanding that she wasn't to raise a hand in what might be termed 'offensive'. She walked over to the fallen warrior and checked for a pulse.

"He's dead." she called over to her brother.

"Give him a warriors burial." He said without looking away from the other two fights. "After that, go talk to the girl. Set conditions, but get them on our ship."

She nodded and turned back to Mardon. She held out her hand and sent forth a moderate sized ki blast that incinerated his body, said the few words for burial with a slight bow to the pile of ashes. She straightened and walked over to the woman.

"Am I supposed to fight you now, Princess?" The girl asked warily, slipping into a defensive posture. She wasn't even sweating from her previous battle. "Just so you know, he wasn't dead. I could still feel his ki."

What does she mean, 'feel his ki'? Never mind. Bura thought. "No." She smiled and extended a hand which the girl hesitantly took. "Apologies for your jaw, I'm afraid its bruising. My brother does not believe in peaceful solutions. Nor, typically, do I. But I believe two demi-saiyajins should be able to work something out, don't you, miss..."

"The names Son." She said in a clipped tone. She obviously didn't trust Bura's smooth answer. "So you and the Prince are half-Saiyajin too? Explains the hair. What do you mean by 'work something out' exactly?"

"Well, Son, my father, the king, sent us to retrieve the two demi-Saiyajins here on Earth. We were told to bring you back," Bura said. "Or kill you. Hence my brother's reaction to your question."

"Why should we come?" Son asked, suspicious. "We have friends and family here. Why should we leave that to go to a planet of blood-thirsty Saiyajins?"

"Because if you don't, we'll kill you." Bura said simply. "I don't mean to sound cruel, but those are our instructions.; If it means blowing up Earth, then we will blow up Earth. From what I have seen, Earth is a beautiful place, and I would rather not see it explode."

"So, its either we go with you to the planet of the apes," Son said drolly. "Or watch our planet get blown up by ice cube over there?" She jerked a hand at Trunks. Bura's eyes narrowed at this disrespect.

"That ice cube is your Prince," She snapped, her diplomatic senses flying out the window. "Show some respect!"

"He," Son returned. "Is not my prince until I agree to go with you! Even then, he will not be my prince until I am told that I, Son Pan, am a citizen of Vejitasei by Lord High-and-Mighty himself. Forgive me if I'm not the picture of diplomacy, being a fighter and all. Gohan is the one you should talk to if you want a peaceful solution."

"Why not the other?" Bura asked.

"Because my dear uncle just laid the smack-down on your lackey," Son said, pointing to where a semi-conscious Lete was struggling to sit up. Goten hit him again, and he was still. "I think he's sick of this nonsense. My...uh, that is, Gohan will probably try and talk baldy into a truce. One where you leave and we stay, but its better than what you'll get from me or him."

"Fine," Bura said.

"I'll lead." Pan said curtly. She flew right up to the two fighters and knocked Parse out with one swift kick to the groin. "Dad, this is Bura. She wants to try diplomacy."

Dad? Oh great "Let me tell you what I've told Son." Bura began.

Trunks looked at his sister talking with two of the half-breeds with a frown. The third one saw and joined them. The girl, who had obviously heard it already, walked towards him.

"Prince Ice cube, I presume," The girl said, walking up to him. His eyes narrowed, but he let it slide.

"And you would be...?" He said coolly.

"Son Pan," she looked at him intensely, as if trying to figure out what kind of person he was through his eyes. Apparently, she figured it out. "You can call me Pan." She gave him a small smile and extended a hand. He took it. He didn't know why he did, Princes didn't shake hands. Even more surprising was what he said next.

"Call me Trunks."