Everyone: I know it's been a long freakin' time since I updated this, and finally here we have the next chapter. I feel really horrible, but I got stuck on this. It's totally my own fault for not brainstorming (or Bob-storming… inside joke. Seruleyan! ;) the entire story completely.
I hope that everyone who has supported me since the beginning and along the way are still looking forward to this. I didn't think it was going to take this long. I hope that this chapter is good enough to pull everyone back into the story. I have so much more left to write for this, and I know it seems like my other stories have priority, but they're just a lot easier to write than this one.
I know I'm babbling, and you just want me to shut up and get to the story. I don't blame ya, but first I gotta shout out to everyone who reviewed. Normally, I respond individually to all of you, but this time I just wanted to get to the chapter and not waste anymore time.
Huge thanks to:
EVERYONE who reviewed over the past couple months. I know a lot of you got scared that I wasn't going to finish this, or I was going to quite writing. Sorry!
Ya'll mean a lot to me, and I thank you so very much! I'm too lazy to proof read at the moment so I hope I didn't make any major mistakes.
Chapter 20: Escape Yamcha's Mansion!
Bardock pounded on the prince's door. "Damnit, Vegeta! Open up. This is extremely important!"
A second later the angry, groggy prince threw open his door. "It's late! What the hell do you want!"
"I have a private transmission in the control room from Ullia. It's Yamcha's man, Ansolus."
The name sounded familiar, making Vegeta frown thoughtfully. "Wasn't he the one assigned to serve as Akira's guard before she broke off the engagement with him?"
Bardock nodded. "Yes, he was very loyal to her. I think you should hear what he has to say. It could be a message from my daughter."
Vegeta sighed. "Fine, have Arthos meet me there." He turned back and observed the empty, dark room. "Bardock?"
"Yes?"
"Have Bulma meet me there as well." It was odd calling her by that name after all this time, but it was a relief to him as well. A part of him continued to think of her as Marron, but he couldn't put his finger on it. This whole mess confused him to no end.
"As you wish, your highness."
(Change scene)
Bulma sat next to Prince Arthos, fidgeting with a silver bracelet on her left wrist anxiously. Sighing, she looked up him. He looked extremely tired and sad, so much so that she wanted to just hug him and let him cry on her shoulder. Placing a gentle hand on his arm, she smiled. Arthos looked up from the floor and straight into her eyes.
"Akira's going to be fine," Bulma assured him softly.
He lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh. "I hope you're right."
"I know this isn't any of my business," she started. "But I can't stand to see people so unhappy, especially those I've come to care about," she told him. "She loves you very much. She's told me so."
Arthos closed his eyes tightly. "I know. I just don't understand why she denies me."
Just then Vegeta walked in, causing Bulma to look up at him. They held each other's gaze for a moment, and Bulma fought the urge to yell at him. Didn't he notice how much Akira and Arthos wanted to be together! Vegeta frowned, suspicious of why she was glaring so angrily at him. What had he done to her? He was the one that should be mad!
Bardock cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention. "I have Ansolus on the comlink." He reached toward the console and pressed an orange button. Across from them, the wall turned into a viewing screen, and a dimly lit room came into view. Bulma was barely about to make out the figure of the man known as Ansolus.
"Prince Vegeta, I bring you a message from Lady Akira."
(Change scene)
Marron peeked around the corner just in time to witness Yamcha closing the door. He turned and entered a code into the security system while sporting a malicious grin on his handsome face. She would have paid any amount of money to smack it off him, but she took a deep breath and reminded herself that she was through with him. He had used her, and she wasn't going to forgive that. Slipping back into the shadows, she waited for him to walk past.
Her eyes darted back and forth as she listened to the footsteps clicking sharply against the marble flooring. When the pirate was far enough down the hall, Marron rushed toward the door he had just exited. Her biggest problems now was finding a way to pry open the security box and disconnect the wires. Shakily, her tiny fingers pulled against the left side. She was surprised when it came away from the wall with no problem.
