Bill clenched his teeth as the stint was applied to arm. Dietrich had patched him up pretty well. The armor and plasma shield kept any of the blow from being fatal, but they obviously didn't absorb it all. On an examination table he sat with only his pants on. His chest was black and blue, over his one eye was a cut dangerously close to his eye, his right arm was broken hence the stint.

His eye was focused on the ground he knew that Chi-Chi, Bulma, Mai and Gorman were all looking at him. He was their leader they expected a plan from him. But in fact, he had no plan. He wasn't happy how he had panicked nor was he happy that he hadn't ordered them to attack the moment they were confronted.

Bill said in his matter a fact way "We lost three and now there are more Saiyan's after us. I shouldn't be surprise, the monster was always a liar but for a change, I think he didn't know that what he said was a lie. Simply put I have to assume that we are being hunted. Which means we need to take even greater care. The armor did little. We cleaved through those other aliens easy enough, but we were wiped out by that Saiyan."

Mai nodded and said "Ferro said that we have two tag alongs. We're being hunted."

"My father built this ship to go fast but I have no idea how fast they are capable of going. I never got the data from the monster's pod."

"The Saiyan was stronger than Kakarrot than when I fought him at the Tournament. I have gotten stronger since then, but I wasn't a hundred percent sure that I could have beaten him. It would have been a long one either way and I may have lost."

Gorman huffed and said, "So our position is worse than we thought."

Mai shrugged then said, "I would think our position is same."

Bill shook his head then said, "No it's worse. We are in unfamiliar country. A hostile has shown us how weak we are and is now hunting us in what is his turf. It's worse than if we had run into an Imperial hunting party then we would be at least at equal terms. We are stranger here. We don't know if there is safety never mind where it is."

Mai needed an answer to a question that was on her mind but didn't want everyone here for the question or the answer "Everyone I think Bill needs some rest."

Dietrich and Gorman were out of the med lab while Chi-Chi had to nudge Bulma to the door. When Mai was sure they were out of ear shot she asked it bluntly but quietly.

"How fucked are we?"

Bill looked at his broken arm sighed then said "Pretty. I see them hunting us for longer than we can run. We have plenty of hydrogen for fuel but were going to need to stop and make more coolant. Bulma can make it she says easy enough, but we need time and time is something we don't have. If we have learned one thing from Kakarrot is that Saiyan's are both ruthless and relentless. They will keep at us. Which means were going to have to get creative. Possible leave the group on a planet with enough resources to sustain them while I use the ship lead them away."

"You're not sacrificing yourself for us. There has to be a better way. Beside if they catch up to you, they find only you then they'll start retracing their steps."

"Not if they only find an exploded ship and believe that we ran ourselves into oblivion."

Mai with a hint of panic in her voice "I can't lead these people."

"Oh yes you can. You already have been. They trust you, like they have trusted me and unlike me you're not a broken thing."

A tear came to her eye and she placed her hands on his hands. She looked into his eye and got closer to his face. In a sad voice she said, "Well maybe I need you to be here." Her face inch closer to his and he pulled back his.

"I'm sorry I can't. I don't think I… It'll hurt too many people for starters."

"I'm not asking to replace her."

"I know."

The door opened and Spunkmeyer the co-pilot came in and grinned then asked, "Am I interrupting something?"

Mai walked away from the counter the moment he came in.

Bill blushed a bit and said, "No. What is it?"

Spunkmeyer saluted and said, "Well Major, Ferro says that there is a message that you might want to hear."

Bill got dressed and him Mai, Gorman, Chi-Chi and Bulma were in the crowded cockpit with Ferro and Spunkmeyer they were listening for the message.

An obviously alien voice spoke in an obnoxiously loud and irritating voice saying "Come to the planet were pleasure was practically invented. Planet Risa. Enjoy our gambling dens, take part in our lush scenery and our flesh pits. We have willing escorts from as many species as you can think of. We also have universal class dinning. Have what you want. It's all for sale here. The freshest of slaves, of food and of everything. Come here and enjoy a first-class treatment in the best hotels in the universe. Risa come here and partake in our wonder's."

The message ended and there was a disgusted look on the groups face.

Gorman sneered in disgust saying, "This place sounds horrible."

Ferro said thinking out loud "Maybe that's why there is so many dead civilizations here. They needed slaves and wanted more growing space."

"My instruments told me the fields on the last planet were unnatural. We did detect a mass of people. Maybe they weren't all soldiers maybe they were slaves to work the fields."

"That means whoever runs the planet has a working relationship with Frieza and maybe the Saiyan's."

"True but an it is unlikely that whoever runs this place is them. It sounds like a businessman in the more tradition sense and we are potential customers. It's probably a busy space port with a lot of people coming and going. A sea to which we could get lost in."

"It's the lion's den."

"That's called Earth Cheech. No this is Sodom and Gomorrah by the sounds of it. A place where people are sold and are dreams thoroughly crushed. Where people prey on one another the same as animals in the jungle. Mom would roll over in her grave to hear I was going to a place like this. It's making my skin crawl but screw it we need to disappear and quickly. Ferro set a course to that horrid world we have a dark rock to crawl under."


Later

Over the sounds of fists clashing General Teal with his new daughter Videl came up to Kakarrot who was watching his son's clash. Livy was watching and waiting for the winner. Everybody watching knew the winner was going to Remus, but Romulus was quite suborn, he wasn't going down without a fight. His determination was at least impressive to all, but Livy.

Kakarrot asked Teal "Tell me couz did you see my address to the Party Congress last night?"

"My Lord it was like usual a masterpiece. It only a shame our Martian colony wouldn't be functional for quite a few hundred years."

