Chapter Seventeen
When Gohan woke up he screamed out Rhyne's name. He looked around frantically, taking a moment to realize where he was. The Lookout.
"Rhyne." He said softly, feeling the thin film of perspiration, which covered his face and upper body.
Swinging his legs around, he stood up and headed for the door. As he walked hurriedly down the hallway, he heard voices coming from out front.
"Dad." Gohan said, seeing his father there as well as Krillin. "What's going on?"
"Hey!" Goku said. "Piccolo wants us to make one more search around the river in just a while."
"Where is Piccolo?" Gohan asked, looking at Kami.
"He and Rikola are in the Time Chamber." Kami said. "There is a chance that perhaps Rikola can use her mental powers to find Rhyne. But, since time is vital, they went in there to train at a rapid rate."
"Wow." Gohan said. "The Time Chamber….."
"Piccolo wants to find her as desperately as you do, my son." Kami said. "And if a few hours in there can enhance Rikola's mind, perhaps we can find Rhyne before sunset."
"So, they're not staying for a whole day?" Krillin asked.
Kami shook his head. "Piccolo did not want to take that much time."
"I think I'll begin looking around the river." Gohan said. "I can't just stand here doing nothing."
"I'll go with you." Krillin suggested. "I'd just as soon avoid Piccolo."
"Then, I guess I'll stay here." Goku said. "Piccolo said he would be out in three hours. I'll let him know what is happening."
Kami agreed with the plan allowing Gohan and Krillin to begin another sweep of the river. Gohan went back to the same spot where he had found Piccolo earlier.
"This…..this is the spot." Gohan said. "The Dragon transported him right here."
Krillin stood looking around. "The clearing is just beyond those trees." He said pointing to the West. "But, what's over there?" Indicating the East.
"Just woods." Gohan replied. "That and one lone house, way back up in the woods. But, Piccolo and I checked it and found nothing."
"Do you think it's abandoned?" Krillin asked.
Gohan wasn't sure. "I didn't really take the time to look that closely."
Krillin put his hand up and rubbed the top of his head. "Ya know, I'm thinking maybe Tekoa could be hiding out there. I mean, why would a human live there? Maybe it's just a vacation house or something?"
Gohan frowned. "Then, I think it deserves a better look. If there is someone living there, maybe they saw Rhyne."
Krillin and Gohan shot off above the trees directly for the house.
Sabrina and Jade were almost finished unloaded the massive amount of supplies from the back and top of the SUV. Sabrina had decided an alarm system was in order, so she picked up one that could be wired directly to each window and door. "This will take about a day to put in." She had said. "But, it won't be a problem for me." Sabrina was extremely intelligent and electronics were a specialty.
Jade had stood by as Sabrina picked out several handguns and rifles. Dressed in a hat, gloves and baggy clothing with sunglasses, Rhyne was nervous, feeling eyes upon her. The people in he gun shop were nice enough, but she knew they were pointing out her unusual appearance.
Now, Jade was a big help in unloading the heavy items. "I think we got enough food to last you two years!" She said laughing. "I'd hate to see what would happen if I needed such things to survive!"
Sabrina laughed at the young girl. "Well, you got enough DVD's at the video store to last two years! So, I wouldn't talk!"
Jade laughed and carried several items inside.
As Sabrina was pulling out the last case of bottled water, she heard the cracking of twigs and immediately looked up.
Standing before her was a man……a green man. A green man like Jade. Sabrina let out a small cry and dropped the case of water on the steps. "Who are you!" She demanded.
"Please, don't be afraid. But, I know that a friend of mine is here." Tekoa said. "And I've come for her."
Piccolo and Rikola had been in deep meditation for days inside the Time Chamber. He was amazed at the depth of her mind and the enormous ability she had to command it at will. When this was all over, Piccolo would train her properly, whether she wanted to or not. There was no way he would let such a great ability go to waste.
He knew Rikola was going as deep inside herself as she was capable of, hoping to find a clue to her sister's whereabouts. Piccolo marveled at his daughter's determination. She was more stubborn than he had ever realized.
"Father…" Rikola said mentally. "Something…..something is happening…….."
"Is it Rhyne? You've found her?" Piccolo asked urgently.
"No." Rikola said fearfully. "It's Gohan. He is in grave danger."
Sabrina stared at the green man in front of her, hearing his words. Before she had time to say anything, Jade came out.
Tekoa was the first thing she saw when she opened the door. Standing in shock, her mouth slightly open, Sabrina reached out and took her hand. "This man says he knows you….and I would say by the looks of him, he just might."
Jade could not remember having seen anyone else like herself. Yet, here stood this man, tall and muscular with a slight smile on his face.
"Rhyne." Tekoa said. "It's me….don't you know me?"
Jade looked at him. "Rhyne? Is that my name?"
Tekoa nodded his head. "Yes."
She repeated the word over again and again, but felt unfamiliar with the sound. Sabrina knew Jade was struggling. "It's alright. We don't have to deal with this now. Perhaps the young man would like to come in for a drink….and we can talk."
"That would be lovely." Tekoa said, smiling.
He took several steps forward, being just about three feet from the women, when Jade screamed out. "NOOOO!" She said angrily. "I'm not sure why, but….I don't trust him!" Unsure where she had learned it, Jade took a fighting stance and put her fists up. "Don't you come any closer to us!"
Sabrina stood back some, never seeing Jade in such a state. Worried about the man who Jade saw as a threat, Sabrina grabbed her rifle from the back of the car and held it out in front of her.
"You've got two seconds to tell me who and what you are before I blow a hole in you!" Sabrina shouted.
Tekoa was taken off guard, never expecting such resistance from either of them. "I mean you no harm." He said innocently. "Rhyne….the one you call Jade….she is promised to me…we were to be married. But, she had an accident and fell into the river!"
Suddenly, Sabrina remembered seeing Jade's lifeless body being washed violently down that river. How desperately Sabrina struggled to save them both. So, where was this guy? "How do you know what happened to her?" Sabrina asked. "I didn't see you anywhere around."
"I was searching for her." Tekoa said. "I saw her slip and fall in the river and hurried to find her. But, she was lost."
"You're lying." Sabrina said, cocking her gun and aiming. "I was there that day as well. And she had been in the water less than a minute or two when I found her and dragged her out. So, if you were looking for her, you would have found her."
Jade bit down hard on her lip. "He wasn't looking for me." She said. "He was trying to kill me."
A shot rang out as Tekoa flew through the air towards the women.
"What was that?" Krillin asked.
"That was a gunshot." Gohan said. "And it was coming from the direction of that house!"
THANKS FOR READING! PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!