"What the hell," she whispered. The wires were already cut! Her brows knitted together suspiciously. "Ansolus must have been here already." 'Yamcha is such an idiot, he didn't even notice that this thing's been disconnected,' she scoffed mentally. The door slide open when she pushed the enter button. The scene in the room, strangely, made her feel sick to her stomach, and that was saying a lot considering the hatred she had always felt for the Saiyan priestess.
There on the bed lay a broken woman in every sense of the word. As Marron slowly approached the bed, she began to take in the changes in Akira. Her skin, which was normally pale, looked darker—tan, like a normal Saiyan, but that wasn't the most prominent change. Her long hair had turned black. There were only a few streaks of silver left. Marron stopped next to the bed and glanced down at the woman with a look of pity on her face. What had happened to her?
Akira's head turned, and she opened her eyes. They were black as coal, startling Marron to her core. The priestess stared up at her blankly, her hand extending up to brush against the other woman's cheek where the old scar that she had given her still lay. Realization hit her hard.
"Marron," she whispered. "How is this possible?"
"It was all a trick devised by Yamcha." Marron's expression turned sour instantly. "What is it about you they desire?" She whispered, dropping to her knees beside the bed. "What! Tell me," she demanded, grabbing a fistful of Akira's hair while tears streamed down her face.
Akira winced once more, but she gave the young woman no answer. Instead, she reached forward again and gently wiped her scarred cheek with shaky fingers. Marron released her hair and covered her face with her hands, weeping uncontrollably.
"He's so beautiful," she stuttered, referring to the boy she had given over to her sister's care.
"You're sister gave him everything she could," Akira replied.
Marron raised her head quickly. "You know about Bulma?"
"Yes."
"She kept up the act, even after Vegeta showed up on her doorstep?" Her tone was disbelieving.
Akira slowly sat up, pulling the sheets tight around her naked body. "She had little choice in the matter." She suddenly glared at Marron. "What are you doing in here? Don't tell me you think you're going to redeem yourself by trying to help me."
The blue haired woman glared back. "Then I supposed you'd rather rot here." She stood up and straightened her appearance. "Very well then. I'll just leave by myself." She turned toward the doorway, but the sound of laughter stopped her dead in her tracks. Marron clenched her fists and turned back toward Akira. "What the hell is so funny!"
"Do you take me for a fool?" Akira carefully slipped from the bed, tucking in the sheet so it would stay up on its own. "You came here because you need me to get off this planet."
Marron's face distorted angrily. " I have no idea what you're talking about!"
"You can't fly a ship. Bulma told me." Akira walked over to her. "You fear what's going to happen to you when you come face to face with Vegeta and your sister. I don't need my powers to read that from your mind. It's all over your face."
"Fine! I came here to manipulate you into escaping with me," she admitted. "If you won't then I'll just find someone else."
Akira reached out quickly and grabbed a hold of her elbow. "You'll do no such thing. You will help me get Arro, Cass, and Trunks safely out of the mansion, and then, I'll help you. Understand?"
(Change scene)
"He sent us schematics of the mansion," Arthos announced. "It even details where everyone's being held, except Akira." He suppressed that shudder that went down his spine. Why hadn't that been put into the plans? What was going on? The need to get there and rescue her was overwhelming.
Bulma stood next to him staring down at the readouts. "Why would she exclude herself from this? It doesn't make sense." She looked up at Vegeta. "That man was loyal to her, right? We're not walking into a trap, are we?"
Vegeta glanced sideways to the front view port. Ullia was floating before them in all its glory. The last time he had set eyes on this place it had been scarred with craters and blanketed in dust clouds from the final battle of the war for the imperial throne. Sighing heavily, he walked over to the window. Bulma's question bothered him. What if they were walking into a trap? There was just something not right about all this.
"Has your mother tried to reach Akira telepathically yet?" He asked her.
Bulma nodded sadly. "She said she couldn't even sense Akira."
"She's not dead," Arthos told them. "She's not."
Turlis walked into the command room and walked straight over to Vegeta, handing him a communication disc. "This was just transmitted to us from Ullia. It's from my sister," he told them.
