Chapter 2

Bulma paced around the boat, rain in her face, and lightning making her jump every ten seconds. She checked every nook and cranny of the ship, and the only clue they had was that map. Dr. Turner was somehow steering the boat, but not very well since all he did was knock them around. Chi Chi and Ox King were still vomiting over the side, Vegeta was being a useless but hot asshole, and Goku?

Goku was hovering over Krillin for some reason?

Was he injured that badly back in the other room?

No.

Focus.

Focus on escape.

If they need you, she told herself, they'll come to you.

They always do, and you'll be there for them when they do.

Right now?

Focus on escape.

A crack of thunder rumbled her chest and she gripped her drenched hair in aggravation. If Chi chi the hairstylist wasn't hacking out her lungs, she could have her fix it.

Wait, probably not.

She would just get rained on again.

There was a domino affect as rounds of thunder went one after the other, and Krillin was having trouble keeping face.

It was hard for Goku to help him out too, because back at the dorms Krillin would go sit in the bathroom.

Alone.

So for Goku, he didn't have the slightest clue on how Krillin dealt with it. He only found out about the fear a few years ago when they went for a walk in the park.

One bang of thunder, and Krillin was hiding under a slide.

Which kinda freaked out the kids.

But even back then, he forced Goku to leave him alone, and Goku listened.

"Hey…Krillin. Maybe since…you know…we could die…You could tell me?"

Krillin was sitting fetal position on the deck, head no longer bleeding, and Goku beside him. He gripped his knees so hard he almost didn't hear him. "T-tell you? Tell you what?"

"Why you don't like thunder."

Goku's spikey hair drooped from the rain, and Krillin gripped his legs tighter. "I want to…tell you…someday…but not-not now, okay?"

Goku smiled lightly. "Alright. I won't push you."

"Thank-you!"

The boat lurched, Krillin gripping Goku's sleeve, and Ox King gripping his daughter as the boat nearly toppled over.

Heart pounding, Vegeta clung to the crow's nest, yelling to Dr. Turner. "Hey, you! Let me steer that thing! You're going to get us killed!"

"What?"

"Let me steer!"

A flash of thunder.

"I can't hear you!"

Vegeta snarled, making his way upward. He shoved Dr. Turner aside, and gripped the wheel himself. "I'll do it, dwarf, and you tell me where to go, because I'll kill you myself if you touch this wheel again."

Dr. Turner paled, shivering as he glanced at the map. "M-make a sharp turn right."

Vegeta did as he asked.

They were still lurched to the side from the waves, but they didn't come close to toppling over.

"As I said," Vegeta growled. "I'll do it."

"Y-yes, sir." Dr. Turner swallowed."It-it's all yours."

Another growl.

Another lighting strike.

More thunder.

More waves.

Bulma gasped when she nearly blew away.

The winds were getting bad.

Things were a bit smoother with Vegeta steering-man, those muscles-NO. Not now. She had other things to do. Chi Chi and Ox King were finally done dying, and she scurried to her boys.

You know, the idiot ones.

Not the cute ones.

"Goku? Krillin? You two have been awfully quiet down here."

Krillin stiffened, until Goku answered. "He felt dizzy, so I came and sat with him."

Phew.

"Really? Was the hit to your head that bad? No wonder you look so pale. Maybe we should-yikes!"

Another lurch sent her flying, Goku grabbing her arm before she flew out of the boat entirely. Anyone could tell the waves were getting rougher, and the boat was getting tossed and turned like clothes in the laundry.

There was a clank, and a whir, and Bulma's gaze went to the side of the boat.

The plank.

There was now a literal plank.

"Vegeta!" She yelled past the thunder. "Do you see the island?!"

"No, and I'm getting pissed!"

"You're-you hissed?"

"Pissed!"

She blushed. "K-kissed?"

'I'm getting-" He gripped the wheel tightly. "Forget it! There's no island!"

Drat.

"T-take a left." Dr. Turner said.

Vegeta did.

"No-no island?" Chi Chi hissed. "We can't die like this. I have clients, and I have a life." She was getting mad now. "Vegeta! Put this boat into hyper drive!"

"It's a pirate ship!" Bulma screamed." They-they don't have turbo!"

"I know that but there has to be some way to make this go faster."

Another crack of thunder.

Krillin whimpered, and Bulma actually heard it.

"Krillin? What's the matter with you over there?"

Goku stepped in again. "Oh, you know. Now he's sea-sick."

"Sea sick?"

"Sea sick."

"Damn it-I better not catch it. Chi Chi, did you have an idea on that faster boat thing?"

She shrugged. "We could…adjust the sails?"

Bulma glanced up at the sails, stomach dropping. "I-I don't have climbing skills like that…"

"My dad does." Chi Chi grinned. "Don't you dad?"

Ox King grinned too. "Hey, that's not a bad idea."

"Oh!" Goku chimed. "I could help! I climb!"

"Well, well, well," Bulma smiled. "It looks like we may not have to walk the plank after all. Vegeta! Dr. Turner! Keep her steady! We're going to fix the sails!"

Dr. Turner squinted. "You're eating snails?"

"Sails!"

"Pails?"

"Sails!"

"Oh, Sails!"

He gave them a thumbs up and Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"And Krillin," She continued. "Just…don't throw upon me, okay?"

He nodded.

Ox King and Goku were already climbing up the mast, both moving past the rain and winds at surprising and impressive speeds.

Bulma whistled. "Who knew football would set Goku up for this type of destiny."

The two were at the sails, Bulma unable to see them now past the rain and-now the fog? Shit.

This was awful.

She sneezed, her body knocking into Krillin's when the wind blew.

"I hate this!" She cried. "I want to go home! I want to lie in bed, and I want to take a bath! Come on, Goku! You can do this! And you can do it fast!"

"The waves…" Chi Chi breathed.

The waves?

Bulma looked out to sea.

They were getting higher.

Chi Chi looked green again, and with a crack of thunder she felt Krillin jump beside her.

"S-sorry, Bulma." He stuttered. "It's just…all this at once is kinda terrible."

"Tell me about it."

"I-I really wish I could."

He was surprised when she took hold of his hand. "Lets…not let each other blow away, okay?"

He gripped her hand, nodding.

Bulma took hold of Chi Chi's hand too. "No one's dying on this boat if I can help it."

She stared up at the sails, until something dark and big started to fall towards them.

Oh no.

One of the sails.

The three of them fled the deck, all of them huddling beside Vegeta and Dr. Turner as the sail soared into the clouds.

The thunder got louder, and the wind got stronger.

Krillin's chest pounded, and his body shivered.

Shit-he felt like he was going to pass out.

This was too much for him.

Not only that, but he was worried about Goku and Ox King. They were on the mast, and it seemed to be swaying.

"The waves…" Chi Chi said again.

Krillin's eyes widened as a wave crashed into the boat, rocking them so hard they almost toppled over.

Bulma felt Chi Chi let go of her hand. "What was the clue again? Solve the puzzle, or walk the plank? With a choice between the two?"

Bulma raised an eyebrow. "Y-yes? Why?"

"We haven't…solved the puzzle."

"I know…we're trying."

"I-think I need to throw up."

She scurried back to the deck, Krillin gasping aloud when she stepped out onto the plank, fighting back wind and rain to stay on it.

"B-B-Bulma!" He cried.

Bulma whipped around. "Oh no…is she…doing what I think she is? No, no! You don't need to do that! Chi Chi! No!"

"Hey!" Chi Chi called. "T-Tell my dad its, okay, alright! Tell him I wanted to save him!"

"Chi Chi! Don't be an idiot! That won't wo-"

Chi Chi jumped into the sea, a wail of despair coming from the mast.

Blackness hovered over the boat, and a wave came crashing down.