Chapter 2

Pan rolled out of bed and clumsily forced her pathetic self into her dressing gown and stumbled downstairs to her family.

In the Kitchen was her mother, Videl. She was frying something over the cooker and her father, Gohan, sat at the table reading the newspaper.

"Morning honey, did you sleep well?"

"Yeah mom, I had wonderful dream about fluffy clouds and unicorns. The best bit was when Prince charming took me to the ball in a giant pumpkin."

Sarcasm oozed from every word and she plonked herself down on a chair. Her father put the newspaper down and glared at her.

"Your mother was being pleasant. Believe it or not we do care about you and we do have feelings. We do feel hurt when you talk to us like idiots and morons."

"Sorry." She said as she rested her head on her hands and groaned groggily from lack of sleep. It was rare that Pan ever got any real sleep. So she was always tired.

"If only you meant that..."

"Come on Gohan, she has only just got out of bed. Give her chance to wake up first before you lecture her." Videl turned to her daughter and placed a full baked breakfast in front of her. Within a heart beat it was devoured and the plate was spotless. No one ever saw her eat it because she ate it so fast. Videl took the plate and turned back to her daughter.

"Now honey, go get dressed and we will go down to the job centre again."

"Again? What for? You know they don't want me. No one does."

"Well today is a new day and we will find something. Now hurry up. Go on, scoot!"

Pan got to her feet and left as enthusiastic as she had entered. She had a long shower and came back down dressed in a pair of plain jeans and a red shirt, her usual attire. She took one look at herself and thought.

For years I have worn the same thing. Maybe a change would be nice.

She vanished to appear in a long sleeve shirt. It was woollen and very comfortable. It was also green so it didn't make her look punk like at all. Punks don't wear green; it makes them look more clubby than punky. But this top was warm and cosy, very smart and soft. She decided she liked it and would keep it on. She entered the kitchen again and got a wolf whistle from her father.

"Shut up." She huffed as she past her father and entered the car, waiting for her mother.

Several moments later, Videl arrived and was dressed in her old baggy clothes. It made her look younger and very close to Pan's age. But not quite. They set off without a word until they reached the job centre, owned by the one and only Capsule Corp. Everything was owned by Capsule Corp now. But not for the better. It had become so large that people were competing for ownership of it. If Bulma and the Brief family did give it up, they would still be made for life. But they wouldn't ever give up the family business. It was their life and livelihood. But recently big time business men have been taking them to court and were trying to force them into giving it up. They belonged to the military and wanted to claim its resources for something that involved the entire country and so had gotten the Brief family into court on the grounds that the country needed it more than them. So, Videl was normally round there trying to raise Bulma's ever dimming hopes of holding on to the company. She would probably be there later too.

When they were parked they walked straight inside. Inside the white building were many stalls. One for cookery careers, one for ICT apprenticeships and many other ones that included office jobs at Capsule Corp itself. Pan had applied to CC before, but they had refused her and once refused once, you can't apply again. Bulma wasn't in charge of the employing department so didn't know about it until it was too late. She didn't mind though. She didn't fancy an office job anyway. But when you have been turned down for 30 different jobs, you do feel a bit rejected.

As they walked past the stalls many people tried to get their attention, but they past them. Pan had applied and been rejected by them before so she didn't see the point.

There was one stall that wasn't there before. It caught her attention and she left her mother to inspect it. It was camouflage green and had a large man that seemed to be a general, with all the decorations on his chest. He had the typical short hair cut and sour face. She walked up to him and he instantly stared at her.

"What is your name Civilian?"

"Pan Sir." She hadn't mocked him, but thought it would be appropriate. She was right as he immediately looked pleased.

"Well Pan, how would you like to be part of the Royal Reunited Army? To serve your country and king?"

"Army ey? May I see?" He handed her a leaflet and she read the front of it.

We believe in a better tomorrow. We believe in strength and unity. We believe in perfection.

Join if you feel the same as us. Become part of our family. We take care of each other as we take care of the world. Be a real hero. Join the Royal Reunited Army.

She toyed with the idea for a moment.

The army? I haven't thought of that before. I could fight in the army. I would travel around the world. I would get out there and live my life to the fullest. This could be just the thing I need. The army. They sound like just the thing I have been hoping for. Royal Reunited Army, here I come.

Pan clicked her heels together and saluted the General. He stood and saluted her in return and smiled.

"Does this mean I can look forward to training you as a young cadet?"

"Yes you can sir. How do I enlist sir?"

"Well civilian. Fill out the form at the back of the leaflet and return it here. If we like what we see then we will send you a letter of admittance stating your acceptance and your items list. They are the things you will need to pack and the date that we will come for you will also be stated. And I will let you know right now that you have made a good impression with me. I will recommend you to my superiors."

"Can I fill out the form here sir?"

"Yes. As you were."

Pan lowered her hand and took a pen from the pot. She signed in her details and smiled as her requirements were almost already met. She was active, she had qualifications in sport and that is all they asked for. She also had qualifications in RE so she would be a first choice in away missions.

"I have finished sir. How long will I have to wait sir?"

"At the most, three days civilian. We will let you know." The general placed the form into a box and she turned to leave. It was only when she spotted her mother that she realised what she had done. She had applied to join the army. Ever since Gohan had died, Videl detested fighting and refused to let Gohan train Pan. She would not like that Pan was possibly apart of the army now.

"Hello honey. Did you have any luck?"

"Erm. No."

"Oh dear. Well I have to go shopping now so I will let you fly home ok."

"K mom." Pan, relieved to be away from her mother, ran out of the building and flew home as fast as she could. However when she got home she saw her father talking to an emotional Bulma. She hid round the corner and listened in on them.

"Bulma please. Tell me what's wrong?"

"Oh Gohan. They won. Those slimy bastards won."

"What? How?"

"Gohan. In court the judge ruled that they had priority over us to claim CC as the country needed it and its resources. They aren't even the countries army. They call themselves the Royal Reunited Army, but they are a Nationalist Army and don't even belong to anyone other than a rich guy. They will use my CC for evil. I know it."

"Calm down Bulma. It isn't the end of the world. Here, sit and calm yourself. My wife will be home soon and she will know what to say."

"Thank you Gohan. Thank you."

Pan couldn't believe it. She had applied to be part of this wonderful army and it was the same military that has now taken CC from the Briefs. She defiantly couldn't tell her mother, or Bulma, that she had applied to it. But she didn't have to worry. No matter what, she never seemed to get accepted anyway so this will be no exception. Would it?