Chapter Forty Four: Kame House- Found!

The plane flew swiftly over the seas towards Kame House. Plan B was well underway. As they did so, Bulma seemed ill at ease. 'I wish we didn't have to involve Roshi,' she said 'there is no telling what he'll ask in addition to these magazines.'

'If he does,' said Kakarot 'we'll make him an offer he can't refuse.'

'We're coming up on it now.' said Bulma.

'I see it!' said Kakarot 'We're here!'

Once again they landed upon a small island with three palm trees, and a single pink and red house on it. At last they arrived, and Kakarot felt a surge of nostalgia. It seemed like only yesterday he'd been training with Master Roshi. Now he had been putting his training to good use.

They found Turtle trimming the grass with a sickle. He looked up as Kakarot stepped off the plane with Bulma. 'Oh Kakarot, this is certainly a surprise. Welcome back, its good to see you again,' He glanced to Bulma. 'and you too.'

'See if I give you salt water again.' muttered Bulma.

'Its good to see you again too.' said Kakarot. 'It has been some time since I've seen my friends.'

'Yeah,' said the Turtle 'so are you here on business or pleasure?'

'Little bit of both, actually.' said Kakarot 'We need Master Roshi's help.'

'I'll get him.' said Turtle 'Master! Hey Master! Kakarot's here!'

In Blue Command, General Blue was listening to the horrified screaming of his subordinates over the radio. It was loud and filled with horror. It also never stopped. 'Pilot 01!' snapped Blue 'This is General Blue! Control yourself!'

The screaming continued. Blue looked to his fellows then back. 'Have you found the downed scout plains. If you have, keep screaming.'

The screaming continued.

'Have you found Briefs?' asked Blue 'If so keep screaming.'

The screaming stopped and Blue sighed. 'Excellent, now tell me-'

The screaming picked up again.

'Are the pilots dead?' asked Blue 'If so, keep screaming.'

The screaming continued and Blue gritted his teeth in anger. 'I am talking to a dead man right now, if I don't get a full report on my desk in the next two hours?! Do you understand me?!'

There was an audible click on the other side, scarcely audible over the screaming. Then there was a bang and the screaming ended. Blue remained silent.

'Sir…' said the crocodile 'I think he just shot himself.'

Blue stood up straight and turned to walk over to a vase of roses. Reaching down, he plucked one of the flowers and raised it to his nose. 'This girl has laid waste to two of our best regiments, and I will not be the third. She may possess some skill, but there is one thing which I know for certain and that is…' He crushed the rose in his fist. 'Nothing lasts forever.'

'Should I send a team to check on the others?' asked the crocodile.

'No,' said Blue 'just send a bombing run and consume the whole place in fire. We'd best not waste any more subordinates looking for whatever it was Briefs left there.'

Master Roshi was busy watching a video featuring beautiful women clad in bikinis running on beaches, their large breasted bodies wet with perspiration as they walked, their ample chests bouncing.

'Hey Master! Master Kakarot's here!' cried Turtle.

'I'm busty, I mean I'm busy!' said Roshi, glancing back. Then he realized that Kakarot was here and stood up, switching off the TV in a flash. He made his way out and opened the door. 'Kakarots here?' Kakarot ran up to him, looking very boyish. 'What brings you out here boy, I thought you were off looking for the dragonballs.'

'We still are.' said Kakarot 'Its been pretty fun actually.'

'Erm…' Roshi glanced to Bulma. 'what can I help you with?'

'I'll let Bulma tell you.' said Kakarot.

'Hello Roshi.' said Bulma. 'Kakarot and I were wondering if you might have a sub marine lying around here that we could maybe borrow?'

Well that sounded harmless. Then again, so did Kakarot. 'Why certainly, what interest do you have in a sub marine?'

'We found another dragonball at the bottom of the ocean,' said Kakarot with an odd sort of innocence. 'but its way too deep to swim too. I tried.' He paused. 'Oh right, that reminds me, we found a lot of beautiful women whose souls have been imprisoned within magazines in erotic poses. We were hoping you might know a way to free them.'