Everyone in the room looked up after hearing this. Vegeta quickly put it into the nearby computer and the speakers filled with static as the message began. "I don't have much time, so let's just get down to it," Akira's voice echoed through the room. "Ansolus has already contacted you, but there's been a change in plans. I've come across an," she paused for a second. "Unlikely ally. There's a bay a mile south of Yamcha's mansion. We'll get the boys out and meet you there. Just don't hit the eastern side of the mansion. That's our only escape route." The transmission cut out just as quickly as it started.
Arthos gripped the edges of the table. "I'm still going after Yamcha."
"We both are," Vegeta reassured him. "But we have to switch some things around in our strategy. Turlis will take a small team to this rendezvous point."
(Change scene)
Yamcha crumpled up the readout in his hands and tossed it across the room angrily. Nearby, Ansolus waited for his orders. It was obvious that the space pirate had finally realized that mass armada of ships floating in the space above Ullia.
"Damnit!" Yamcha glanced at the clock on the wall. "They weren't supposed to catch up with us so quickly," he muttered darkly.
Ansolus fought the urge to roll his eyes. "With all due respect, Captain," he started. "How long did you expect them to wait?"
"I don't need your sarcasm. This wasn't how the plan was supposed to work out," he went on.
"I don't understand, sir. What exactly were you expecting?"
Yamcha began pacing back and forth nervously. "Freeza is coming here," he stated quickly.
A chill ran up Ansolus' spine. Freeza? Here? He had to get back to Akira and relay the message and find a way to contact Prince Vegeta again. "Why would he come here?"
"Because, you idiot! I kidnapped Vegeta's brothers and his son to hand over to Freeza so he'd have leverage over the Saiyans in the upcoming war. Why else would I take them?" He snorted. "They're of no concern to me. I only wanted Akira out of the deal, but now everything is changed. If I don't find a way to stall their forces from breaking in to my mansion, they'll get the Saiyan brats back, and when Freeza gets here, I'll be a dead man for not keeping up my end of the deal."
One of Yamcha's other men walked in and bowed politely. "Sir, Freeza is on the comlink. He wishes to speak with you right away."
Yamcha closed his eyes and stood still for a moment. What was he going to tell Freeza?
"Captain?"
"I'll be along in a second," he groaned. The messenger bowed once again and left the room quickly. Yamcha straightened his appearance and turned to Ansolus. "Where's Marron been hiding?" He demanded suddenly, suspicious of what his blue haired mistress was up to.
"I haven't seen her since this morning. She was wondering around the main grounds. Do you wish for me to search for her?"
"No. It'd be a waste of time. Besides, I have Akira now. There's no need for Marron any longer."
"Good to know I'm so expendable to you, Yamcha," Marron spoke up from the doorway.
Yamcha regarded her nonchalantly. "I haven't the time to fight with you There's an important call waiting for me in the next room," he told her.
Marron narrowed her eyes. "Why bother giving me an excuse, Yamcha? You never really cared for me."
He shrugged and walked out of the room, leaving Marron alone with Ansolus. The blue haired woman walked over and looked down at the papers scattered on Yamcha's desk. Ansolus watched her as she began to shuffle through them quickly, pulling out certain slips and stacking them neatly to her right. He stepped forward.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Getting proof of Yamcha's involvement with Freeza," she replied.
"And what makes you think I'm going to let you just walk out of here with those?"
She sighed and looked up at him. "Akira wants them, and if you're smart, you'll help me find all the papers and come with me." She picked up her stack and started toward the door. "Unless you'd rather stay here and be killed by the Saiyans or Freeza's men."
(Change Scene)
"God, I need something to do," Bulma said aloud.
Chichi sighed and patted her friend on the shoulder. "There's not much you can do, Bulma. We just have to wait and let the guys do their thing." She passed her a cup. "Here. Have some water."
"It must be nice to be so damn calm at a time like this!"
