The Treasure of Power

Disclaimer:                I don't own Dragonball Z!

A/N:                           There's not much to say, besides thank you for your reviews!

Chapter 7: "Departure"

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ChiChi was sitting in her room, deep in thoughts. She had sent Gohan to bed after this exhausting day. He had taken the news that Goku was his real father surprisingly well. For a boy of his age he is incredible understanding. She could even say that her son was happy that Goku was his father. She couldn't blame him for that. A man like Goku didn't exist so often and she could tell that Goku and Gohan got along really well.

But it was not just exhausting for him. For all occupants of the palace it was really hard to digest that Bulma had been kidnapped. Bulma's mother was still at a friend of hers, but a messenger was already on the way to tell her those bad news. Her father had called in his most important guards, including Piccolo. And ChiChi had even seen that General Kaiou had arrived just a few minutes ago.   

Thinking of the General led her thoughts back to Goku. The General looked quite flustered as he arrived, so she guessed that Goku had already talked to him. She somehow felt bad for Goku being so miserable. He didn't need to find out about his true heritage like this. She could have told him. ChiChi knew about him being a Saiyajin since Gohan's birth. She could say that she was more than a bit surprised that her new born infant had a tail and had it immediately cut off to keep everyone else from finding out. Just two more persons knew about it – Bulma, who was present at the birth, and a midwife. But both promised to keep it a secret.

ChiChi felt tears dwelling up in her eyes, as she stared out of the window. The storm still hadn't calmed down and the rain was hitting hard against the windows. She thought that she should have told Goku about it, but what should she have said? Goku, this is your son, Gohan, and by the way, did you know that you are a Saiyajin? No, that wouldn't have worked. But she wished she had told him. It had hurt her so much to see the confusion and the anger on his face, when Vegeta had given him those hints.

Suddenly a lightning flashed by, followed by a loud thunder. ChiChi winced startled, as the lightning showed a shadow at the door. Trembling she got out of her armchair and went to the door to the garden. She was afraid that they had come back. But when there was another lightning, she recognized the one who was standing there and quickly opened the door, letting the person inside. "Oh my god, Goku!" she cried, as she threw herself in his arms.

"ChiChi…" Goku mumbled into her hair. He pulled her closer and didn't want to let her go. Everything that had happened in the last few hours had really gotten to him. First the somehow shocking but good news that he was the father of a five year old boy, the arrival of the Saiyajins, Bulma's 'sacrifice' and then the news that he belonged to a race he despised more than anything else. It felt just good to be back in the arms of the person he loved, even though he had stood about one hour in front of her window, watching her. First as he saw her tears he found the courage to actually go to the door. "Hush… It's okay… Why are you crying?"

"Goku… I'm so sorry… I knew about it, but I didn't know how to tell you… I knew about your heritage since Gohan was born…" she sobbed.

"Oh ChiChi… I'm not angry with you…" he tried to soothe her and pulled her away at arm length to look into her eyes. "Believe me, I could never be angry with you. I'm just mad at the General for not telling me. He was the man I trusted my whole life and he betrayed me. I don't know if I can ever trust him again."

ChiChi looked at him and a small smile passed over her face, as she noticed how he looked like. "Goku… Just look at you… You're dripping wet! Come on, I give you a towel, so that you can dry up a bit."

A few minutes later Goku was almost dry again, even though his clothes were still damp, and they were sitting in front of the chimney in ChiChi's room, arm in arm. Suddenly a small head with wild black hair stuck through the split of the door to the room next to hers, looking to the couple in front of the fire. "Mommy?"

ChiChi turned around and smiled at the boy. "Hey Gohan, what are you doing out of bed?"

The boy came into the room and closed the door behind him. "I couldn't sleep and I heard you talking to someone…"

"Come here, Gohan. We've got a visitor," ChiChi told him and padded to the empty space next to her.

"Really?" He got nearer and his smile broadened, as he recognized the man next to his mother. "Son Goku!" He ran up to him and jumped into his lap.

"Hey Gohan!" Goku greeted him grinning.

"Is it true that you are my dad?" the boy asked excitedly, as he made himself comfortable.

Goku threw ChiChi a 'you told him?'-look and she nodded at him. He smiled at the boy. "Yep, strange, huh?"

