Disclaimer: DragonBall and DragonBall Z were created by Akira Toriyama and is copyright © Toei Animation and FUNImation. No infringement is intended.
Chapter 9
Albatross Landing
Mai stretched her legs as she sat in the pilot chair. Her muscles cramped a little from her long stay in the seat. She and Brussi had devised a rotating shift, each one watching the command panel for a few hours at a time. Brussi had been worried that their trek through space would attract attention from nearby systems. Especially those that belonged to the Planet Trade. They were flying around in a stolen Aisu-jin ship, after all. Even if the owner hadn't been Aisu-jin, they weren't likely to be amused by the theft. Neither of them wanted to be captured, so they watched in case someone tried to attack or follow.
The problem was there wasn't much to do in the cockpit aside from either sit or pace around. The inactivity tended to make Mai's muscles tighten up after a while. Not that she minded, really, the memory of the numbness she had felt from her spinal injury was still fresh. She could accept the aching with some gratitude since she could easily not be feeling anything at all.
She glanced at the display, noting that the computer still reported all clear, then stood. Walking about, she let her mind wander over the past week. Not much had happened. There had been only one incident, where a patrol ship had followed them for a short distance, to disturb the relative peace they had traveled in. It seemed the Planet Trade didn't put much effort into guarding the interior of its holdings.
Mai was glad of it herself. She didn't think the ship could take much more damage. Brussi had done her best to repair it, but the aft shields still cut out if the engines were drawing too much energy. One of the command panels was completely dead and random sparks still flew from some of the cobbled together replacement components.
The Namek tilted her head, focusing on the whine of the engines and the low humming of the energy barrier. The sounds of the shields were somewhat intermittent. They waned for a space of nanoseconds before coming back on.
Mai resisted the urge to power the engines down a bit. Brussi had decided that the small loss of shields was acceptable for the boost they got in speed. The Saiyan was becoming impatient with being stuck on board the ship. She wanted to get to their destination as quickly as possible.
Mai sighed and ambled back over to the command panel. They were almost at Chikyuusei anyway. A few more minutes, then they would began their quest to track down Frieza.
A dull ache gripped Mai's heart. She still had trouble accepting that her brethren were gone, wiped out. It didn't seem fair that they would survive the disaster that drove Rea from her home world only to fall to a tyrant. A part of her hoped there were others like her. Nameks who had escaped the destruction.
She wondered, not for the first time, if Brussi would help her search. The other woman hadn't mentioned the death of her people since the day they had arrived at the destroyed planet. Any attempt to broach the subject was met with cold silence.
She sighed again, watching the computer count down the arrival time. Brussi had said she would be back in time for the approach to the planet. The Saiyan had converted part of the ship into a workout area and spent hours in it. Training, she said, for the upcoming fight. Mai wasn't sure if the training was going as well as her friend had planned. Often, Brussi would come out looking furious as well as bruised and cut.
Mai didn't ask what it was that caused the anger. Instead, she had quietly offered her healing abilities when her friend was done. Brussi had been thankful enough and would shake off the mood after a good meal. The Saiyan was resting now, having spent a good amount of time preparing for their landing.
A green light began to flicker on and off on the command panel. Mai cast a glance at the door. Perhaps Brussi overslept?
The entrance whooshed open just as Mai completed the thought. Brussi strode into the room, stretching her arms and yawning. She placed her hands on her hips. "So, brat, looks like we made it in one piece."
The Saiyan walked up to the command panel and pressed a few buttons. She nodded as the computer confirmed they had arrived at Chikyuusei. "Good, doesn't look like they have any sort of planetary defense. Should be easy enough to land. Better get in your seat, I don't think the landing will be any smoother than the take off."
Brussi grinned and flopped down in the captain's chair, quickly strapping herself in. Mai grimaced at the seat she had left not too long ago, then sat down again. She pulled the straps over her. The buckles clicked as she pressed the ends together.
"Where will we be setting down, Brussi?" she asked after making sure her restraints were secure. She didn't remember much about the take off, except that it had been rough. She hoped she didn't get bounced around like that again.
"Hmmm..." Brussi leaned forward and began tapping in commands. The computer brought up an image of the planet below. She scanned the surface, looking for a good spot. "There!"
She pointed to what seemed to be a small tan area on the planet. Tapping a few more buttons, the display changed to a close-up. A smooth stretch of earth littered with small rocks and shrubs filled the screen. "Looks like some sort of flat lands. No trees or cliffs to get in our way. It's also far enough from the cities that we shouldn't get any unwanted visitors right away."
Mai nodded. It seemed a good place to start out. She wasn't sure the natives would like a foreign ship setting down near a major settlement without knowing if the occupants were friends or enemies.
Her thoughts were interrupted as the ship shuddered somewhat as it hit the planet's gravity well. Brussi put in the landing codes, letting the computer plot the best approach into the atmosphere. A slight groaning of metal sounded from the rear of the ship. Mai flicked a concerned glance over at Brussi, but the woman was too busy observing the computer display.