"I'm not calm. I'm worried. Goku is going into a real battle for the first time in years. He never truly kept up with his training when we were living on Merces with you, not like he should have anyway," she added the last part after Bulma gave her a disbelieving look.
In Bulma's opinion, Goku had trained quite a bit. How much more time could he need for it? Shifting to her left, she picked up a disc and gave it a thoughtful look. "Where's Nor's lab on this ship?"
Her Saiyan friend glanced up from the book she was reading and shrugged. "I haven't the slightest clue. Why?" She noticed the silver disc in Bulma's hand. "What's that?"
The blue haired woman grinned. "Just a little something I was working on before Vegeta showed up on Merces and ruined my life." She stood up and started toward the door, Chichi closely following. "Finishing these blue prints will help pass some time."
"What exactly is it though?" Knowing her friend all too well, she was sure it was something highly technical and ingenious.
"It's a training facility that can manipulate gravity up to a thousand times." She sighed heavily. "I was thinking of giving it to Vegeta as kind of an apology for deceiving him. I'm sure he's had his share of that," she admitted.
"Uh huh, I'm sure that's your reasoning behind it," Chichi cut in, laughing.
"What the hell do you mean by that! Huh?"
"You like him."
Bulma's cheeks tinged crimson at Chichi's words, and she opened her mouth to deny the claim. Nothing came out. She just stood there in silence, fuming over the fact that what Chichi said was perhaps true.
Chichi burst into uncontrollable laughter. "What'd I tell you? You can't even deny it, B," she teased, walking on down the hall.
"Why you," Bulma growled. She ran down the hall and, very unlady-like, pounced onto Chichi's back and gave her a noogie.
The Saiyan woman just continued to chuckle at the younger human woman's antics. "I see you're back to your true self finally."
Bulma released her and straightened her dress, sticking her nose in the air regally. "I've no idea what you're talking about."
"This coming from the woman who used to loosen the chair legs so when Lord Roshi came to visit and sat down at dinner, it'd look like he broke it."
"It made dinner that much more interesting though," Bulma pointed out with a mischievous grin and a twinkle in her eye. "Besides the old pervert deserved it."
Vegeta watched both women continue on their way from the shadows of the hall with a smirk gracing handsome face. So the woman was a troublemaker? No wonder her and Akira had formed such a quick bond behind his back. He was suddenly reminded of all the good times he'd had with his friend and ex-fiancé. 'I'll make it right for you, Akira,' he vowed. 'I'll take back my word.' Sighing, he wished she could still hear him so he could reassure her—reassure himself. His mind drifted back to Bulma, and he frowned. She 'liked' him? Why? He'd been nothing but cruel to her from the start, and he was no different to her now that he knew her true identity. Why? Was she insane? And what was this training facility that she was talking about?
He followed the two women down the hall, hoping to find out what the woman had created. Oh, he was intrigued to find out what she was going to build him.
(Change scene)
"You underestimated Vegeta's resourcefulness."
"I am sorry, Lord Freeza. I should have listened to your advice," Yamcha replied. He didn't want to be on the bad side of one of the strongest beings in the universe.
"No matter. I've taken into account your lack of intelligence. I'm closer than you think, and I shall land soon. Then, we shall deal with your stupidity," the Icejin promised in a deadly calm tone that caused Yamcha's entire body to grown cold. "I shall see you soon, pirate, and try not to mess things up anymore than you have."
The screen blinked and the imposing figure of Freeza was gone. Yamcha had never felt so relieved and scared at the same time as he did right now. What was Freeza going to do to him when he got here? Why hadn't Vegeta attacked yet? The Saiyan and Riessian fleets were massed on the other side of the Ullian moon, and had been there for several hours.
"Where's Ansolus?" He demanded of a nearby guard.
"I'm not sure, captain. He was last in the planning room with Lady Marron," came the nervous reply.
"I don't trust those two together," he muttered darkly. He had a bad feeling about something. "I want everyone to be ready. It won't be long now until the fighting begins."
