QUEST FOR POWER :THE WARLORD
By Konrad
PART 2
"Oh Vegetaaaaa, you ready for that bubble bath? Hey, did you feel that earthquaaaaAAAHHH! What the hell is that thing on my lawn?" Bulma screamed at the sight of the alien craft. She came out of the front door in her bathrobe, while Gohan and the alien visitor gazed at her with curiosity. Vegeta fumed at the embarassment.
"Why would you want a bubble bath, Bulma?" Gohan asked innocently.
"Quiet, brat! Woman, you're nothing but a walking embarrassment!" Vegeta yelled at the top of his lungs. This time, it was Bulma whose face got flustered with rage.
"Me? An embarrassment? What about you, you overgrown monkey! You think you can yell at people, that you're the boss because your hair gives extra height!" Their argument startled baby Trunks who started crying.
"Shhh, it's ok, Trunks." Gohan tried soothing him. "It's just your mommy and daddy fighting as usual. Hey, you two! Don't we have some more important things to talk about here?" Vegeta huffed and turned back to the alien, ignoring his mate's dagger-like glare.
"Alright, let's get this over with." The Saiyan Prince said, looking at the visitor. "You, how the hell do you know us? We never heard of you! What are you, a spy?" Gohan sighed.
"Yeah, and why do you need our help?" added the young boy.
"Hey, hold on! We're coming!" Krillin's voice rang out.
Gohan, Vegeta, Bulma and the visitor turned around to see Tenshinhan, Krillin and Android 18 approaching fast.
"Krillin!" Gohan said as they landed. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, Piccolo warned us about this thing and asked us to come." Krillin responded, pointing at the spaceship. "So, here we are!"
"Oh, so I guess the Namek will be coming too." sneered Vegeta, not happy to see anybody.
"The Namek's already here." Piccolo said mockingly. Everyone looked up to see Piccolo and Trunks perched comfortably on the roof.
"Hey father!" Trunks couldn't resist a light jab at Vegeta's bad humor.
"Stupid green man." Vegeta muttered under his breath as the two others slowly floated down.
"Midget." the Namek replied simply. Vegeta gritted his teeth.
"I'll get you for that one, ugly."
"Ok, well, so tell us what's going on?" Gohan spoke as everyone's attention was forced back on the visitor. "Who are you, what do you know of us and who is this Dudan you talked about earlier?" The alien took a deep breath to keep his cool in front of them since he knew their strength.
"Alright then." he started. "My name is Yoshuro from the planet Mesata. My people come from the planet Jubi but we now live on several others as well, like Mesata. We mainly spread out in three systems…"
"Mainly?" Piccolo inquired.
"Well, we Jubians are established on several other planets, mostly in the form of resorts, mining colonies and ventures. Anyhow, a few weeks ago, an army belonging to the space warlord Dudan, a planet trader, came and attacked us. They were weak so we handled them easily but our leaders worried that Dudan's main forces and possibly Dudan himself might come. And, unfortunately, our fears were confirmed when we detected Dudan's armies heading towards our space. Our intel was able to gather accurate information on Dudan and his forces. Some of his troops we'll be able to fend off but we won't have so much luck against others. And even if…IF…we survive them, which is quite unlikely, we will still have to face Dudan's Elite and maybe even the warlord himself if he decides to amuse himself at our expense. We resisted a couple more attacks but, at last report, some strong attacks are coming up and Dudan has never been defeated before. So our leaders sent me here to ask for your help because, aside from the Kosajin who can't be totally counted on, you're the most powerful people we can find."
"The…Kosajin?" Vegeta said puzzled.
"The Kosajin are…" Yoshuro started.
"Never mind." Vegeta said as he shook his head and he smirked. "You won't be needing them. You said this Dudan character is in the planet trade like my old friend Freezer? I'll gladly give him a visit to the Otherworld."