The sound faded, then returned, louder this time Mai glanced over the back of the seat, then back at her friend. "Brussi?"
The Saiyan grunted. A thin sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead but she replied in an unconcerned tone, "The temperature of the hull is just increasing from air friction, the sound is the material expanding."
The groaning faded again. Brussi grinned at Mai, her attitude confident. "See? Nothing to worry about."
The vessel shuddered again, more strongly. Both women grabbed hold of the edge of the command panel as they rocked in their chairs. Grinding sounds accompanied the vibrations. The noise seemed to rise out of the flooring and reverberated off the walls. The whine of the engines rose to a piercing screech.
Mai winced and covered her ears. Brussi checked the display again and cursed. Her fingers moved rapidly over the panel.
"Brussi, what's happening?" Mai asked over the din, her voice a bit shaky. The awful wail of the engines was making her head throb.
"Shit!" Brussi pounded the panel surface. She shouted back, "The shields are failing! The hull temperature is rising over the thermal threshold."
"What?" Mai clutched her head tighter. The constant screeching and rending was cutting through her senses. She was tossed about in her seat, the restraints the only thing keeping her secure. Dizziness was beginning to set in and made it hard to concentrate on her friend's words.
"This damn piece of junk is burning up!" snapped Brussi. Her own ears were ringing from the combination rending of tortured metal and pops of overheated plastics. Acrid smoke slithered out from the internal components, seeping between cracks in the walls and command stations. Warm air wafted around them as the heat made it's way inward.
Brussi kept her attention fixed on the panel as long as she could. Frantically pressing buttons, she tried to route more power to the shields. The engines responded with a higher pitched screeching, protesting the loss as they struggled to keep the ship stable.
The air in the cockpit grew warmer, the harsh sounds of the ship breaking up growing louder. The Aisu-jin vessel pitched and rolled.
"Arrgh! Hang on, Mai!" Brussi bellowed. She clenched her fists a second, then input a new command. The shields dropped dangerously low but the engines renewed a more normal, though still shrill, tone. The ship leveled its descent, racing towards the ground. I hope this works...
Brussi held on to the sides of the captain's chair. She tucked her feet on the forward edge, pressing her knees close to her chest. Mai glanced over and took in the Saiyan's new posture. The Namek quickly followed suit. She leaned her forehead down on the top of her knees.
Brussi's jaw tightened as the display showed their rapid approach. The flat lands she had aimed for whizzed by underneath. The parched earth gave way to forests, the trees zipping by so fast they appeared a green blur. She could feel herself being pressed into the cushion of her seat as inertia dragged her.
Another string of curses slipped out when the screen showed a broken pattern of white and green rising before the landing ship. The jagged skyline left no doubt in her mind. The twinkling of glass in cement played across the screen. Buildings soon grazed the underside of the vessel, adding to the cacophony that filled the cockpit.
The ship rocked as one side smashed through part of a tall skyscraper. A boom thundered through the walls. Another boom followed as the projectile ripped through a second building. A morbid rhythm continued as more objects came in the way, each adding its own rumbling note, shaking the vessel and its occupants.
Brussi lay her head down on her knees and covered it with her arms.
The Aisu-jin ship slammed into the ground. It screamed along the surface, gouging out a trench in the asphalt of the streets and blasting the sidewalks to dust. Parked cars impacted the hull. Some flipped over the top, bouncing and skimming over it like toys thrown by a child. Others were crushed to the sides or underneath.
People ran in horror, forming a wave of moving fright as the foreign invader scraped through the city.
Finally, the ship came to a halt on a main street near the center of the town. Listing a bit to the left, the vessel sank into melted asphalt. The superheated exterior gave off plumes of steam. Metal groaned as it began to cool while otherwise silence settled over the area.
"Uhh..." Brussi lifted her head and rubbed her face in her hands. The air in the cockpit was stifling, causing sweat to soak into the tunic under her armor. The combined heat and dampness made her skin itch. She turned her gaze to her friend. "Mai? Hey, brat, you alive?"
Mai uncurled her fingers, withdrawing the sharp nails from the seat covering. The Namek peeked through one eye, then raised her head. She swiped at the beads of moisture that formed on her forehead. She panted a little in the heat. "Yeah... I'm all right."
Brussi grunted at the reply. She quickly undid her restraints and tested the temperature of the floor. A mild warmth radiated from the surface, though no more than a sun drenched walk might give off on a nice day. She hoped the hull would cool down quickly. Being stuck inside while the planet inhabitants had time to gather their forces wouldn't be good.
The woman returned her attention to the command panel. Adjusting some of the controls, she cycled through the few functioning outside scanners. Mai watched and tugged at the cloth around her neck. She had forgotten how stuffy the fabric could be. For a moment, she wished she had stuck with the thinner material of her harem dress.
