A/N: Waah! I'm sorry for not updating in, like, forever! I had tremendous writer's block on this story!
…maybe only getting 6 reviews for 6 chapters has something to do with it. As an author, I rely on reviews to let me know if readers like the direction my fic is taking. So, review, okay? I might even put you up here if you say something worth repeating. Constructive criticism!
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Chapter 6: Diplomacy
Trunks went to his sister's apartments and knocked. Pan, who had felt his ki, rushed to the door. Ninji was behind her, approaching at a more sedate pace.
"Hey Trunks," she said, giving him a big hug. "What brings you here? You need Bura for something?"
"No, not my sister," he said. He turned to Ninji. "Will you be our witness, Ninji?" Pan gasped in excitement, as Ninji nodded, a smile on her face.
"Of course, Trunks-kou," She said. "Though it took you forever to ask. Ten years from what I understand." Trunks asked Pan to be his mate forever, she agreed, and he kissed her. Ninji waited a few minutes before interrupting. "As sorry as I am to interrupt, Prince Trunks, Pan; duty calls."
"Right. Lets go," Trunks said slowly, unhappily. "We've got that diplomatic conference in the morning, and I'm sure the king wants to brief us." He ITed the three of them to Vejita, who did indeed wish to discuss the diplomatic conference the next day.
"I have no experience in diplomacy," The king said bluntly once everyone was seated. 'Everyone' was the queen, Trunks, Bura, Pan, Goten, Ninji, and Barli, though Barli and Ninji weren't taking place in the discussions. "That is the queen's job. But just to make certain everyone knows what to expect, I'll let her fill you in." Bulma stood.
"Right," she said smiling. "Our diplomats are coming from many different planets. Five planet, to be exact: Namek, Chikyuu, Kurohyu, Orufusei, and ourselves. The three remaining members of the Jiboujin race will be in attendance also. The Namekian deployment are a young warrior named Nail, and Muuri, an elder and a healer. The Chikyuujin diplomats are Tanmen, Kamesennin, and my father, Dr. Briefs. Remember that the Namekians and Chikyuujins already have an alliance, thanks to Kami.. The Kurohyusei group are Melia and Aron, and the Orufusei representative is Makaji. All of the diplomats are important on their home planet, so be polite. Yes Vejita, polite," she frowned at her mate, who was muttering something about royalty and politeness. "The seating has been arranged, so don't sit at another spot. I've been over this group carefully to determine the seating arrangement. Vejita and I will sit at the head of the table. The Chikyuusei diplomats will be on my right, next to me, and Bura will sit next to them. Melia and Aron next, then at the end of the table, Trunks. On the other side, across from Trunks will be Pan, then Makaji, the Namekians, and lastly Goten on Vejita's left. Got it?"
"Got it," most of the room replied. Vejita said nothing.
"Now, the purpose of the talks is to end inter-species war between us, forming a sort of league," Bulma continued. "We're not to specific on this, but we didn't call the meeting, Kurohyusei did, but Vejitasei is closest to the middle for all of us. After everyone has been welcomed, introduced, yada yada, I will turn the meeting over to Melia and Aron. Questions?"
"No," Trunks said. Bura shook her head.
"Then go to bed!" Bulma said. "The guests should start arriving at noon tomorrow, so be ready!"
The talks weren't very exciting; just a bunch of aliens sitting around arguing. Eventually, Muuri convinced the others that an alliance would be beneficial for all, and they set terms. No fighting amongst each other and to help each other out if attacked; those were the basic rules. The treaty was signed, and the SSL, or the Six-Star League, was formed. After the signing, socializing began.
Pan had an opportunity to study the pure-breds from the SSL planets. Chikyuusei, it turned out, had been the last planet to develop space-worthy craft by almost two thousand years. Looking at the Orufujin, Pan thought she could recognize tales of werewolves; with his amber eyes and luxuriant silver hair covering his head and neck, Makaji looked very much a wolf. Surprisingly, Kurohyusei was in the same solar system as Orufusei. If the Orufujin were wolves, the Kurohyujin were leopards, panthers, lions, and pumas. Pan could only specualte as to what their common ancestor on the evolutionary map would have looked like. The Jiboujin, Pan noticed for the first time, looked like faeries with their short but graceful figures, beautiful faces, large, brightly colored, almond shaped eyes framed by long lashes, their silky hair, and their slightly pointed ears. It seemed that all of Chikyuusei's humanoid legendary figures were in this room.
