Chapter Six
Kami was amazed at the girls.
Piccolo had taken Rikola and Rhyne directly to the cave, while Rideria reluctantly let Kami carry her up.
Rideria's eyes were focused on her sisters as they sat on the dirt floor, crying and scared.
"What happened?" Kami asked hurriedly.
"An animal attacked them." Piccolo said. He got a canteen of water and allowed both girls to drink, hoping it would calm them down.
"How did they escape?" Kami continued to question. "What powers do they possess?"
Piccolo looked angrily at Kami, but knew the old man sensed the same thing that he did. Something had been awakened inside his second born daughter. A power that Piccolo did not have and had never seen before.
"Power?" Rideria asked. "They have powers? Like you, Father."
Piccolo stood up and tried to control his anger at his oldest child. "Whatever powers that have surfaced, did so because of desperation. Because you left your sisters behind, thinking only of yourself. They came close to being killed."
Rideria looked from her father's coal black eyes down to her siblings. Her lower lip began to quiver as his words penetrated her heart. "I'm sorry." She said, more to Rikola and Rhyne than to her father. "It will not happen again."
"It damn well better not!" Piccolo shouted, his anger finally bursting to the surface. "As the oldest, you have a responsibility to lead them, not run off and leave them to fend for themselves!"
"That's enough." Kami said, himself angry. "You, of all people have no right to condemn this child for her actions. She is you, Piccolo. Pure and simple. Every fiber of her being screams of Damioh."
Piccolo's mouth dropped at the mention of his own sire. "Damioh? What are you saying?"
Kami ignored the question, instead focusing his attention on Rideria. "My dear, do you ever…see things in your head? Hear a voice that is not your father's?"
Oh God…..Piccolo knew where he was going with this and it sent chills down his spine.
Rideria only nodded.
Kami looked back at Piccolo. "Your memories have been passed down to this child." Kami said. "Including those bestowed to you by Damioh."
Piccolo swallowed hard. His memories? Damioh's memories?
Rideria stood watching the tall men. She felt the unusual sensation of tears forming in her eyes, and tried desperately to hold them back. "I am bad." She stated.
Both Piccolo and Kami quickly turned to her. "No." Kami said. "You are not bad, child. But, we will have some issues to work on with you."
Rideria waited patiently for her father to react. But instead, he left. Just turned around and flew out of the cave.
"He cannot stand me now." Rideria said. A single tear fell down her green cheek and she wiped it away angrily. "I don't need him!" She shouted. "I can survive alone!" she turned and looked at her sisters. "I DON'T NEED ANY OF YOU!" If she had known how to fly, she would have left as well. But instead, her only option was to run back to the very back of the cave, cowering in the dark shadows.
Kami wanted desperately to go after her, but it was not his place. The pain she felt could only be soothed by her father. "You girls stay here and do not move." Kami said. "I'll be back." Filled with fury, Kami flew out of the cave to find Piccolo.
Piccolo returned to the river, finding the animal had apparently thawed and left. Looking around, there was no sign of any struggle. He wondered what secrets his daughters had hidden deep inside their souls.
Thinking of Rideria, he should have seen it from the beginning.
"I should have killed her." Piccolo said, knowing Kami was behind him. "I sensed she was different, but I was weak. Now, she will have to pay for my weakness with a lifetime of sorrow."
"You don't mean that." Kami told him. "In the short time I've seen you with them, there is not a single girl that you wished dead. Not even Rideria." Kami searched for the right words. "Her memories are as confusing to her as yours were to you as a child. Do not shut her out, alienate her, scold her or …..hate her. Help her as only you can."
Piccolo looked up at the brightness of the sun, wishing he could turn back time. It was a mistake….all of it. A horrible and selfish mistake.
"There are the Dragonballs." Kami said. "We could request that time be turned back, allowing you to change your decision to procreate."
Piccolo's head snapped around. "What?" He asked. "This could be done?"
Kami nodded. "If your heart is willing, yes. I will request this of the Dragon myself. The wish will be granted."
Breathing heavily, Piccolo turned back toward the sun, unable to face the old Namek. "Then do it." Piccolo said. "Make it so they were never….never conceived….never born."
The Guardian sighed. "Very well. I will ask some assistance from Earth's forces in finding the Dragonballs. With Bulma's radar it should take no more than two days." Feeling completely saddened, Kami left, heading back to his Lookout. This day, which had started out with uncertainties, then a glorious hope, was now shattered into nothing but pain and heartache.
Piccolo stood there for a long time, cursing himself for every decision he had made in the past few months. All the pain Rideria felt was because of his selfishness. Closing his eyes, he hoped that the next two days would pass quickly.
"Wonder what Kami wants?" Tien asked as he and Chiaotzu flew beside Yamcha and Krillin in the sky.
"Not sure." Krillin said. "He sent a telepathic message to Gohan for us to all come to the Lookout as soon as possible, so Gohan called us a while ago. But, the kid is studying and ChiChi wouldn't let him out."
"Do you sense any evil?" Yamcha asked Tien.
"No. That was the first thing I did was check, but nothing." Tien said.
"Man, I hope some big goon isn't about to invade Earth." Yamcha said. "I kinda like having peace….and being alive."
"Yeah, me too!" Krillin said. "But, with Goku still gone, it's up to us to protect the planet. So, whatever Kami needs, we'll do."
Piccolo sat in meditation at the mouth of the cave, eyes closed. The girls were in the cave with him. Rikola and Rhyne were together, while Rideria chose to be alone. She did not want the companionship of her sisters or her father.
Even with the sun having long gone down, it was still humid. Piccolo had removed his cape and turban, trying to remain cooler. He watched as the trees stood silent, unmoving in the darkness. There was no air circulating, which seemed to suffocating this land. Although the rain had watered the valley and mountains, the heat had quickly caused evaporation and now it seemed as dry as before.
Rhyne desperately wanted to seek her father's company and affection. Rikola had drifted off to sleep, and Rhyne was lonely. She did not dare go near Rideria, who was awake, but still very angry.
Carefully, the tiniest Namek made her way toward Piccolo. He felt her approach and at first he glared at the child, which sent fear throughout her body. But, Rhyne did not want to be so afraid of her father. After pausing for just a moment, she continued. Without asking his permission, she slowly climbed into his lap.
Piccolo was surprised at her bravery. Rhyne's black eyes looked at him so pleading that his resolve to keep himself distanced seemed to fade for a moment. He allowed her to curl up next to his chest for an instant before he pushed her away. "I don't want you here." He snapped.
Rhyne's eyes immediately filled with tears as she spoke. "Please, Father." She said.
What was he supposed to do? In less than 48 hours, it would be as if they had never existed. But, Piccolo knew he would never forget. And if that meant having to live with the pain of loss for the rest of his life, so be it. He reached his hand out and pulled Rhyne back into his lap without saying a word. Her tiny arms clung to his, not wanting to let him go. She was quiet, satisfied to have the closeness.
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