A pang of guilt sprung up at the thought. The idea of discarding her traditional robe out of convenience seemed petty in the light of the loss of her people. No, she'd become accustomed to it again, wearing it in memory of her culture.
Brussi cussed, drawing Mai's attention. She brought up a view from the hatch area. She pointed at the similar clothed people approaching the outside of the ship. They seemed to be wearing some sort of black uniform and carried what looked to be weapons. One of them stepped out of the small group, raising a cone shaped object to its mouth.
Mai shook off her pensiveness. Studying the various monitor, she asked, "Do you think we'll be able to avoid being taken prisoner?"
"Don't know, brat," Brussi shrugged, her expression guarded. She fiddled with the controls to see if the person outside was speaking. Whether he was or not, she couldn't tell with that ridiculous looking device covering his lips. Static burst out of the speakers but no words could be discerned from the noisy mess.
The black clad figure on the screen waved an arm. He seemed to be becoming more agitated as time went on without an answer. Brussi tried to engage the outer speakers but wasn't very optimistic. When a few sparks exploded from the buttons she had pressed, she decided that trying to speak with the crowd outside wasn't going to be an option.
The Saiyan unclasped the Doku-jin weapon from her belt and checked to make sure it hadn't been damaged in the crash. Mai stared at her, chiding, "Brussi! We can't go out there with weapons!"
Brussi sent her friend a reproachful gaze. "We just crashed through a few dwellings and smashed up some of their city. I'm sure they aren't going to take that well."
Before Mai could respond, a distant ping ping echoed through the room. Brussi nodded to the monitor. "Looks like they're tired of waiting."
The Namek bit her lip as she saw the uniformed natives spread out in a half circle, pointing their weapons at the hull. Although she couldn't hear the retorts of them firing, she could see a slight jerk of the hands holding them and the sharp staccato noise as the projectiles bounced off the exterior a second later.
Brussi didn't return her weapon to it's position on her hip after she was done inspecting it. Instead, she leaned the barrel against her shoulder. She glanced at the computer display. "The temperature of the hull is decreasing fast. We need to get in a better position before those natives decide to rush the ship."
With that, she turned on her heel and strode toward the cockpit exit. Mai gasped, "Brussi! Brussi, we can't get into a stand off with them!"
Her words went unheeded as her friend sprinted out into the corridor as soon as the door slid open. Mai allowed herself a muttered swear as she took off after Brussi. She caught up to the Saiyan already halfway to the hatch.
While the air in the cockpit had managed to cool slightly, the hallway was still sweltering. The flooring felt almost like it was a cook surface instead. Mai bounced from foot to foot, her moccasins no match for the heat. She glared at Brussi's still retreating back. "Brussi, stop! We need to try and talk peacefully!"
Brussi glanced over her shoulder and shook her head. Her brows were drawn down in that wolfish expression. "They started it, Mai! We can't get ourselves thrown into some prison before we track down Frieza!"
"How are we supposed to find out what happened to him if you make us enemies of the people here?" grumbled Mai. The other woman had increased her speed toward the hatch, not replying to the question if she had heard it.
The rest of the way was traveled without conversation. Their quick paced footsteps thumping down the corridor and the panting induced by the oppressive heat were the only sounds for several moments. Finally, Brussi skid to a stop before the hatch. She punched in the open command, cursing the slight burn on her fingertips.
Mai wiped her brows with the sleeve of her robe. Her throat was dry from the run. She said in a somewhat parched voice, "Brussi, we really should try-"
"Quiet, brat!" Brussi scowled at the younger woman. The Namek's peaceful nature was going to be a liability if it kept popping up in the worst situations. Gonna have to teach her some battle sense.
Brussi shook her head and gave the hatch a push when the mechanism stalled. The door opened with a metallic moan, letting in sunlight and blue sky. Muted shouts from the natives outside filtered into the ship. Brussi sidled next to the opening. The angle the ship had settled at caused the hatch to point upwards a bit, instead of down to the ground. It meant they would have to jump to get out, but it also provided some cover.
Brussi glared at Mai from the corner of her eyes. "Now stay down and keep quiet, Mai. No need to let them know how many of us there are."
"I really think we should-" began Mai. She was cut off again, this time by a tiny projectile striking the edge of the hatch opening and ricocheting over their heads. The two women instinctively ducked away. The object left a series of tang tang tang noises in it's wake.
"Grrrr... that's it!" Brussi growled. Before Mai could stop her, the Saiyan positioned herself in the doorway and brought her weapon to bear. Blue white bolts zapped through the expanse outside and pattered onto the pavement. Brussi cursed her bad aim, stepped back to dodge a volley of return fire, then leaned out and blasted again.
Mai crouched on the floor, pressing her back against the wall. She didn't care at the moment if it was nearly scalding. It was better than being riddled with those tiny projectiles the natives were firing at them. She covered her head with her arms and began to mouth a peace chant, hoping they would get out of this alive.