Chapter 15
Critical Condition
"Sir," a timid doctor said to King Vegeta, "I have good news, and I have bad news."
"What?" he asked.
"Well, your son should be able to walk in a few more days."
"Ahh… good. And… the bad?"
"I'm not sure if Prince Trunks will live through the week."
"Why?!" King Vegeta growled.
"Well, uh, you see, my lord," the doctor stuttered, "He hasn't been getting any better, and he's lost so much blood…"
King Vegeta took a deep, calming breath. It would do him no good to be less one more doctor-he needed all the doctors he could get. "Anything we can do to help?" he asked.
The doctor shook his head. "No sir. The only thing we can do is wait."
Pan awoke in the dungeons, but her hope was renewed. Trunks had not died, like she had originally thought, and was still alive, if only just. She would fight for life as well, if Trunks was.
And then, when she got out of here, she would go find the murderous bastards that did this and rip them apart limb by limb.
Pan propped herself up against the wall in the most comfortable position she could muster, closing her eyes from the cruelty of the dungeon. It was time to sleep, whether she wanted to or not.
Gohan sat on his couch. He had eaten, yes, but not much. And he had thought, but not much. He even slept.
But not much.
He knew that King Vegeta had awakened, and he knew that he would be all right, which gave his battered body some small relief.
But he also knew that Prince Trunks was not as well off as the King was, and that took the small hope he had and ripped it to shreds savagely.
A head fell into waiting hands, tears coursing down cheeks that had aged so much in just one week. A stifled but defeated sob arouse, echoing in the silent house.
He had tried so hard to raise his daughter to be the best she could be, raising her the only way he knew how. But, suddenly, one faithful day his years of raising were thrown to the wayside when Pan had made the decision to train. Getting caught training was just a tiny step in the headlong leap she took into serious danger.
And he had failed to stop her.
"I'm a horrible father," he muttered, staring at the carpet. "And it shows."
Vegeta was now able to walk and get around the palace on his own, and had resumed the role of King once more, his father having no complaints about stepping down. Vegeta's strength was limited, and jogging, running, jumping, and flying were all out of the question. This, of course, angered Vegeta, but he was content he got away with his life, and knew that he would be in tip-top shape in no time.
He made his daily rounds through out the palace and went through his usual daily schedule, as if everything was a-ok.
But it wasn't, not at all. His son was clinging to life, on the verge of death, and he could not do a damn thing about it. Putting on his usual scowl and smirk, he walked through the halls of his palace, assuring everyone that Trunks would pull through. He had to keep his peoples spirits up, even if his were not. That was one of his jobs as King.
But the people knew everything was not as good as it sounded. They were ordered to keep the activity and noise down to a low roar, and they knew it was to give Prince Trunks every possible chance to recover. He was on the brink of death, and they obeyed gladly.
As Vegeta strode through the halls, his people held him in high regard, respect and awe filling their eyes-they were proud to call him their King. Their bows were done gladly, happy to have him alive and walking. They just wished they could do the same for their prince.
But things weren't always that easy. That traitorous bitch-saiyan who was responsible for all of this was still alive and did not feel the pain they did. She would pay for everything she had done, and the saiyans of this planet would feel no regret to how it was down. She was paying her deed back-with her blood.
Author's Note: Awww, poor Pan!! Now everyone hates Pan-how is she going to pull through? If Vegeta does not remember that she helped him, and Trunks won't wake up, what is to happen to Pan?
Find out in the next chappie! ((Oh no! the reviewer's language has now caught onto me! Chappie?!… Oh well…)
Next Chapter:
Silent Tears
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