Lineage 2

3:37pm

"Goku, she's here." Bulma spoke into the phone. A moment later Goku's voice came from
behind her.

"Where is she??"

Bulma felt her heart nearly skip a beat out of shock as behind her was the last place she
had expected Goku's response to come from. She quickly reeled around to face Goku.

"Damnit Goku! you nearly gave me a heart attack! You can't sneak up on people like that!"

"What.. oh uh sorry.." Goku said apologetically, still holding the phone in his hand. He shifted his weight uncharacteristically nervously as Bulma stared at him. "So where is she?"

"She's with Goten and Trunks at the main building." Bulma said, hanging up the phone connection from her end.

"Well let's go see them!" Goku said, preparing to leave when Bulma caught his arm.

"Whoa whoa whoa. Not so fast mister. I know you're anxious and excited to meet her, but we
need to make sure you're not going to say anything too..... dumb to her."

"Huh? What could I say that'd be dumb?"

"Oh alot. Namely the Saiyan thing. We don't want to scare the poor girl."

"So... what should we do?"

"Well she's staying for dinner, why don't you get Chi Chi and Gohan and everyone here? It's been awhile since I've seen you all."

"Yea.. Hey yea! That's a good idea." Goku responded. "I'll go get everyone. What time is good?"

"Say 5?"

4:44pm

Trunks crept around one of the corridor edges, a gun shaped object firmly clasped in his hands. It turned out those Aerol Decentrification flooding projectors his grandfather had mentioned were actually prototypes for a highly advanced version of laser tag. The three teens took the prototypes into the underground labyrinths of Capsule Corp to test them. Naturally Trunks and Goten had downed their speed significantly to make sure Alex had a realistic chance. Either way the game had become quiet fun. Trunks was just about to leap around the corner to ambush the person he heard on the other side when Goten spoke from behind him.

"Got you trunks." Goten said before firing off his own weapon. There was a soft feminine, but mechanical, voice from the sensory shirt trunks wore,

"You are now dead, thank you for playing CC Tag." indicating he was out of the game.

"Aw man. You suck Goten." Trunks frowned turning to face his friend.

"You should pay more attention Tru..." Goten began but was unable to before his own sensor shirt rang out.

"Ha got you Goten!" Alex said making her presence known.

Goten frowned. "Bah damnit Alex." He said angrily attempting to maintain an angry look but failing horribly as his face broke into a grin.

"You're good at this Alex." Trunks said.

"Can't be that good. You guys still won more rounds then me."

Trunks was about to respond when the intercom went off.

"Trunks? Trunks are you down there?" Came Dr. Briefs voice for overhead.

"Yes Gramps what's up?" Trunks boomed loudly. He wanted to be sure the intercom system would pick up his response.

"Your mother is looking for you. I think she wants the three of you to come for dinner."

"Oh.. alright. What do you wants us to do with these toys?"

There was a slight grumble over the intercom, something about "not being toys" before "Hmm, just leave them at the front desk."

4:54
Gohan, Goten, Videl, Goku, Vegeta, Bulma, Chi-Chi, Trunks, and Alex were all crowded around the Brief's dinner table whose every square inch was covered in food and plates.

"Well everyone, dig in." Bulma said happily, gesturing towards the food.

"Oh boy, I'm starved!" Goku said, breaking from his examination for the first time since he'd seen Alex. The Saiyans (Alex included) all stacked their plates to the brim with various food stuffs. The humans took much more generous proportions. They began eating, with many conversations happening around the table.

"So Alex," Bulma began after taking a quick sip from her glass. "Tell us about yourself. Trunks says you're new in town?". This quickly brought up everyone's attention, particularly Goku and Vegeta's

Alex quickly swallowed the food in her mouth before responding. "Yes Mrs. Briefs. I mean.. Bulma" she quickly corrected herself. "Me and my dad moved here from England a few weeks ago."

"Hmm, Alex are you adopted?"

Alex nearly choked on the water she was drinking. She quickly set the glass down and steadied her breathing.

"um... yes actually... how did you know that?" The shocked Alex asked. "How did she guessed that... I know I didn't tell trunks and Goten that. Maybe they are too.. No that's impossible. Goten and his brother look way to much like their dad... Goku....." she shook her head. "How did you know that?"

"Oh, I just had a suspicion" Bulma responded with a coy smile.

Alex's sensitive ears picked up a conversation from the other end of the table

"Goku, stop staring at her!"

"I'm sorry Chi-Chi I can't help it. I need to know. I think she is... "

Alex was beginning to get the sense that they knew a lot more about her then they were letting on. She took another bite of the food on her plate. She could feel the weight of all eyes on her and it was making her uncomfortable; they were interested in her since she was Trunks' and Goten's new friend, but why did they seem so interested?

Goten decided he'd unwind the building tension. "Geez Gohan stop hording all the good food" Goten said loudly snapping his chop sticks towards Gohan's plate.

"He.. Hey!" Gohan said, defending his plate with his own chop sticks. The two continued to joust for the food on Gohan's plate as the rest of the table laughed at their antics. A moment later Goku and Vegeta erupted into a similar contending match.

"Damnit Kakarot! That is MY food!"

"Hey you weren't eating it!"

"I was saving it!"

"Goten! What did Vegeta just call your dad???" She whispered to Goten as Goku and Vegeta continued chop stick combat. She sounded a little freaked out.

"Kakarot. Why? Does that mean something to you?"

"I... I... no nothing it just sounded strange." She lied, putting a smile on her face. Something very strange was going on here, but she would worry about it later. Goten knew she was lying but he wasn't going to push it.

The rest of the dinner passed uneventfully. Alex had initially been quiet, but she quickly joined in on the conversations that moved around the table. The more time that went on, the more the people at the table became convinced that Alex was most definitely Goku's sister.

6:15pm

"So what do you guys normally do after dinner?" Alex asked Goten and Trunks as they walked out of the kitchen, thoroughly fed.

"Let's see.... Well, I guess we'd do some homework, let the food settle from dinner then do some fighting training. But I dunno about training tonight; I don't want to leave you out."

"Well um, do you think I could join you guys for training?" Alex asked.

"Uhhh...." Trunks said slowly, unsure of whether that was a good idea or not.

"Well sure, that'll make it more fun right Trunks?" Goten answered. "Have you ever done martial arts before?"

"Yea a bit here and there..." Alex responded. Truth was, Alex's dad had trained her extensively in martial arts; at least what was within his capacity to teach/train her. She'd quickly become much stronger and faster than her father.

"Alex can you excuse me and Goten for a moment?" trunks said grabbing Goten by the arm.

"Oh.. sure." She replied.

"Wha.. hey what are you doing Trunks??" Goten protested as Trunks dragged Goten into another room.

"Goten! What are you thinking? We can't train with her!"

"Huh? Why not?"

"Cause we could really hurt her."

"No we won't as long as we're careful."

"I dunno... even if that's true, my dad wouldn't let her."

"I think he'd make an exception if it's about a new saiyan."

"Maybe not for this one."

"Couldn't hurt to try."

"I guess... alright fine Goten. But remember go easy."

"Alright Trunks, I got it. Don't need to be so protective of her. She's a Son. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you liked her."

"Yea well, I don't." Trunks responded harshly.

"Ohhh I think you do." Goten said smirking at his friend.

"Shut up Goten. What if she can hear us?"

"Oh.... I guess I better not talk like this then!" Goten said loudly. "I wouldn't want Alex to know you like her!"

Goten felt a painful force on his face as Trunks punched him. "Ow! Ow! That hurt!" Goten yelled, rubbing his slightly tenderized jaw. "For Kami's sake Trunks, take a joke. I know you're with Erin and everything."

"yea..." Trunks sighed.

"What's even going on with you and Erin lately... I haven't seen her around much?"

"I don't even know" Trunks shrugged, a frown forming on his face. "Can we talk about that later?"

"yea.. sure."

A moment later, Goten and Trunks walked back to rejoin Alex. Goten was still rubbing his face.

"Sorry about that Alex." Trunks apologized. "Should be fine to do some training with us. Just warning you though, we go pretty hard."

Alex smiled. "Don't worry I'll be okay."

"Alright but we have to do some school work first. Blah. I really wish they wouldn't waste my time asking basically the same question 50,000 times." Trunks frowned.

"Bet I can get it done faster than you Trunks." Goten challenged his best friend.

"You're on!"

7:24pm

The three teens, done working for the night, walked into the gravity room. Alex was following behind Goten and Trunks, mesmerized by the room they had just entered. The huge dome shaped room had a diffuse glow on all sides, as well as set of rather intimidating looking controls to one side. Gohan was standing near the control panel. In the center she saw Goku and Vegeta in a heated match. Their arms and legs were moving so fast she couldn't see them. A split second later Goku and Vegeta had somehow moved instantly to the other side of the room.

"man why's your dad being so aggressive?" Goten asked Trunks as they too watched the fight.

"I dunno, he's probably still pissed about your dad stealing his food. You know how they are about their food."

"Yeah I guess......" Goten paused. "Dad! Vegeta!"

"Quiet Boy!" Came Vegeta's voice, momentarily breaking from his confrontation with Goku. "I'm busy."

"Aw come on Vegeta, it was just a dumping." Goku said, dropping his guard.

"It was three!" Vegeta roared back.

"Alright, Alright sorry Vegeta. I'll try not to take anymore of your food." Goku apologized before he moved from his confrontation with Vegeta to the entrance near the three teen. "Now let's see.. oh Alex you're gonna be here for this?"

"Yes... actually I was going to join in... if that's ok Mr. Son?"

"Hm.. yeah actually that'll be fine." Goku said in a nod. Goku was finding it very hard not to blurt out things, everything, to her. There was now pretty much no doubt in his mind now that she was his sister. "Right Vegeta?"

"Bah I don't care, as long as she doesn't slow us down too much." Vegeta said with a sneer, crossing his muscular arms across his chest.

"Alright so let's get started." Goku said clasping his hands together. "How about... Alex... and Goten first?" Goku suggested, switching looks between the two.

"Yea sure. That okay with you Alex?" Goten responded.

"Absolutely!" Alex said enthusiastically, jumping up and down once in excitement. Goten was the person she'd wanted to fight the most. Watching Goku and Vegeta fight had quickly shown her that they would be far too strong for her to handle. It was easy to see where Goten and trunks got their fighting talents from. Could they be those fantastic power sources she remembered feeling some 10 years ago? No, they couldn't be. Goku and Vegeta's Chi/Ki energy, while fantastically powerful, hadn't been nearly strong enough even at the peak of their fight.

"Okay Alex I want you to do me a favour okay?" Goten asked moving towards the center of the room that Goku and Vegeta had vacated just a moment earlier.

"What is it Goten?" She inquired, walking towards him. She was taking deep breathes to get ready for the fight ahead.

"I don't want you masking your power at all in this fight."

"What!?" Alex gasped. "How did you know...."

"Know you're masking your power? Let's just say I know you're much stronger then you let on. I am too, so don't worry about hurting me...."Goten trailed off.

"Okay Goten... if you're sure..." Alex tensed her muscles, preparing to unleash all her damned up energy. She honestly had no idea what to expect, having never pushed her power as far as it would go. Her father had driven it into her how important it was she keep her energy and strength hidden if she wanted any hope of a normal life. She braced her body, tightening the fists her hands had formed into. A white aura erupted from her as her energy began to build. In no time at all her energy had sky rocketed over 100,000; far beyond what any of the other Saiyans had been expecting. It was clear to them she had never gone this far before as she was breathing heavily and had damaged the gravity chamber floor directly beneath her. Uncontrolled energy output was a clear sign of inexperience at a given energy level.

"Whoa... " Goku said. "How did she get so strong!"

"geeeez Alex.." Goten said admiring her unexpected strength. "How did you get so strong?"

She looked at the Aura around her. She looked nearly as surprised as they did. "I.. I'm not sure. My dad trained me, but he'd always told me to keep my energy suppressed... I've never let it all out before. I'm sorry.."

"No no Alex, this is great, I was just surprised." "Her dad must be some trainer..."

"Should I back it down again?"

"Nope it's fine." Goten said. He tensed his body, and in a moment had jumped up his energy to nearly match Alex's.

It was Alex's turned to be really surprised. Here she'd just unleashed a power far in excess of what she thought she hwas capable, and in no time and without any hesitation Goten had matched her energy. Just how deep did his strength go?

"Alright Alex, ready?" Goten said quickly raising his hands into an attack position.

"Yes... let's go." Alex said assuming an attack stance as well. Alex made the first move, jutting across the gravity room and meeting Goten's open palm which took the full brunt of her strike. She raised a knee to strike at Goten's mid section but was blocked by Goten's other hand, which pushed her knee off to one side. Alex took a step back then made another strike at Goten. Goten quickly twisted his body to avoid one of her fists, and struck her with a free hand knocking her back.

"She's good...." Goku said to Vegeta as the two watched the transpiring fight.

"she's okay I guess." Vegeta grumbled in response.

After a few moments, Goten and Alex has moved apart again. Goten streaked towards Alex, veering to the left at the last minute. While Alex's attention was still diverted in front of her, Goten fire a weak energy blast at Alex. It struck her on the side causing her a slight burning pain in her side.

"What... what was that?" Alex asked shock.

Goten stopped where he was and dropped down, looking at Alex quizzically. "What do you mean what was that?"

"What did you just do?"

Goten quickly opened and closed his eyes in disbelief. He looked back to his father quickly. "That was.. an energy attack. Don't you know how to do them?"

"No. Why would you think I would?"

Goten let his power level drop back down. He again looked to his father who gave him a nod. The rest of the Saiyans in the gravity room began walking over to goten.

"goten?"

"Alex.... I think it's time we told you something. Something that's.... going to change everything."

Alex let her energy dampen, reverting to her normal state, as she looked at Goten and the others around him. She looked scared, but more so anxious to hear what they had to say.

"Gohan, do you want to take this one? You're probably the best at explaining things."

"Okay." Gohan said stepping forward. "Now Alex... please just remain calm, and listen to everything I have to say."

Alex nodded.

"Okay. Well as I'm sure you're aware, you are much stronger than normal people. I'm sure you've always wondered why."

Alex nodded again.

"Well I believe we know why. It's the same reason we're all so strong. It's because we're... you're... not human. We're aliens."

"Wha.. Wha.. no no.." Alex said, feeling her mouth go dry. She'd always known she was different... but not alien, she couldn't be.

"Alex, I know it's hard to even imagine, but it explain why you're so strong. I'm willing to bet you've never been sick, never lost a fight... and Goten and Trunks said they suspected you used to have a tail. Is that true?"

"Ye.. yess... " she stammered. "I had one when I was little. My dad.. .he cut it off."

"I thought as much. Me and my dad used to have tails as well. They're a signature of our species. The Saiyans."

"So I'm a Saiyan... like you?" she asked. Her voice was still shaky, but something about the word Saiyan seemed to have made this much more real to her.

"Yes. Well sort of. Technically I'm only half Saiyan. My mother is human. Goku and Vegeta are full. Goten and Trunks here are also half like me." Gohan said gesturing to them each individually.

"And Bra? She's half too?"

"Yep."

"So I'm... half or full?"

"You're definitely full Alex."

"How do you know that?"

Gohan paused to clear his throat. "Okay. Alex bear with me on this. I know it's going to sound a little strange, and I know this whole thing sounds so unbelievable but... well uh... " Gohan was struggling for the right way to put this. "Dad?" he asked. Goku stepped forward.

"We think you're my sister.." Goku finished for Gohan.

Alex just stared blankly at Goku and Gohan. What was someone supposed to say to that? Goten decided to try to convince her.

"Alex... remember when you heard my dad called Kakarot... that meant something to you didn't it?"

"Yea.. yea it did. I... I know that name."

"You probably heard it while you and my dad were growing up on planet Vegeta."

"Planet Vegeta? And how did we both end up here..." Alex asked. She was desperate to try to piece this all together.

"I'll field this one." Vegeta said. He was no doubt anxious to let Alex know of his princely status over her. For half an hour the Saiyans took turns explaining things to Alex. By the end of the Q and A, Alex had a basic history of the Saiyan species, she'd remembered some things as a baby. She even remembered glimpses of her father Bardock. That had removed any doubt as to whether she was truly Goku's sister. She'd learned how she'd made her way to earth, the circumstances of the Saiyan's near extinction, and Goku's revenge and defeat of Frieza. By the end of it, her mind was a whirlwind of raging thoughts and uncertainty, but something just felt so right about this. She'd always known she was special, she was different, and now she'd known why. Alex was anxious to know the full history of earth and their roles in it; about all those fantastic powers she'd felt 10 years ago. About the legend of the Super Saiyan. Gohan had told her that was a story for another day.

"Alex." Gohan began. "I can only imagine how hard all of this is to absorb. There's so much more for you to hear and learn, but I think this is enough for one night. You need a good night's sleep to take this all in."

"Yea.. yea you're right..." Alex agreed.

"Alex you seem so calm about all this. Are you okay?" Goten asked.

"Yea... surprisingly... I'm fine." She smiled. "Though I can't say it'll be easy to get used to the idea that I'm your aunt."

"Yeah I know.. that's too weird." Goten agreed with a similar smile. "What are you going to tell your dad?"

"Nothing... for now anyways. Oh jeez!" she exclaimed. "I was supposed to be home awhile ago! I really better get home; I don't want my dad getting suspicious. He worries about me so much. But I'll be back tomorrow if thats ok? I want to hear everything!"

"That'll be great. I'll make sure to top by then." Goku said.

"We'll be able to finish things tomorrow as well Kakarot."

"Jeez Vegeta let it go. I think Alex matters a little more then an argument over food."

"Tch." vegeta said dismissively.

Goku shook his head before turning his attention back to Alex. "I really hope we didn't over do it with you today Alex."

"no... no you didn't. This is exactly what I've wanted to know since I was little. I wanted to know where I came from. What made me the way I am. And now I know. I know I have a family, I know what those memories from when i was little meant. And I'm so glad I got to meet you... Goku.. Kakarot.. my brother.." She fumled through the end of her sentence, unsure how to address Goku. Brother felt the most right. There were tears forming at the corner of her eyes. Goku moved over to her, and the two instinctily exchanged a hug, a way to physicalize their just established family ties.

The onlookers smiled at this moment. Even Vegeta's lips tugged slightly towards a smile. After a moment the two moved apart.

"So I'll see you tomorrow?" Alex asked Goku.

"Absolutely.. sis... haha that seems so weird." Goku replied. "Do you have a way to get home?"

"No not exactly..."

"Well I'm sure Trunks and Goten would be glad to help right boys?"

"Yea sure Dad, no problem right Trunks?"

"No problem." Trunks happily agreed.

With a final wave and smile Alex bid goodbye to her brother, her nephew, even to her supposed "prince." She had to laugh a little at that.