Gohan shrugged. "I dunno. But I think it's great to have you as my father. Can I call you daddy now?"

Goku laughed whole-heartedly. "Of course!"

"Okay," the boy said, grinning the grin that was typical for Son Goku. "Daddy, will you go to sea again and hunt those bad Saiyajins?"

Suddenly Goku became serious again. "Yes, I will leave tomorrow morning. We can't wait any longer. And I promise to bring Bulma back. I would never be able to forgive myself, if I don't." As he saw the worried look on ChiChi's face, he kissed her on the forehead. "Don't worry, Chi, I'll come back and then we will start a family."

"Gohan," ChiChi suddenly said, "why don't you go back to bed? When you want to say goodbye to your father tomorrow morning, you have to get up early."

"Okay mom!" Gohan got up and ran to the door, but before he left, he turned around again. "Oh, and don't worry about Bulma! She's not like other women. She will be okay!"

~*~

In the meantime a small rowing boat was on its way over the larger waves and through the rain to a large ship, not that far away anymore. In this small boat Bulma and the three Saiyajins were sitting. Those called Nappa and Radditz were rowing over to the ship, while Vegeta and Bulma just sat there in silence. Well, Bulma had a lot to say, but because of her constant screaming, kicking and even biting they were forced to gag and tie her up. Vegeta was sure of one thing: He had never met a woman like her before. Especially no one of her rank was that annoying and had a mouth like her. She had called him things that even he had never heard before. But he had to admit – he was impressed by her courage. No woman had stood up to him before with the knowledge that he could kill her with one swift movement of his hand.

When they arrived at the ship, Vegeta threw the now again fighting woman over his shoulder and began to climb up the rope ladder to his ship, but the struggling Bulma made things more difficult for him. "Woman! Stop your senseless struggling or do you want me to drop you?" he told her harshly. She stopped fighting at once, not wanting to fall the whole way into the cold water and drown. If she was afraid of one thing than of high heights.  "That's better."

Everyone who was already on the ship, stared at Vegeta and his hostage, when he climbed over the railing, followed by his two companions. "What are you staring at?" Vegeta bellowed. "Get the ship ready! I want to leave as fast as possible!" He dropped Bulma none too gently on the ground. "Untie her, Nappa."

"Yes, Vegeta," the large man said and loosened the ties around Bulma's wrists.

As soon as her wrists were free, Bulma pulled the piece of cloth out of her mouth and stomped towards the smaller Saiyajin, who had just opened a trapdoor in the ship's deck. "What were you thinking, you jerk?! No one just kidnaps me and gets away with it! And especially does no one just tie me up and gag me!"

Vegeta remained indifferent, with his arms crossed over his chest and motioned with his head to the open trapdoor. "Jump!" he demanded.

"What?!"

"I said: Jump. In other words, get your lazy ass down there."

"No." Bulma crossed her arms over her chest as almost an exact mirror image of Vegeta.

"Get down or I'll kill you," the Prince threatened.

"You wouldn't dare," she stood her ground and if looks could kill, both of them would be dead in an instant. "You still need me and you know it. With me being dead, Goku would have no scruple to attack you. And I won't go down there. I'm all wet and it's cold. I could catch a pneumonia and die, when I go down there."

Vegeta seemed to ponder that argument for a second until he snorted something that sounded like 'fine'. "Nappa, you'll share one cabin with Radditz and the woman gets yours."

Nappa's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. "What? But Vegeta!"

"Do what I say!" he snapped, annoyed by the fact that this woman was right. "Gather your belongings and move into Radditz's cabin. NOW!"

"Yes sir…" the large Saiyajin muttered and went inside.

Vegeta turned his attention back to Bulma. "Follow me, woman!" he ordered and followed Nappa inside.

Nappa had just gathered his most important stuff, as Vegeta and Bulma arrived at his cabin. He sent a death glare at the woman and proceeded his way to the other Saiyajin's cabin. Bulma smirked triumphantly at the Saiyajin's retreat, as she followed the so-called Prince into her new cabin. She was a hostage and yet got what she wanted. Plus, it was the feared pirate Vegeta whom she was able to blackmail. She had a trump in her hand and she knew how to use it.

But when she got to look around the room, she wrinkled her nose. It was a mess. There was dirt and dust everywhere, dirty clothes of the Saiyajin, empty bottles and so on. "You want me to live here?" Bulma asked exasperated.

Vegeta just smirked at her. "Either here, or the cargo hold. What would you like more?"

Bulma put her hands on her hips. "Fine! I guess I won't die in here."

Vegeta didn't say anything and just walked over to a trunk standing in one corner. He opened it and nodded contently, as he saw its contents. "Woman, here are some clothes that might fit you. They are from some of Nappa's whores." He turned around and walked to the door, but looked back, before he left. "I'll lock the door. It's for your own safety. I don't want any of my man do something to you, because, as you said, we still need you. My room is next to yours, so, in case you need something, just knock at the wall," he told her, sounding indifferent. Even though Vegeta was known as the most ruthless pirate on the seven seas, he was still from royalty and knew how to treat a woman, even if she had an attitude like her and was just a hostage, but she was a woman nonetheless.

After Vegeta had left the room, Bulma looked around again. Suddenly the realization began to sink in. She was alone. All alone on a ship together with pirates, who were feared throughout the world. Bulma shook her head. No, she wouldn't let herself go down. Goku would come and safe her – she was sure of that. And besides, Vegeta sounded like he wouldn't let anyone hurt her. Well, as long as he needed her. The only thing she could do now, was making her stay on this ship as pleasant as possible and to do that, she had to clean that room. But first, she needed to get out of those wet clothes, when she didn't want to get ill. Let's see, what clothes those women left…

Radditz was already waiting for his companion in his cabin. "So, what do you think of Vegeta's decision to take this woman as hostage?" Radditz wanted to know.

Nappa growled and threw his stuff on the floor. "I don't know why he took her to the ship in the first place. We should have killed her immediately after we were far enough away from the palace. This woman means just trouble. But the Prince is blinded by this fairy tale of those spheres. He thinks that he can beat Frieza with them, but Frieza is invincible. Vegeta can't think straight anymore. We have to do something."

"Good that you think the same way I do," Radditz said. "I've even thought of something that will help us."

"Really?"

Radditz smirked. "Oh yes, but it will be hard. For all of us."

~*~

About at the same time in Lord Briefs' office, General Kaiou, Piccolo, a few other soldiers and the Lord were talking about the situation.

"Lord Briefs," a man in uniform, a captain, said, "why do you want to send him to search for your daughter. My ship is ready. We could leave within a few hours."

"Because I trust him," the Lord told him. "He is the best man of the General and a friend of Bulma. He would never let her down."

"Is that so? As far as I know he was there, when Lady Bulma had been kidnapped. Why hadn't he done anything?"

"Shut up," Piccolo now said, "You don't understand a thing. I was there, too, and we couldn't do anything to save the Lady. The Saiyajins were just too strong."

"Maybe for you, Namek. But not for a real soldier! And by the way… Where is this infamous Son Goku? Shouldn't he be here in this conference? General, I really believe that you should think about the choice of your best man in this situation. Lord Briefs, what do you think?"

The Lord looked thoughtfully and Kaiou saw that. "Lord Briefs, the reason that Son Goku isn't here is… how should I say… a bit more complicated. He had been through a lot today and I believe that he just needs some time to think. He self told me that he would leave at dawn with his ship to look for your daughter."

Lord Briefs sighed. "General Kaiou, please explain it to me. I would like to know the reasons of Son Goku's absence. Captain, take your men and leave. Piccolo, you are also dismissed."

"Yes sir," the captain said and bowed lightly, before he left the office. "Let me know when you've decided what you want to do."

"I will stay," Piccolo told them. "I think I know what the General is talking about and I think that I can also tell what exactly has happened this afternoon. I also wanted to ask you, if I could go with Son Goku tomorrow. I'm sure he might need my help."

"Okay, Piccolo. You are allowed to stay. As to your request to go with Son Goku, you have to ask him tomorrow. I can't decide over his choice of crew."

After the General and Piccolo told the Lord everything they knew, Lord Briefs nodded understanding. "Fine, I think I can understand Son Goku's situation. And with him also being a Saiyajin, he really might be our only hope to bring my daughter back. It's decided. Son Goku is allowed to leave tomorrow at dawn with the mission to save Bulma and the sphere."