Dr. Briefs was overjoyed at seeing his daughter again and seeing his grandchildren for the first time. Master Roshi was overjoyed at seeing Goten and Pan, though Pan wasn't quite as excited to see him. Tanmen asked after Gohan; it seemed he had met Gohan as a young boy. Nail brought news from Piccolo and Dende. Ninji visited with the Kurohyujin diplomats, Aron and Melia, and Barli with the Orufujin, Makaji. All in all the talks went very well, and aliens left Vejitasei pleased with their visit for the first time in decades.
Unfortunately, there was a faction of Saiyajins who did not believe in the League. This faction wanted King Vejita to conquer the League, and when he didn't, minor rebellions broke out all over Vejitasei. All of these rebellions could be linked to one saiyajin.
Ricce was a charismatic thirty year old first class saiyajin born in a rural area of Vejitasei and a saiyajin supremist. At the moment, he was in what he termed Rebellion Headquarters, but was actually an unused warehouse. The warehouse was the perfect headquarters for a rebellion, a large main area that could hold thousands of men and many small meeting rooms for leaders and teams.
"Ricce! That plan could expose us before we're ready!" A burly saiyajin growled, pounding his fist on the desk of one of the meeting rooms. The other two men at the table nodded in reluctant agreement. Ricce had suggested an attack on the Prince while he was on one of his inspection tours.
Their ultimate plan was to get the Vejitan dynasty out of power and reinsert one of their own. Their complaints against Vejita were mostly about the alliance of Vejitasei with other species, and secondarily about conditions on Vejitasei. The attack on the Prince wouldn't do any good, only cause the king to crack down on his efforts to find the perpetrators.
Ricce frowned. "Perhaps. But the chances of him finding us is slim, and the blow to the morale of the kingdom will be great. All evidence will point towards the Chikyuujins, which will cause the people of Vejitasei to begin to hate off-worlders. If you want, Retsu, we can vote on it." He said mildly. Retsu sat down, embarrassed.
"No" he finally said. "We'll do it."
"Good." Ricce said. "Here're the details. We'll attack when Prince Trunks is in Yasai City, since that is where the Chikyuu ambassadors are located. I'll make arrangements for the ambassador to be called away to a private meeting with 'Mameryu', an anonymous saiyajin claiming to have found evidence that the King is plotting against him. Approved?"
The others nodded, motioning for him to continue. Retsu sulked, but also nodded his approval.
"So the ambassador will be absent for about…two hours." Ricce continued. "About an hour after his disappearance, we will strike. We'll make it a team of anywhere between one and five, depending on how many men the Chikyuu ambassador takes with him. The objective is to kidnap the Princess. We won't kill the Prince, just a quick surprise attack, letting him see how many of us there are without seeing any actual features."
"Who will lead the team?" One of the saiyajins asked.
"Care'et," Ricce answered promptly. "The ambassador's general is disliked by many already for his blunt distrust of saiyajins. He is the most vulnerable to threats for that very reason, and he already resembles Care'et. Any questions?"
"What about his personal guards?' Care'et asked. "They are both half-breeds, and deserve to die."
Ricce was silent for a moment. "Kill the weaker first, with no warning. Come at him from an angle that makes it seem like a failed attack on the Prince. The other is half-breed also, but only kill him if you have a golden opportunity. I would rather not lose men on a scare-maneuver. If possible, convert him to our cause. Anything else?" silence. "Next meeting in two days at local headquarters in Yasai, two hours before the attack. Dismissed."
"I will NOT guard her!" Goten yelled. "Have Barli do it!"
Pan glared at him. "You and I are the two strongest among the guards; putting the two strongest on one member of the royal family leaves the other exposed to attack," She said. They had already been over this. "I WILL become Trunks's bodyguard, and if I have to get King Vejita's order to make you switch with me, I will!"
"Well, that's what it'll take!" He shot back at her. 'Because I am certainly NOT going to switch form guarding my best friend to guarding his little sister of my own free will!"
"Lets go then," Pan said, turning sharply and stalking towards the throne room, Goten in tow. Servants and other fighters jumped out of the way of the angry elite and general. They both took a moment to compose themselves before entering the throne room.
They came in behind a screen specifically placed to prevent anyone besides the King and Queen form seeing if anyone was there. They bowed, and the King nodded, acknowledging hteir presence while signaling them to remain hidden. Pan peeked through a small hole designed for this purpose.
"You may not raise the taxes in Yasai any further," Bulma said firmly to the petitioner, Lord-Elite Retsu. The elite in his title was just that, a title, for the position was that of a clerk, though this Lord-Elite was actually a first class warrior not far form elite status. "Already the people there struggle to meet the tax demands you place on them."
"Yes, my queen," He said smoothly. "As you say. I have but one more question for you, your highness. The inspection team to Yasai, will it be only your children and their guards, or will any others be accompanying him? I ask so that I have quarters and food enough prepared for the correct amount. I would not wish to short any of your representatives."