(Change scene)
Trunks cowered in the corner of his small room, hugging his legs to his chest and crying. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see his mother again and his father. He wanted to play in the courtyard with his friends and practice with his sword under the skilled eyes of his father. Swallowing hard, he rested his head forward on his knees and closed his eyes. He was starting to give up hope that his father would come at all.
Suddenly the door opened, spilling light into the room from the hallway. Trunks lifted his head slowly, expecting to see that horrible pirate that had kidnapped them, but he was fortunately surprised. Despite the changes to her appearance, he recognized her immediately. Wobbling slightly, he managed to get to his feet as quickly as he could.
"Akira, is it really you?"
The tall, Saiyan woman stepped forward and knelt before him slowly. Her hand caressed his cheek gently, and she smiled at him. "Yes, little prince. It's me." She wiped at the tears on his face. "It's time to get out of here. Are you able to move okay?"
He nodded quickly, glancing past her. His eyes stopped on the form of his biological mother, and he scowled. "What is she doing here?"
"It's okay, Trunks," Akira told him.
"No, its not. I don't want to be near her," he hissed angrily.
Marron rolled her eyes. "Oh, please," she groaned. "Get over it, kid. We don't have time for this."
Akira stood up and shot Marron a warning glare. "Shut your mouth, bitch. I may have lost my powers, but I still have more than enough to finish you off as I've wanted to for so many years, so don't tempt me."
The blue haired woman unconsciously stepped back, and Trunks mentally smirked at that. "Has father contacted you?" He asked Akira.
"No. I had Ansolus contact him. A team will be meeting us nearby, but we have to go now," she responded.
He nodded and followed her out of the room. Ansolus was standing in the hall with Arro, and in his arms was the badly beaten body of Cass. Akira glanced at Marron and nodded for her to lead the way. Marron took a deep breath and took the lead. Their way was completely clear until they came to the junction where the hall met up with the main foyer. She stopped dead in her tracks and held a hand up behind her to halt them. Akira moved forward to peek around the corner cautiously, seeing what Marron was looking at. Her very blood froze in her veins.
"Freeza is here?" She whispered anxiously.
Marron was equally freaked out by this. "I knew Yamcha was conspiring with him, and that he was on his way here," she whispered back. "But I didn't think he'd get here so soon."
Akira watched as the Icejin and his entourage was escorted through the foyer and down the main hall. "They didn't see us, and we can't stall any longer. We have to keep moving."
"I know that," Marron grumbled back, walking toward their exit path.
Thankfully, there were no guards in their way. Ansolus had told them that Yamcha was gathering all his forces outside the mansion's perimeter so he would have advanced warning. They made it through the corridor and to the one of the side doors. Akira peered out the window and scanned the yard. There was a heavily wooded area a hundred feet away from the house.
"There will be a scout somewhere nearby," Ansolus told her, coming up behind her. "I'll go out and get rid of them."
Akira grabbed his arm before he could open the door. "What we need is a distraction," she told him.
Marron, suddenly, chimed in. "The hanger bay isn't far from here. I can get there without being stopped."
"Ansolus, go to the hanger bay," Akira cut in.
"I can go," the blue haired woman argued.
"You're not getting out of my sight," the former priestess told her.
(Change scene)
Arthos squinted his eyes against the setting sun and reached back to tap Vegeta on the shoulder. The Saiyan prince turned around and glanced down to where his friend was pointing. Below, in the main yard of the grounds, were several of Yamcha's men getting into various positions to keep a lookout. Vegeta frowned.
"If he thinks we're not going to be able to get past them, he's a moron," he spoke softly.
"Well, we both know Yamcha's not exactly military genius," Arthos joked back. He shifted into a more comfortable position and sighed. "At least this will be quick. Turlis should be contacting us any minute now with word on Akira and the boys."
Vegeta continued to stare down at the unsuspecting mercenaries. "There's something you should know."
"What?" Arthos scanned the yard. "Did I miss something?"
"No. It's about Akira." They were both silent, waiting for Vegeta to continue. He refused to look his old friend in the eye as he said this. Arthos could tell that whatever Vegeta was about to say was difficult for him to admit. "I selfishly held her to a promise I made her agree to before I went to war." He sighed. "That is why she keeps denying you."