"Wow, undefeated, huh?" Piccolo thought out loud. "Sounds tough... then again, Brolly was also undefeated."
"Do you guys think it's the right idea to go there? I mean, you're putting yourselves in danger again for something completely unknown." Bulma said. She still wasn't over her fear from the Cell saga and how she had almost lost Trunks.
Gohan frowned and thought for merely a second before making up his mind. His father would've gone without a second thought, he'd always be the first to help. Besides, his mom couldn't say much. School wouldn't start for a couple of months.
"Yoshuro, how far is your home space from here?" he asked.
"About four days of flight at max speed."
"Good enough, I'm going." Gohan said. Vegeta only smirked.
"It doesn't matter if you all come, though you could all stand to learn a thing or two from me." he haughtily added. Everybody mentally huffed at once.
"Well, since Gohan AND Vegeta might need help, it'd be best to separate who goes from who stays." Piccolo said, his eyes darting briefly to look at Vegeta's scowl.
"I have every intention of going and helping my father." Trunks said, ignoring the Saiyan Prince's reddening face.
"Obviously, I'm going too." The Namek replied. "Tenshinhan?"
"Why not. I'm looking for more opportunities to get stronger."
"I'll go too." offered 18. All heads turned to her in curiosity. Gohan, Piccolo and Krillin had noticed her increased urge to integrate in the Z Senshi. Trunks frowned deeply.
"You sure honey? I mean, it does sound dangerous, you don't have to do this. Besides you're new to the whole hero thing." Krillin said half-jokingly to his girlfriend, worry painted on his face. 18 smiled at him.
"It's ok, I can take of myself." she assured.
"Yeah, as if we didn't know that." Gohan added laughing. "Don't worry, I'll watch over her, Krillin, as long as she watches over me."
"Deal!" 18 said.
"Well I won't be travelling with you guys this time, I've got too much to do here. Besides, someone wouldn't want my help." Bulma spoke mockingly, as Vegeta shook his head in defeat. This was apparently the day to mock him. "But I'll get you some supplies and equipment if you like."
"Hey, I can help a bit too even if I'm not there. If you guys wait for me, I'll go get senzu beans!" added Krillin. He blasted off in the distance.
"Your generosity is very much appreciated, all of you." beamed Yoshuro. He bowed his head in thanks.
"You heard that, Trunks?" Gohan said in the most childish manner possible. "I'm going in space! Yes I am." Baby Trunks smiled and giggled in his face.
"See, why can't you be more like that, Veggie?" Bulma mocked as she made her way back into her house.
"Don't start with me, woman!" Vegeta yelled back. "I'm not for any of that mushy stuff! And you promised us supplies. You know you better pack a planet's worth of food for three Saiyans. And something we can actually eat without being poisoned would be good for once!" He continued as he followed her inside.
While they waited for Bulma and Krillin, all the others paced around the front lawn. Yoshuro went to talk to Gohan, 18 and Tenshihan. 18 glanced to see Trunks taking Piccolo aside.
"Piccolo, I have a hard time trusting her." Trunks said in a low voice.
18 watched the two warriors. She couldn't hear a word they were saying, but she felt she was the subject of their conversation. She heard about how she ruined Trunks' future, about how she took part in the murder of the world's prime defenders, about how she destroyed cities and killed millions of people. She wasn't like that. But if not for Cell, would I have done those things? She briefly thought before shaking the implications of that out of her head. No! I'm not a monster, I wouldn't have become one and I'm going to prove it to everyone, including Trunks!
"Trunks, I doubt you have to worry about her. She doesn't have that in her." Piccolo said.
"But…"
"Another version of her wrecked your life in your timeline but this timeline's 18 is different and she will never be like the 18 you know in your time, just like the child that Gohan is cradling will turn out to be very different from you. Besides, I used to be evil too. And Vegeta, I'm sure, won't be turning against us anytime soon. So if you can trust us, Trunks, you can certainly trust 18."