King Vejita considered him for a moment, aware of the man's true intentions, which had nothing to do with rooms or food. "Besides my heirs, the Jiboujin will also be in attendance, along with a proper retinue or servants and bodyguards, Lord-Elite Retsu." he glanced at his wife before adding, through gritted teeth, "we would not with to overextend your resources with unnecessary personnel. Dismissed." The man bowed again before leaving, and the two Sons stepped forward.
"Pan! Goten!" Bulma exclaimed happily. "What brings you here?" Pan opened her mouth to explain, but the King cut her off.
"I had been meaning to summon you both," He said. "Both of you have seriously increased in status since the last mission, you as my General, and you as my future daughter-in-law." The two Sons stared at him, not comprehending. "As such, you will not be on guard duty." Seeing their crushed looks, he added. "Though I am hard put to find two replacements good enough. You will choose elites to be your replacements, who I will approve or disapprove. You will take them on the inspection tour at Yasai in two days to train them. You will be assigned your own guards, who you will also pick and have approved. They will also accompany you at Yasai. Any questions?"
"No, your Highness."
"No, King Vejita."
Bulma cleared her throat. "Elite records and status files are now open to you on the computer system, as is almost everything. Now, what brought you two here in the first place?"
Pan stared at the two rulers. "It is irrelevant in light of these new circumstances, Queen Bulma. May we be dismissed?" AT the king's nod, Pan dragged Goten back through the side entrance.
"Well." Pan said once they were alone. "That was unexpected."
"Decidedly," Goten agreed. Suddenly he smiled. "At least I won't have to be with Bura-hime now." Pan sighed. Some things would never change.
"I still don't get why you don't like her," Pan mumbled. Goten jerked up.
"Don't like her? Don't like her?" He repeated in an incredulous voice. "She's the one who hates me! She reminds of it every time she can: in the halls, the training room, the throne room, my own apartments, everywhere! She hates me, so I'll stay away. She hates me, and I loved Marron, and I love her!"
"Trunks, Bura-hime, meet Veeto and Shuchi," Pan said, gesturing towards the two rather nervous looking elites. Veeto was a young man, wiry for a saiyajin, with a bookish look about him. Shuchi was his complete opposite at 50 years old, thick and burly. Both were very qualified for the job. Pan looked at Goten.
"These are our replacements," he said, looking at Trunks. "Hand picked by myself and Pan and approved by the King and Queen. We'll be bringing them to Yasai for their last bit of training." He saw Trunk's questioning look. "You may choose whichever one you wish. Ladies first, of course."
Bura threw him a cool look. "Of course." She put out her hand and Pan, used to her habits, put the two warrior's files in her hand. Bura scanned them and chose. "Shuchi, I think you will do nicely. Shuchi, this is my other bodyguard, Ninji. Ninji, Shuchi, and be nice. You two only have a day to learn to work together, so get on it! I'll stay with Pan, Goten, or the Prince for the rest of the day to remain guarded; you two go spar."
Trunks smirked. "You're so charming, sister dear. Barli!" he called. The warrior came form his place by the door. 'This is your new partner, Veeto. Veeto, this is Barli. The two of you can do the same as the Princess's pair; go train, meet me at my quarters after supper. Dismissed,"
"Yes sir," They said together, giving identical salutes. They seemed surprised, and Barli smiled as they walked out the door, giving Goten a thumbs-up.
"You owe me five buck, uncle," Pan said sweetly. Grumbling, he handed her the prize. At the sibling's look of confusion, Pan added, "I bet that Shuchi would be chosen first." They both smiled.
"That's my Pan,' Trunks said. He added slyly, "Anyway, looks like we're stuck with you two for the rest of the day. What do you want to do?" He asked, knowing exactly what they would each say.
"Spar!" Bura and Goten said together. They looked at each other, surprised, and Goten turned bright red. Bura turned away, giving a contemptuous sound in the process. "Pan, if you would spar with me? I fear I will not trust this new guard with my safety for awhile yet, and I would like to be prepared."
"O…of course, Bura-hime," Pan managed to get out. She had never really noticed Bura's cold treatment of Goten, but now that Goten had mentioned it, she remembered all of the little things Pan had just attributed to being a princess. Only…she treated Barli well enough.
"Hey now, Bura," Trunks teased, attempting to lighten the mood. "I barely ever get to spend quality time with Pan, and you take her away." He gave a dramatized sigh. "Ladies first?" he shot Goten a sympathetic look before looping an arm around Pan's shoulders and following his sister. Yasai was going to be hell.