"I know."
Vegeta looked up at him. "What?"
Arthos leaned back against a large rock and surveyed the sky thoughtfully. "I'm not an idiot. After you married Marron, I asked her to marry me, and she told me no, that she couldn't. There was no legitimate reason why she couldn't, unless of course," he stopped to meet Vegeta's gaze. "She vowed to wait for you before you left for the war. I knew how badly you wanted her then, and I wasn't blind to your selfishness, Vegeta. You're the type of person who believes that if you can't have something, no one should be able to have it."
"I'm taking it back," Vegeta cut in.
"You've always been a good friend to me, Vegeta, and you're a good person. Like everyone else, you have your faults. Akira was one of them. We've both hurt her badly, and her loyalty to you over the years makes me wonder if she isn't still in love with you a little." He stood up and dusted off his pants. "What with the discovery that Marron is really dead and the woman on your ship is, in fact, you're late wife's twin sister, you're a single man again. She may want to be with you, and I know you still want her by your side."
Vegeta stood up and shook his head. "You're wrong."
"It doesn't matter anymore. Can we get this over with? I'd like to see her safe once again at least."
With that said, Arthos walked off quietly. Vegeta followed him slowly. Had he really waited too late to do this? He was only a few steps down the path when it happened—a large explosion shook the ground, and he stumbled backward a step to regain his balance. Arthos looked back at him with a worried expression.
"What the hell was that?"
"I don't know," Vegeta yelled back angrily. He ran back up to the cliff they had been spying from earlier and saw the hanger bay engulfed in smoke. "I didn't give anyone orders to take out the hanger," he growled. Oh, how he hated when he wasn't listened to!
"I doubt it was any of our men, Vegeta. Look." Arthos pointed down at the mansion, more specifically the eastern walls. They both had just caught a glimpse of Trunks and Arro dodging into the undergrowth. "They're out."
"Then, it's time to strike." Vegeta pressed the button in on his scouter. "Turlis, we just spotted them. They're out, and heading your way. I expect confirmation from you ASAP," he ordered.
"Copy that, Vegeta."
"All teams, move out," the prince ordered.
(Change scene)
Yamcha rushed forward to glare out the window. "My ships!" he looked around the room. "Where the hell is Ansolus!"
"No one's been able to find him, sir," one of his soldiers replied.
Freeza shook his head. "Things don't seem to be running smoothly here, Yamcha."
"Forget Ansolus," he yelled at his man, trying to ignore the unease he felt with Freeza in the room. "Bring the Saiyan brats to me at once."
"Yes, sir. Right away!"
Freeza yawned and leaned back in his chair. "Vegeta wasn't the one who hit your hanger," he told Yamcha knowingly. He'd fought many battles against the Saiyan prince, and he knew his tactics well. This was definitely not something Vegeta would do. He was too clever and too powerful to need a distraction like that. Freeza knew there was something else going on that they weren't accounting for. "Who is this Ansolus you were talking about?" He inquired.
Yamcha sighed irritably. "One of my men. Back when Akira was engaged to me, he was her bodyguard appointed by me."
Zarbon glared at him. "Fool!" He knew exactly what Freeza was thinking. He'd come to the same conclusion. "They've escaped," he growled.
"What? Impossible," Yamcha shot back.
As if to further dig his grave, his men came rushing in, and they didn't have the children with them. Freeza stood from his chair and stalked over to one of the cowering soldiers. He reached out and snapped the man's neck and watched in satisfaction as he toppled to the ground at his feet.
"Now is not the time to face Vegeta, not when I have nothing to barter with," he muttered darkly, turning back to Yamcha. "You're men had better work quickly to find them. I will not tolerate another setback!"
(Change scene)
Akira halted her small group several yards from the beach, where she could make out her brother Turlis standing amongst his men. She looked over at Cass. The young boy was out cold from all his wounds. Arro was heavily panting from the run, and Trunks was collapsed on the ground due to exhaustion. She walked over to Arro and knelt before him. He smiled up at her.
"We made it out alive," he said.
She smiled back. "We sure did." She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him on the cheek. "I love you, Arro, but I have things that I need to do on my own," she whispered in his ear.
He frowned. "What are you talking about, Akira?"
"Don't be mad at me. I have to do this," she told him, reaching up and pinching a nerve at the base of his neck. He crumpled to the ground.
Trunks jumped up and ran over to them. "What are you doing!"
Akira looked over at him. "I have to go, Trunks. Go and tell Turlis to warn Vegeta that Freeza is in Yamcha's mansion as we speak." She pushed him toward the beach, but he looked back at her. "Go, now! There isn't much time," she warned him. "You're father isn't capable of taking him on just yet."
The boy hesitated for a moment longer before running through the trees and over to the small team of soldiers awaiting them. He ran straight for Turlis, launching himself into the man's arms. Turlis lifted the boy quickly.
"Where are the other's?" He asked the terrified youth.
Trunks swallowed painfully. "Freeza's at the mansion. You have to warn my father not to go in there."
Turlis was shocked. "Freeza?" He immediately contacted Vegeta via the scouter. "Vegeta, we have a problem. You have to abort."
"You're joking, right?" Came the harsh reply.
"No. You're son just informed me that Freeza is there. He must have arrived before we got here."
"Fuck!" There was a short pause. "The boys and Akira made it to the beach safely?" Vegeta asked.
Turlis looked down at Trunks. "Where are the others?"
"Arro and Cass are unconscious just a little ways into the woods," the boy said.
"Did you hear that, Vegeta?" Turlis asked.
"Yes. I heard him, but what of Akira?"
"Trunks? Where's Akira?"
"She said she had things that she had to do on her own. She knocked Arro out, and sent me here to warn father," he told them. "I don't know where she's going."
(Change scene)
Vegeta walked onto his ship, carrying his sleeping son in his arms. Bulma spotted him among the other men and ran over to him. There were tears flowing freely from her eyes as she held her arms out for Trunks. Vegeta handed the boy over, and watched as Trunks opened his eyes slowly to look up at Bulma.
"Trunks! Oh, thank the goddess you're okay," she sobbed.
Trunks shifted in her arms. "Can you put me down?" His voice was demanding.
Bulma reluctantly lowered him to his feet, coming to kneeling before him. She reached out and traced the outline of his jaw with her delicate fingers. "That pirate hurt you," she stated angrily.
The boy simply stared at her for a long time. "She's not dead."
"Akira's alive!" Bulma exclaimed. "Where is she?"
She completely misunderstood him. He looked up at his father. He had yet to say anything to him about his real mother either. "My mother," he said, stunning Bulma and his father. "Marron. She's alive. She's with Akira and Ansolus. She helped us get out of the mansion," he told them. "She tried to manipulate Akira into helping her get away because she didn't want to come face to face with either of you."
Vegeta couldn't believe his ears. "That whore is alive," he seethed.
"Vegeta," Bulma scolded. "That is my sister and Trunks mother."
"She's not my mother," the boy argued. "You are. I told her as much, too. I don't care what father says about her." He walked away from them.
Bulma stood up to go after him, but Vegeta stopped her by grabbing her wrist. "Let him be."
"It doesn't make sense. I know you haven't much reason to believe me, Vegeta, but I watched her body being placed in the ground. I don't know how this can be," she explained.
"Akira won't let her get away with her treachery. She'll bring her before us, and Marron will have quite a lot of explaining to do to you."
Bulma looked up into his eyes. "What about to you? She's still your wife, then."
"She stopped being my wife the second I found out she was whoring herself off to Freeza. There is nothing she could possible say that would sway me to her side."
(end chapter)
right! Very, very long time, huh? I think I'm cool with this story again. Hopefully it won't be much longer 'til an update is posted. I hope everyone liked it. Let me know what you thought, and please be honest. If you think I've lost my touch with this fic, don't be afraid to say it. I won't get made at you.
PANDORA ;-)