'Yeah,' said Bulma, taking out a bag and handing it to him.

Roshi picked one up and began to scan through it. 'Whoa nellie! This sure seems like a serious bit of soul trapping Kakarot! I'll have to examine these girls in great detail! You can have the submarine in recognition of the good deed you did by bringing them to me!'

'Thank you Master Roshi,' said Kakarot 'you are a positive role model that all people should aspire to be more like.'

'I know, right!' laughed Roshi.

'Alright, your all very admirable,' said Bulma 'now give us the capsule for the submarine, would ya?'

'Patience my dear, patience.' said Roshi, folding the magazine and putting it away. 'Krillen and Launch took it into town to do some shopping. They should be back any minute now, no big deal.'

Meanwhile, Launch and Krillen were shopping within a dusty town of wooden buildings. This was, perhaps, a slightly more difficult venture than it sounded like, all things considered. There were a wide variety of people here, from kids in striped hats to dogs in pink dresses carrying flowers. A man in a chefs hat was selling fish, while a panda carried a basket of apples down the street.

'Lets see,' said Blue Launch 'I think I'll take two onions, five carrots and about three cucumbers.'

'Sure, sure, no problem.' said a brown bear as he loaded up her order. He glanced to Krillin. 'She's cute, is she your sister?'

'Uh… no.' said Krillin with nervous laughter,

Was it just Krillin, or had Blue Launch's innocence become somewhat ominous of late. She wouldn't tell them anything about how she had split off from the rest of the gang, why, or what she had been doing during that time. It kind of worried Krillin.

Meanwhile, back at the Red Ribbon HQ General Red grew increasingly frustrated. He clenched his teeth around his cigar as he watched the erratic nature of the dragonballs pattern. One of them continued to head in the direction of Captain Yellow's forces. The other had moved away from the signal, and now had gone into the middle of the ocean.

'My guess is that the boy is working with someone.' said Black.

'I don't pay you to guess, now do I?' asked Red. 'Your second rate speculations won't get me the dragonballs!'

'Mmmhmm,' said Black, remaining silent. If Red didn't want him to talk, then he could run his own army.

'Tell me what we know!' snapped Red.

Oh so now he wanted Black's second rate speculations. 'Briefs knows where the dragonball is but she's spending a lot of time away from it. Her radar is quite sophisticated. Not exactly something you'd expect a teenaged girl to create for fun. I suspect that she was assisted in her creation of the dragon radar by someone.'

'That could mean she has a headquarters is located somewhere in that vicinity.' mused Red. 'We can't hit Capsule Corp directly, if we did King Furry would send the World Nation army after us right quick. We can't directly confront him until we've got all seven dragonballs.'

'Yes sir.' said Black.

'Well don't just stand there like a moron!' snapped Red 'Contact Blue and have his scouts find the girls hideout.'

The group were waiting in their own ways. Bulma was sitting on a sun chair beneath the shade of a palm tree. Roshi was standing about, staff in hand. The Turtle was beside him, while a little ways on Kakarot was standing with his hands behind his head. They waited, and wait, and waited some more.

'Where are they?' asked Bulma.

'They'll be back soon.' said Roshi 'Don't worry. Turtle, whats taking them so long?'

'I've got a bad feeling.' said Turtle.

'Ah! AH! ACHOO!' Launch sneezed. All of a sudden a darkness fell over the sun, and a large vegetable was shoved down the throat of the food vendor. 'Don't talk with food in ya mouth?!' cried Launch, before punching him into his own stall. 'What kind of shop doesn't sell green onions?! This is ridiculous! Come here!' She grabbed him by the collar, only for Krillin to leap onto her leg.

'Launch no!' cried Krillen 'Stop it, please stop it!'

Launch reached down and gripped Krillen by the collar of his robe. 'Get lost!' Then she hurled him into the distance. Slapping her hands together, she looked around at the awed crowd.

'Hey!' said a man.