"Maybe… but I can't forget the future and what happened there…I'll try to…"
"Good."
As the two men returned to the rest of the group, Trunks was just barely able to suppress a look of suspicion and hate when his eyes met those of Android 18. He was so used to hating her; it was almost instinctive. Startled, the Android bowed her head slightly and looked away. Trunks sighed. This is going to be a long trip if he couldn't find away to repress his instincts and at least try to be nice with her.
Meanwhile, Tenshinhan talked telepathically to Chaozu and Lunch.
"Always trying to save the world as usual." Lunch said, half-smiling.
"If I don't do it, who will?" Tenshinhan replied.
"Gohan." Chaozu offered jokingly. "Or Trunks. Or Vegeta. Or maybe Pic..."
"Shut up, Chaozu!"
"Take care of yourself out there, please." Lunch pleaded one more time.
"I will. Chaozu, take care of her." Tenshinhan said solemnly before cutting off the link. He didn't want it to last too long and get too emotional.
When Krillin returned, he handed the bag of senzu to Android 18. Not long after, Bulma came back out, followed by Vegeta. She handed the Z Senshi bags and capsules containing food, clothes, and anything else she could think of that could be useful. As Gohan handed gave her back baby Trunks, Bulma took him aside.
"I talked to your mom on the phone, I didn't think it would be good not to tell her that you were flying off into space..." she began.
"Oh." Gohan groaned. Bulma smiled.
"But while she doesn't approve of you going away like that, she understands how strong you are and how it's important to help against injustice. So she's allowing you to go so long as you promise to study anytime you get the chance. To help, I'm giving you a couple of books that you can study on math and social sciences, and some study material. That way, your mom is happy and you can still go in space and kick evil butt! What do you think?" she added as she handed him a backpack. Gohan's face immediately brightened up.
"Bulma, you're the best! You can bet, I won't slack in my studies!"
Deep in the galaxy, in a small vessel, a raven-haired woman gently tapped the electronic consoles in front of her. Her name was Cerion. Normally she indulged in manipulating people and events. Today, she was bored to tears. For the past few weeks, she'd increasingly grown worried over what had been transpiring in the galaxy. Threats, conspiracies, war. And to think for once I'm in the middle of it all instead of pulling the strings. Not really fun, she thought.
She kept her eyes closed as she nearly drifted silently into sleep. She snapped them open when a beeping noise brought her to attention. Cerion brushed her eyes slightly and took a look at a display in front of her. It indicated a blinking dot moving away from a blue planet. Cerion narrowed her eyes.
"A Jubian ship..." she mumbled to herself. "Could it be?..."
She closed her eyes again and concentrated this time. After a few moments, she felt part of her senses and consciousness leave her body. Her astral form crossed the distance in less than a minute and her spirit found it's way into the recesses of a mind. Did it too quickly. They'll probably feel a little tug in the back of their head but not enough to alarm them. Now let's see who's here. As it happened, the person who's mind she had entered had three eyes and was in a corner of the ship with a view of all the other passengers. Satisfied, Cerion left quickly, leaving a slight blank in that person's mind. Her spirit returned to her body. She shook her head as if to rid herself of the mild discomfort the quick mental entry and exit had caused her. No more of that for a while. She quickly searched files and pictures on her computer and started matching them with the images of the people she 'saw' on that ship.
"Android 18..." Cerion read out loud to herself. "Piccolo... Vegeta... Trunks... the other one probably just a simple Jubian envoy... Ahh!" A wide smile etched it's way across her face as she looked up the last face she saw. "Son Gohan..."
Suddenly, a blaring sound was briefly emitted before a heavy voice resonated through a small speaker device on the console. Cerion immediately frowned.
"Cerion! We will soon proceed as planned. Everyone must be present and ready."
"Of course, Lord Dudan!" she responded. The communication ended and a smirk returned to Cerion's face.
Well, this is more like it.
END OF PART TWO