~*~

The next morning, well, it wasn't really morning, since the sun wasn't up yet, Goku and ChiChi were lying in her bed, holding each other tightly. The storm was completely gone by now and the night was starlit. Both were fully awake and were just looking at each other. "It's almost morning…" ChiChi whispered.

"I know…"

"The sun will rise soon."

"I know…"

"That means you'll have to go."

"I know…"

"Please Goku," she said, having tears in her eyes. "Promise me to come back… With Bulma."

He kissed her softly. "I promise." He looked out of the window and sighed. "I have to go now…"

"Okay…" ChiChi watched him getting out of the bed and dressing.

He climbed back to her and kissed her again. "I'll see you later, at the docks?"

"Of course." She smiled at him and as she watched him climbing out of the window, she suddenly made up her mind. As soon as Goku was gone, she also got out of the bed and walked to her son's room. "Gohan!"

About one and a half hour later, Goku and his crew were all gathered at his ship, the Kintoun, ready to go to sea. Now and then he glanced back to the quay. He wanted to leave soon, but not before he said goodbye to ChiChi and his son. He was slowly getting impatient. They should already be here! "Hey guys…" he said to his crew. "I'm really sorry that you didn't have a real holiday. But this mission is more important than anything else and I need you."

Yamcha put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey man, it's okay. You know that we would do everything for Bulma. You can count on us."

"Goku!" they suddenly heard someone yelling.

Goku turned around and smiled. ChiChi had finally arrived, together with Gohan and her father. His face darkened a bit, as he also saw the General arriving. He was with Lord Briefs. And Piccolo? Whatever. Goku quickly left the ship and ran over to his loved ones. "ChiChi! Finally!" he said and kissed her. After he let go of her, he crouched down to get on eye level with his son. "Hey, everything okay, partner?"

"Yep!" Gohan said grinning.

Suddenly Goku spotted a bag in ChiChi's hands. "Uhm, Chi, what's that?" he asked confused.

"My clothes. This morning I've decided to go with you," she told him.

"What?!" he yelled. "Uhm, ChiChi, you know that it could be dangerous…"

"I know and because of that I want to come with you. I don't want you to leave, letting me alone for I don't know how long, without knowing if you will ever come back again. And besides, Bulma is my best friend. I want to help you saving her."

"And what about Gohan?"

"I will take care of him as long as you are away," Gyuu Mao now said.

Goku scratched the back of his head. "Well then, I don't think that I have another choice…"

"Damn right, mister!" ChiChi told him and then got down on one knee hugging Gohan. "Gohan, I'll miss you. Don't annoy your grandfather too much, okay?"

Gohan still grinned. "Okay mom."

"Well then… ChiChi, why don't you go on board already? I will talk with the General and the Lord." Goku led his wife to the plank, where Yamcha helped her going on the ship and then went to the Lord and the General.

"Son Goku, you know that I trust you with the life of my daughter. Please bring her back," Lord Briefs said.

"Of course…" Goku smiled reassuringly, but his face became immediately serious, when he turned to Kaiou. "General, I just want to let you know. When this is over, I'll quit. No more missions, no more going to sea. I'll look for another job on land and start a family with ChiChi and Gohan. As I already told you, I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust you again and because of that I couldn't stand living with and working for you."

Goku just wanted to go to the ship, as another voice stopped him. "Son Goku. I would like to come with you. You might need my help."

He smiled at the Namek. "Of course Piccolo. I need as much as help as I can get. Those Saiyajins could mean trouble."

Slowly, one by one, everyone was going on board. Krillin and Tenshinhan were getting the last things and provisions on the ship and were now carrying a barrel. "Oh boy, this thing is heavy…" Krillin said.

"Yeah, I wonder what's inside…" Tenshinhan agreed. "Let's get this baby on board and then we can look later…"

"Okay."

As everyone was on the ship they loosened the ropes, everyone on the quay waved goodbye to them, until the ship disappeared at the horizon. Little did anyone notice in all this time that one of them was missing. "So, Gohan, let's go," Gyuu Mao said and wanted to take the boy's hand. When there was no answer, he looked around frantically, but there was no sign of the boy. "Gohan…?"

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Okay, this is the longest chapter until now, I think… But I hope you like it though! Please review!

Eternally yours

ChibiChibi