'You want something?!' snapped Launch, before grabbing a watermelon and hurling it into the mans face. 'What about the rest of ya?! Ya want some of this?!'

The crowds scattered.

Back at the sea, Kakarot had been finding new uses for his swimming skills. It had been almost a year since he had actually fished for food, and he was out of practice. It look him a little longer than he would have liked to catch the fish, but finally he emerged and looked to Turtle. 'Hey, ready?!'

'Okay!' said Turtle, holding a bucket on his shell.

'One!' cried Kakarot, hurling a fish. 'two, three, four, five!' Five long and large fish were flung through the air and landed in the bucket. He also hurled a large number of other sea creatures he had caught by hand, to fill things up.

As Bulma sun bathed, Kakarot made his way out of the water and looked at the blue skies above. He felt a profound innocence overtaking him, in a manner which he had rarely felt, even in the years before he'd met Bulma. Always he had been training to surpass Grandpa Gohan, or working on his own designs.

Now however he felt a profound joy welling up in his heart, waiting to burst forth and overflow. He looked to where Bulma was yawning, and sitting up. Roshi approached. 'Whats the matter?' asked the old master 'Can I get you some more water?'

'No thanks,' said Bulma 'I've had so many already that I'm beginning to feel water logged.'

'Thats a shame.' said Roshi.

'Thats enough,' said Turtle 'buckets full. Great job! We'll eat well tonight.'

'Good,' said Kakarot 'thats good.' Then he looked once more upon the sea, breathing in the free air with relish. Yet he could see no sign of Launch and Krillen.

'See anything Kakarot?' asked Bulma.

'Their not here yet.' said Kakarot, before halting. 'Wait, look up there!' He pointed.

There in the distance they saw a speck growing larger and larger, until it became a blue submarine flying on the air. Soon it began lowering itself towards the ground, while Turtle looked up. 'Its about time they got back, I could have been faster than that.'

'They better have a lot of groceries.' said Bulma.

The sub landed, and its cockpit opened to reveal Krillen and Blue Launch, who looked up in surprise as Kakarot approached them, raising a hand. 'Hey guys!'

'Hi!' said Blue Launch.

'Kakarot!' cried Krillen.

'Where have you been?' asked Kakarot 'We've been waiting for hours.'

As Krillien and Launch began coming down with the groceries, Bulma looked over the sub. 'What a machine, this sub is fantastic!'

'Hello,' said Krillen 'its always nice to see you again Bloomer.'

'Its Bulma!' snapped Bulma 'Bulma!'

'We've been waiting for you.' said Roshi 'Why are you so late?'

'Eh, well…' Krillen paused. 'Launch had one of her episodes while we were at the market today.'

'Thought so.' said Turtle.

'Yeah,' said Blue Launch 'I sneezed again.'

'You didn't cause much chaos when you were with us.' noted Bulma.

'Well…' Blue Launch paused. 'I think my other self enjoyed causing mayhem on the Red Ribbon Army, so she toned down her mayhem on people who didn't deserve it.'

'Sounds entertaining,' said Kakarot 'sorry I missed it.'

'Hey Kakarot,' said Krillen 'why are you here anyway? Launch said you guys were hunting the Red Ribbon Army. Pretty dangerous stuff, buddy.'

'Meh,' said Kakarot 'their pretty overrated actually.'

A Red Ribbon Army scout copter flew through the air over the ocean, its pilot scanning the area ahead carefully.

'Scout 45,' said General Blue 'come in. What is your status, over?'

'This is scout 45,' said Scout 45 'no sign of a base yet. However there aren't too many islands in this region, so I anticipate contact to be imminent.'

'Roger that.' said Blue.

'Over.'

Back at Kami House, Kakarot and Bulma had only just finished explaining their plans, and Krillen was looking over the map.

'Uh huh…' said Krillen 'judging by this map you're definitely going to need a submarine.'

'Wow, what brilliant insight?!' snapped Kakarot 'Truly this is something I could not have learned in any other way! I can't tell you how much you have enhanced our plans by telling us the thing we just finished telling you!'

