Where it hurts

CLANK!

A sea of liquids burst freely from a clanging circle of silver cups and glasses, laughter roared from the gathered humans and Saiyans. In what feels like an ocean's worth of suffering through decade after decade, the rebels finally have something to celebrate about. After the startling victory over the Spyder pod depot, General Goten felt it was time he gave his friends and soldiers a break. The war would soon be at an end, that much was certain.

Goku laughed playfully as he slurped a gulp full of wine into his greedy lips, Trunks and Pan laughed as fresh, grape colored wine dripped from Goku's smiling chops.

Goten smiled "This is indeed a glorious day. Even if it was only a single spyder pod depot, it is a sign that the winds of change are finally on our side. Bit by bit, we will cripple the Red Ribbon Empire and liberate planet Earth from Mastermind's technical tyranny, so the human race can one day live in peace again".

Piccolo, Vegeta, Lance and the others nodded and clanged their glasses together one more time with joy. Everyone at the rebel base felt energized, cheerful, and even optimistic, it had been many years since these war torn souls had heard the sound of laughter. Bulma smiled from her computer monitor, flickering the lights into various colors with her machine manipulations. Trunks laughed a bit waving to Bulma who winked at him.

Pan smiled and went off to get more punch and wine, Trunks blinked as a weary Krillin approached the young teen.

"Looks like the word on the grapevine is true, you guys must have really done a bang up job" Krillin said.

Trunks replied "Oh gee, it was nothing really, were just trying to help anyway that we can. It's a miracle we made it out in one piece".

Krillin smirked "Don't sell yourself short Trunks, I should know, I am the resident dwarf around here".

Trunks politely laughed at that but noticed Krillin was dead serious. It still hurt Trunks to see Goku's old friend in such a rugged, darkened appearance what with his ratted clothes and assaulting assortment of bodily scars.

Krillin continued "But seriously, I nearly croaked when Piccolo told me you guys were back. I thought he snapped or something. But here you guys are, young, healthy, and looking exactly as I remember you guys 25 years ago".

Trunks nodded "That dimensional portal sure did a number on me and Pan. We thought Goku had turned into that monster ape Goten told me about, I was just as surprised as you were when I saw him as a kid again".

"Yeah, that's Goku all right, a child at heart even in a man's body and with the power of the gods. Still the same old Goku" Krillin said.

Suddenly the vivid image of Bra's death flashed into Krillin's mind, his tattered, spiky gray hair stood straight up as he suddenly got the chills. The terrible flames engulfing that savage Saiyan monster……Krillin had almost forgotten.

Trunks blinked "Krillin, are you all right?".

The aging monk nodded "Y-y-y-yeah just a bit over exhausted from p-p-p-patrolling. Enjoy the party Trunks I've got to talk to Goten……in private".

Krillin walked off and waved past Pan as she returned with 2 cups in her small gloved hands, the young girl blinked curiously. Trunks attention was also focused on the weary looking Krillin.

Pan frowned "Is something wrong with him Trunks? He looked really upset, I haven't seen anyone that sad since dad fought Baby".

Trunks said "Well he did lose a lot you know Pan. Having your only child murdered by those heartless androids, and then kidnapping Android 18 so they could copy her biological blueprints to make more android storm troopers is not an easy thing to live with".

Pan sighed a bit "Poor guy, he's really had a hard time here Trunks".

The teen nodded "I know, I know, but don't worry. Once we complete our mission here, we can go back home and stop this terrible mess from ever happening. Just like Taron said".

Meanwhile, else where in the base……

TINK!

A dim light was turned on as Goten, Piccolo, Goku, and Krillin were inside a small dark room, a private room used only for top secret discussions. Krillin hung his head as he explained everything that happened to him that night.

Goten sighed "And you're sure there was no way either one of them could have survived?".

Krillin shook his head.

Goten angrily clutched his titanium digits "Dammit, that brainless son of bitch monkey is just as dangerous as the blasted robots".

Piccolo butted in "Worse, those machines are hunting us, they have an agenda, a plan, something that requires intelligence and focus. Kakkarott is just a wild animal using Goku's Super Saiyan 4 powers like a toy. He'll attack anything and anyone, we've got to do something about him".

Goten shook his head "Not yet, we can't afford depleting our resources in tracking him down. We finally have a chance to make a serious dent in Mastermind's plans. We'll just have to advise everyone to be extra cautious when coming in contact with the Beast".

Goku curiously asked "Shouldn't I try to reason with him or something? I mean, he is still apart of me".

"No way Goku, I've seen and felt what that monster is capable of doing first hand. Trust me, that thing is unreasonable, it's a blood thirsty monster, pure and simple" Krillin said.

Goten added "For now, let's keep a lid on what happened to Bra and Uub. We just got the troops calmed down and the morale is higher then it's ever been before, no sense depressing everyone and causing a wide spread panic".

Goku was already about to protest, wanting to say how he felt that was a really bad idea hiding that kind of information.

Piccolo nodded "Don't worry Goku, were going to tell them, we just thought it'd be wise if we waited a little bit later. We've got to stay positive, stay hopeful, and stay strong if were ever going to win this war".

Outside at the rest of the party……

"Trunks, get over here this instant, I have something to talk to you about" a voice said.

The young teen turned around to see his father, bitterly scowling and lurking in the dark. Trunks laughed at his father's typical brooding habit even in a time of celebration. Vegeta simply stood there, waiting and breathing heavily in his plastic face mask.

Trunks said "Be right there pop (to Pan) hang on one sec, I've gotta go talk with my dad for a minute".

Pan nodded "Sure thing".

Trunks smiled and winked at her, to which Pan bashfully blushing and sipped her cup nervously at the playful advance. The young Saiyan teen strolled over to his father's company in the shadows and eagerly asked his father what he wanted. Vegeta simply stared and crossed his arms.

Vegeta frowned "Break it off immediately".

Trunks blinked "Uh I'm sorry, come again?".

Vegeta repeated "Don't play dumb I can see it in your eyes, now break it off before this gets out of hand".

Trunks shrugged "Dad I'm sorry but I don't know what you're talking about".

"HER, Pan, Goku's granddaughter smart mouth, I want you to break up with her and put this silly relationship nonsense to rest" Vegeta said.

The boy gasped, his young skin turning pale with shock over his father's heartless and barbaric sounding words. Trunks looked over his shoulder, looking at Pan as she laughed and smiled with Goku. Goku was stuffing is face full of turkey and stuffing, Pan simply continued to laugh and bask in the warmth of the moment. Trunks was practically lost inside of Pan.

Trunks snapped back "No, I will not".

Vegeta growled "What did you just say to me?".

Trunks added "I won't do it, Pan is my friend and we've been through so much together. She's a kind, sweet, energetic person, and one that I promised I would protect no matter what. So I'm not going to just dump her because you're mad I'm dating Goku's granddaughter".

Vegeta rolled his eyes "Idiot! Goku has nothing to do with this, I'm telling you this for your own good. I don't want to see you crippled like I was by my emotions".

"Dad, what the hell are you talking about? Why would I get hurt by loving someone?" Trunks asked.

Vegeta replied "Because of the pain……the suffering……the agony. You can't imagine what it was like, thinking you were dead and having to go through out the rest of my life knowing yours had been tragically cut short. Things only got worse after the war started. First you, then your mother, and now Bra".

Trunks gasped "You mean Bra's dead too? When did you plan on telling me this, whenever you were in the MOOD for it?".

Vegeta scorned "I just found out minutes ago, so keep your mouth shut and listen. The point is that we are at war son and as long as you have someone close to you, you will always feel pain. If something happens to Pan, it will tear you apart and if something happens to you, it would destroy her as well. Relationships and love bonds are luxuries we cannot afford to have Trunks.

We are in a war for our very survival, and if something should happen to you or Pan, it is just going to cause more misery and suffering. End it now, it's for your own good and for hers as well".

Silent snarls growled from Trunks grinding teeth, his cup shattering under the crackling pressure of his clenched fists. Drops of blood and liquid oozed from his trembling hands as Trunks angrily shoved past his father.

"I love her……and I will not stop loving her" Trunks hissed.

Pan blinked and suddenly saw Trunks leaving in a bitter fit of rage, the young girl started to follow him but stopped as she saw Vegeta shaking his head. A voice from behind called out to Pan, a voice she couldn't believe she had heard.

Pan turned around "Is that who I think it is?".

A thin but well formed middle aged woman slowly stepped out of the shadows. The woman's hair was black and short, almost tomboyish, and dangling above 2 crystal colored blue eyes. The woman's frame was hugged loosely by a tattered, dark blue colored shirt with a faded logo on the front that seemed to spell out "Fight".

"Momma?" Pan squeaked out.

Videl gasped "Oh my baby girl, you've finally come home".

The woman rushed forward and wrapped her loving arms Pan, she gasped and blushed nervously as her mother nearly hugged her to death. Videl sobbed as ocean colored tears sprinkled down her faded crystal colored eyes. Pan laughed nervously as she could feel Videl's hands rubbing down the girl's midnight black hair and soft skin, as if not believing it was really her.

Videl sobbed "This is real……your really here".

Pan gasped "Momma you sure have changed, well, not as much as Uncle Goten but. Anyways, it is good to see you again. I was worried at first that you might have been".

Videl sighed "Like papa?".

Pan shamefully nodded, the two girls both hanged their heads in silence as tears dripped from their eyes. The beautiful, kind and caring soul that was Gohan still burned brightly in their pain filled hearts.

Videl forced a weak smile "No, no honey, I'm fine. It's just that……I haven't been the same since your father died. I couldn't stand losing him and you, I just couldn't take it. I spent most of my time here, I haven't left this base in years……I refuse to let the world take away anymore of my heart".

Pan nervously bit her lip "Momma, I hate to ask but what happened to grandma and Grandpa Satan?".

Videl replied "Chi, Chi passed away 3 months ago. But it was natural causes honey, nothing bad. As for dad well he".

A loud clanging was heard as someone was banging on the iron door to the base's entrance. Videl smiled and told Pan to hold that thought as she headed towards the door, she turned the locks and opened it.

"Pepper and Lance where have you guys been, the party started an hour" Videl said.

But her voice suddenly stopped in place, her eyes widened as her heart suddenly jumped to an alarming speed. There was a tall, cold faced, red haired monstrous figure standing in front of the door way. The man had a stern face, gold earrings, black pants, neon yellow green colored armor, and a Red Ribbon army logo on his chest. Videl turned white as a sheet.

Android 16 hissed "We found you at last".

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To be continued……