Kakarrot sighed at that and said "It's true. Our living space is not going to come quick enough. We need planet already with our needs not hundred-year projects. Our fleet is large and growing. The teeming masses of the Earth require the land and wealth I have promised them and soon. I have freed the wage slaves of this world and now they are yearning for my expansion." He paused and looked. "What's with the kid?"

"Well I 'adopted' her. Videl's her name. I figured that if an entire squad of men were having a hard time keeping her down. Figured that she might be worth keeping around"

"Hmm… Well she does feel a lot stronger than a normal kid but isn't Violet your wife… your girlfriend… your baby momma pregnant? What the hell are you two any way's?"

"We don't like labels and your correct but that's going to be a boy and I also want a daughter. Don't know if I can talk her into number two so I went and picked one up myself."

Videl only half listening to all this was scared the since she had been captured it had all been education. Telling her that the man that was now in front of her was god and mankind's savior. That whoever disagreed with him were murder's, thieves, evil and selfish people who deserved what they got. They spoke of horrible the world was before this palm hair man. They all seemed so sure and Teal had not been so horrible.

Now she could play in the sun whenever she wanted. She always could eat when she wanted with no one to tell her there was no food. The more they said the easier it came for her to believe.

Videl in a near shout asked him finally the question on her mind "Are you a god sir?"

Kakarrot looked at her with warm eyes his face spoke of understanding and kindness all lies but convincing ones and said, " Yes I am my child."

Videl was quiet she knew that this couldn't be true. He seemed friendly. Not at all like a monster.

Kakarrot got on a knee to face on her level eye to eye and said "Why don't you go over and play with by kids. I'm sure they'll be happy to have a new playmate."

Videl nodded and walked over to the fight. She couldn't help but be amazed by them. They could fire light from their hands. They could fly. She thought to herself 'I'd like to fly.' She came over to Livy who then curtsied to her. Videl was confused and Livy could see it.

"Mother says that this is how a Princess is supposed to greet new strangers even if their the poors and dressed like a bum. Who are you?"

"My name is Videl Satan… sorry Teal, Videl Teal. Teal told me I have to start calling myself that and to call him dad. I'm still not sure about that."

"Why are you dressed like a boy? Armor like I'm wearing is neutral enough. But a t-shirt and work out pants. You know you were going to meet my father the Emperor a god, right?"

Videl felt ashamed by this girl "This is what I like."

"Mother says life isn't about what you like but what you have to do. Didn't your mother teach you anything?"

"I never meet her. Old dad said she died."

Livy rolled her eyes unfazed by what she said then said back to her "Well that explains it. No one was around to teach you manners."

Nearby Romulus was thrown to the ground having been overpowered by Remus. Came down to try to help his brother up. Romulus refused his hand preferring instead to pick himself up.

"You know you're getting worse Rom."

Romulus picked himself up and spat back "I will beat you."

"Fat chance! You might be a few seconds older, but I'll always be stronger."

"Fine then well shake."

Remus came over to shake Romulus hand and then Romulus hand would go to grab Remus's tail. He gripped his tail by the tip. Remus gasped, and his eyes went wide.

Romulus was stone faced as he said "You might be stronger, but I'll always be smarter. Now yield!"

Remus with tears in his eyes looked at Romulus they asked why as this move seemed to hurt his feelings.

Kakarrot yelled from his position away from the two "Enough!"

He quickly appeared in front of the two and the two got on their right knees. He looked furious his blood was up. His eyes were focused first on Romulus.

Kakarrot yelled at them asked "What do you think you're doing?" He didn't wait for Romulus to response. "If you going to play so underhanded you must go all the way and do it in the shadows. Number one if you have your opponent's weakness in your hands then you use it don't give him the chance to escape."

Romulus his eyes hitting the ground thought to himself 'I didn't actually want to hurt him I just didn't want to lose again.'

"What strength did you show in this match? Yes, you tricked him, and thinking is good. But if there had been an audience they would boo and would be justified in doing so. You showed no strength you merely showed opportunism. Your victory would have been pyrrhic and made you look weak." His eyes then turned on Remus. "What are you doing crying? You are a Prince of an Empire. You are a Saiyan and a wolf. You should not have tears to shed. You are not a weak little girl. You must be a man. Not everyone will be honorable or play fair. They will cheat they will liar and they will deceive. This is reality. You are important and strong, so plenty will try and may succeed. Crying is worthless it merely proves you are weak and capable of pushing around." He turned from them. "I am in disappointed in both of you." He left the two.

Livy looked to Videl ecstatic by all of this. Livy looked at her and said "Those two are fools. One day I'm going to be Empress." She said with the cold assurance. Videl felt a chill by this. This young girl seemed determined and her eyes spoke of ruthless calculation.

It was then that the two princes came over to her and the princess. It took a few seconds but the two calm down and what Videl assumed was their real personalities came out.

Romulus was cold and introverted. He barely spoke a word to her. He didn't sneer at her or look down on her. But he didn't like attention or enjoy Videl's questions. He didn't like her looking at his third eye or like the fact he didn't have a tail.

Remus was completely different. He liked to talk he was charming he enjoyed questions. He smiled a happily he didn't have a frown on his face like Romulus. In short, they were night and day.

Remus peppered Videl with questions about where she came from, about the Resistance and other things. Livy and Romulus seemed frustrated by this. Livy because Videl was a subject and not worth questioning. Romulus because it wasn't polite or something. They talked like this for a while, while over where Kakarrot was fuming over his son's poor performance when an urgent piece of information came to him from an intelligence officer.

The man heiled and said to him "My Lord we have trouble. An unknown craft has entered the solar system. Its heading course is the Earth."

Kakarrot looked at the information and sighed then said, "So it's going to be an interesting day after all."


Next Chapter Strangers in a Strange Land. Sorry this one was short.