'Shut up, Kakarot.' said Krillen. 'If it really is around here, you should be able to find the pirates treasure easily with the submarine.'

'Pirates what now?' asked Kakarot.

'Treasure?!' said Bulma, leaning forward with stars in her eyes. 'Did you say treasure?'

Then Roshi appeared. 'Would anyone care for a nice glass of iced tea?'

'Sure,' said Kakarot.

'No thanks.' said Bulma.

'I'll take one.' said Krillen.

'So Krillen,' said Bulma 'give us the scoop?'

'Master Roshi knows more than I do.' said Krillen, looking to his master.

'Whats that?' asked Roshi.

'You know,' said Krillen 'the story you always tell me. The legend of the missing pirates treasure.'

Roshi walked forward a pace. 'Hmm? Oh yes, the pirates treasure.

Long ago these waters were infested with pirates who plundered and pillaged everything in sight. Not the sort you'd invite over for fruit punch, I'll tell you that! Pirate ships were heavily populated and well armed. Many royal vessels, carrying precious jewels and riches, fell prey to their attacks. Legend has it that much of the stolen bounty ended up on the ocean floor, and is still there today.

Yes sir, whoever finds that treasure is going to be as rich as a King!'

'Hmm,' said Bulma, stars in her eyes. 'how romantic. We have to find this treasure, I mean we just have to!'

'One,' said Kakarot 'the brutal massacre of innocents for the sake of attaining a heavy, useless metal is not romance. Two, we don't have to find the treasure. And three, why do you even care? Your the daughter of one of the richest men in the entire planet?!'

'The richest, actually,' boasted Bulma.

'…You still haven't answered my question.'

'It sounds awesome!' said Krillin 'I'd love to go with you and help!'

'Great, sure, why not,' said Kakarot 'I was tired of looking for dragonballs anyway.'

'Can I go master,' said Krillin 'please?! I know this map like the back of my hand!'

Roshi nodded with a smile. 'Hmmhmm, I suppose. But finish you're chores first.'

'Yes sir!' said Krillen.

'What about you Launch?' asked Kakarot.

'Hmm,' said Launch 'I think I'd like a break from excitement for a bit.'

'To each his own.' said Kakarot.

Thirty minutes later they piled into the submarine and lifted off into the air as Launch, Turtle and Roshi watched them go. Flying through the air, Kakarot watched the clouds flow by. 'So can this thing go underwater as well as fly?' asked Kakarot from his seat.

'Yep,' said Bulma 'this baby does both! Its a submarine and an airplane?!'

'So some kind of airfish?' asked Kakarot.

'The proper name is actually oh no I left my rucksack back at Master Roshi's with the dragonballs inside!' cried Bulma.

'Thats a bit of a mouthful, don't you think?' mused Kakarot.

'Its okay, relax.' said Krillen 'Nothing is going to happen to it while its at Master Roshi's house.'

'Your right,' said Bulma 'I'm just being silly. What a relief.'

Scout 45 halted his copter suddenly as he saw a machine rush past. He opened a channel. 'General Blue, this is scout 45. I've studied an unidentified flying object heading north northwest. Would you like me to follow in pursuit, over?'

'Negative,' said Blue 'backtrack its flight pattern. If its the girl her base can't be too far away. Over.'

'Copy that.' said Scout 45, before carrying out his orders.

General Blue waited impatiently as the scout followed orders.

'I've got something! Sending coordinates now!'

'Go to visual inferred scan! Is anybody out there!'

'Affirmative,' said the scout 'I have visual confirmation of an old man, one women, and a turtle. All are outside the house and appear to be unarmed. Awaiting further instructions, over.'

'The Old Man must be the scientist who designed Brief's radar.' said Blue.

Things were looking up for the Red Ribbon Army.

Authors Note:

Wow, these last few chapters have been pretty slow, haven't they? This chapter was largely the same as the original episode. The key difference is in the reaction to the dead soldiers, and some of Kakarot's interactions. As you may have noticed, I'm trying to increase my update schedule a bit, so we can get further along.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading!