"And he didn't come out and take her?"
"No. Pan had her powers back, and he was no where in sight." Vegeta sighed, relaying everything he had heard and seen this morning. Pan was up in her room now, in her room, a shell of herself on her bed. "And she hasn't said anything since."
"Well, this is good. Isn't it?" Trunks piped up. "I mean, this means the monster killed itself over her, or at least we wont see him again."
"Yes, it would seem so."
"Seem is the exact word needed here Gohan. Seem. For all we know, he is still out there waiting."
"But Pan ran away from him. A blow like that would be enough to kill anyone in love, right? Especially someone as twisted as he was." Bulma wanted this to all be over, and for her friends and family to get back to the way things were. Things were never this complicated before.
There were the good guys, and the bad guys. And never an in between, like this Major person.
He was a monster, hurt her daughter, and killed so many people to get stronger.
But on the other hand…Pan had fallen in love with him. and just seeing her like this, her almost second daughter, her best friend's granddaughter and son's friend. It was more of a shock than anything else. Pan always seemed so strong, so unmovable. So much like her grandfather, Goku.
"But there is the other side of the emotional spectrum woman." Vegeta closed his eyes, leaned against the living room wall. "He could go the other way. Sorrow is like blue. But there is always red…"
"Anger." Trunks looked to the floor with a worried expression on his face.
"Major could be so angry that Pan had rejected his 'love', real or not, that he might go on a rampage. He might even try to get revenge upon her or kill her too."
"With the rest of us…" Videl sat with her husband, all but Trunks and Vegeta standing now.
"He will be so quick to blame the ones keeping them apart in the first place, we will be the first to go. And depending on how much he resents Pan…he may force her to watch."
"Vegeta, let's not assume-"
"We have to assume the worst. Then we can be prepared."
"Not if he is dead."
"Have you seen a body? Can you prove to me or anyone else he is dead?" there was a pause, where Bulma frowned and looked away. "No, I didn't think so." He looked out the window. It was so sunny now. "What we need, is a certainty. Some way to protect Pan, ourselves, and everyone else on this planet. In that order."
"I have tried to get in contact with the other Z fighters, or even Hercule and Buu. But after the attacks on the main cities, the air traffic is jammed for communication, or simple hover travel."
"Damn. If Kakarot was here, he would just instantly transmit himself to the rest of the fighters. Damn him." Vegeta spat, and placed two fists on the windowsill. He sighed, and looked back over to Gohan. "We should move. If Major is having second thoughts about Pan, we should use this time to get to a safer location."
"Such as?"
"The look out. Far from society and yet, our own territory. I have no doubt that Dende will know and have seen what has happened."
"Then we should go."
"No." for the second time in two days, Pan interrupted at the most unexpected moment. She stood, still in her Pj's in the doorway, looking as pale as ever. But her tears were gone, and she had a look of determination. "If we run, he might kill again."
"Pan, I love you so much honey, but after this morning…" Gohan trailed off. It would hurt too much to finish that sentence.
"After this morning, you can't trust that I wouldn't run to him?" she sniffled, holding herself against the doorframe. "Maybe I would. Maybe…but there is something more important than me here. Those people. They died because of me." Her cold brown eyes looked to Vegeta. "But I have to bring them back."
"There are no more Dragonballs Pan."
"Not here. But there are on New Namek." She put her hands together over her chest, tears welling in her eyes again. "Please. I need to do this. I killed those people. It was my fault any of this happened, that anyone is dead or hurt. Let me go."
"No."
"Let me take a ship, go to New Namek and bring them back to life. Please." She pleaded. "Please let me do this. I will go insane with guilt if I can't bring them back."
"Pan." Gohan stepped in, seeing how rigid Vegeta now was.
"Daddy, if you love me, if you want me to be a good person and not go crazy, you will let me do what you know grandpa would do." Her voice wavered, but it had an undertone of deep meaning, needing. It was as if her life depended on what she was asking. "Let me bring them back. Let me go." She then looked to Bulma. "I have no right to ask anything of you. But I have to."
"Pan I…"
"If you give me a ship and plot a course to New Namek, then I can wish those people back to life." She then looked to Trunks. "And you can come with me, to make sure I don't go alone! Please!" she sounded desperate now. Everyone was being so quiet. "If you don't let me go then I will have to live the rest of my life knowing I could make things right, that I was my fault they died in the first place, and their blood." She raised her hands. "Their blood drench my hands while ever I stay here and let their deaths go forgotten. I am 16 and I have over a million and a half people's blood on my hands!" she whimpered, shacking. Videl rushed forward and held her daughter to her, rubbing her back and even crying herself. It was a heartbreaking sight for any mother to bare.
"You can go." Vegeta may not have been her father, but no one questioned him. "You can go to New Namek, and wish them back. you are right…that is what Kakarot would have done." His face was blank, and he never looked away from her. "The boy will go with you."
"I have a ship prepped for long distance space travel in the back garden. It is my pride and joy, so I made sure those RRA bastards couldn't get their hands on it. Oh, sorry Pan."
"They are bastards. They lied to me and even tried to confine me from coming home. They are no concern of mine." She whimpered. "I'm sorry Bulma. Can you forgive me?" Videl stepped back, and let Bulma pull her into a hug.
"Of course I can." She sniffled. "You're just like Goku. I can never stay mad at you."
"Boy." Trunks looked to his father's back. "You will train with me for a day in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber for a day. Tomorrow. You will then be strong enough to take Pan to New Namek, and keep her safe." Like I couldn't.
"Yes father."
"Of course." Bulma lifted Pan's chin, and whipped her own eyes. "I will have to put my only navigational device in to track the constant movement of the planet. It is in a funny orbit, since there are two or three suns in that solar system. It moves out of range every now and then. But the ship will be able to track it for you. And take you there safely." She smiled. "I am proud of you. Goku would be proud of you. You are doing the right thing."
"Thank you Bulma." She hugged her tightly, and then pulled away. Without warning, Goten then yanked her into his own embrace, and squeezed her hard. "If you even think of doing anything stupid up there, don't. I want my niece to come back in one piece, understand?" Vegeta and Trunks had already gone to start training, the HTC left for tomorrow.
"I will come back. I never want to run away from home again." She smiled, still teary eyed and looked down at herself. "I guess I should get dressed…"
"Yeah, you should." Videl held her hand. "I'll come with you."
"Thanks mom. Thank you. And thank you all for understanding. This is really important to me."
"It must be, for Vegeta to let you go. Or your father." The girls walked out the room, beginning to pack for a 2 week trip to another planet…
AN: I know, short again. But the next one is a long one (I promise! And a plot twist!)
R&R
From
Draguna