Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Life had slowly began to return to normalcy in the Chestnut household after the tournament of power. Krillin been promoted to sergeant in the Satan City Police Department, an accomplishment that both Marron and Eighteen were proud of. When he was told he'd be doing mostly desk duties he spoke, "Commissioner Garlington, you know me too well. I can't just sit here while others are being hurt. I signed up to help humanity, not to just sit back and watch. So I humbly decline the promotion you've given me." Taken aback by what the small man said he smiled, " In my 40 years in this department, I haven't met such a humble officer of the law." Stroking his mustache, he responded, "Very well Mr. Chestnut you are hereby allowed to continue working in the field, so long as you have a partner looking over you. Krillin rubbed his head briefly and was about to speak, but decided not to . The commissioner searched the SPD computer database for a potential partner for Krillin, he found the perfect match. Returning to look at him he spoke, " I'm assigning Viktor Zaz as your partner, as of now."

Walking down hallways of the police department making his way to the Commissioner's office the tall Russian man known as Viktor Zaz, was in deep thought. He had lead what he called an life adventurous life, a deserter of the Red Ribbon Army, he ran off to Satan city in hopes in the pursuit of redemption. His hands were bloody by the actions he committed as special forces soldier. During his tenure in the army, he was augmented with a special serum that allowed him to preform in a much higher function than any soldier at the time. After mission gone awry that resulted in a young child's life being taken, he deserted. When he first came to sign up, people were initially scared because he wore the Red Ribbon Army insignia. He told the commissioner, Sebastian Garlington he would use his unique skills to put the worst criminals in handcuffs. He became the star of the police department, that was until Krillin Chestnut came to town.

The door slowly creaking open, the commissioner and Mr. Chestnut turned to look at their new visitor. Commissioner Garlington, stood up and said, "Officer Zaz this your new partner, Krillin Chestnut!" Extending a hand to shake his new partner Krillin said, "I'm Krillin Chestnut, but you can call me Krill." Viktor smiled, "I'm Viktor Zaz,but everyone calls me Vik for short." They had immediately become friends almost instantly. The chemistry that worked between them was nearly flawless. Krillin was the one who had the smarts of the partnership, while Viktor was the brawn. One night after heavily drinking vodka he spilled the beans to Krillin during his drunken stupor that he was a special forces soldier with The Red Ribbon Army. Now afraid that their friendship would be in jeopardy, he prepared for the worst. A moment of silence between the two ended with the drunk Krillin smiling saying, "Don't worry about it! I'm married to a Cyborg one of the mad scientists made." After that they agreed to not tell either of their secrets to anyone.

One day after a long day of police work, Krillin invited his partner for dinner at his house. He reassured his friend his wife wasn't as scary as his co-workers had made her out to be. Putting his hand on his shoulder on Viktor he said, "She's a tad possessive, but it's only because she really loves me, I think heh! Just act normal, be yourself and you'll do great", he winked. Turning the door knob, he was met by a little blonde girl jumping into his arms. The girl squeezed him saying, "I've missed you so much! I learned so much from school today!" Krillin didn't usually,didn't get sentimental outside in the open but the smile on her face just warmed him, "I'm sure you did. You're my little firefly, I love you so much. Walking into the living room they were met by the Eighteen who was making her way down the staircase. She smiled when she saw her beloved husband and daughter, but quickly saw another person she hadn't met before. Making her way over to Viktor she stared right at him. Her eyes were beautiful, yet eerie. He felt them drill holes into his soul, as if she could tell what he was as a person just by looking at him.

Sitting down at the dining room table they began to chow down with Krillin's favorite dinner meal carefully made by Eighteen, carrot soup. Eighteen was listening in as Viktor and Krillin were talking about their many police adventures. She always scanned unknown people whenever they entered her house with her artificial optic eyes, seeing if she could find anything interesting about them. She looked through the database Dr Gero gave her and her brother, Seventeen. When she used her built in scouter, she was surprised that Viktor had a battle power of 150. She thought it was very unusual for an officer to have such a abnormal power level for his profession he worked in even if it wasn't much. She mused first what he did before he became an officer he must have been some kind soldier. Consulting the built in database in her brain she found some rather interesting things on Viktor Raz. He had single handedly shut down a child sex trafficking ring, destroyed the the largest drug empire in the continent operating covertly under Satan City using a series of hidden tunnels from the old city. Thinking back on his low power level, she reminded herself what Krillin had taught her about numbers being incorrect.

Deciding it was her time to chime in she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and proceeed to say, "So Mr. Raz, what's your story? Viktor put his hands behind his head and casually said, "Oh nothing too extravagant, I can assure you Mrs. Chestnut. Not satisfied with his vague answer she pressed on, "My husband says you were a special forces soldier for what, was it, the Kings Army? Clearing his throat he responded, "Yes, I was. I grew tired of the life of the soldier and decided to pick up my pension before I ended up dead or worse!", he chuckled. A few moments later the small blonde haired girl at the end, who he had met earlier in the evening handed him something. Smiling brightly, "Now what's this you've given me?" Unfolding it he found it was a drawn picture of her father and him. The letters scrawled out in multiple colors of crayon saying, "The best team ever!" Tears started to form in his eyes, but he brushed them aside. Responding to the girl, "Thank you, this is the nicest thing I think anyone has given me. Tell me, what is your name?" She responded, "My name is Marron! Papa says my name means chestnut in French." He smiled, "That's a very lovely name." He envied them, they had the ideal family. Something at one point he desired, but it was far too late for that to happen.

The next morning, Eighteen awoke to the sounds of her husband and daughter happily making breakfast for her. She took a quick shower, then made her way down to the main floor. Watching the two of them cook on her behalf filled her heart with love. Time had gone so fast, from the time she arrived at Kame House to take up Krillin's offer to stay at his place. They started a slow relationship which grew into a friendship, then to them becoming boyfriend and girlfriend, and eventually into becoming husband and wife. Krillin had given her so much, a home, security, and the greatest gift of all a child. There were nights when she stayed up wondering, how long would her cybernetics prolong her life? Would she outlive them both? She would always have these questions on her mind, and it worried her. She didn't like to confront her fears, instead put on brace face for both their sakes. When the sounds of the school bus rolled up to their house Marron ran out the door saying, "See you later mommy and papa! They both said in unison,"Have a great day, learn lots of stuff!"

Today Eighteen was feeling off, and it was bothering her. She hadn't been the nicest to her husband in the past year. She called him a spineless weakling when he was grazed by a bullet when he saved his co-workers from a near death experience. He regained his fighting spirit for them both. The way she went about it was regretful, but with the tournament of power she dealt another blow by in her frustration she told him how dare he call himself her husband after he was the first to be knocked off the ring. She wanted to say she was sorry but either didn't because of fear, or she couldn't put the words together in the right fashion. Looking over as her husband walk towards the door she called his name, "Krillin?" He turned around to look her in the eyes, "What is it, babe?" They stared at one another for a minute. She wanted to tell him the three words she hadn't said in a long time, she just could work up the courage to do it. Instead she smiled, "Good luck at work today." Returning a small smile he said, "I'll see you tonight, dear." She watched as he left in his patrol car to go pick up Viktor. She sat herself on the arm chair, trying to make sense of this feeling of dread she was experiencing.

Clyde Lars was standing on a roof overlooking the Old Iron Works. Taking another look that his covert stealth suit and equipment were in working order, he proceeded to call his superior. Talking into his mike he said, "Clyde Lars here, I'm in position awaiting further instruction. He could hear Copper's collected voice on the other end saying, "Is everything ready? Responding Clyde said, "Yes sir, just as you said no civilians are around this time of day." Continuing he said, "How are things on your end?" Another continent away Copper spoke into his mic, "Our agent in the police department will be running dispatch tonight, she'll make certain he falls right into our ambush. Finally he said, "Remember, there can be no mistakes this time, Clyde. After hearing his superior had sounded off he began introspection. He was one of the greats. As a child he underwent an experimental genetic manipulation program which enhanced them beyond that of an average soldier. He had gained many "gifts" or so he called them. He could smash his way through triple layers of reinforced steel with little effort on his behalf. On top that he had enhanced hearing,smell, and sight. His most dangerous abulity, one that would have made the biological creation Dr Gero created, Cell, fume enviously. He could regenerate after being blown to atoms, and resume his mission. He and only 12 of his brothers and sisters served as General Coppers elite enforcers. They went on missions ranging from assassination,espionage, and the occasional heists of stealing technology needed to progress the Army's goals of eventual world domination. Tonight would be his trial by blood. He would wound the alleged "strongest human on earth", once more proving that his power was more than enough.

For Krillin and Viktor it had been a rough day. They had to rescue a group of hostages being held for a ransom of 100 million Zeni. They were sent in too soon, two hostages were thrown over the balcony and killed upon impact. Krillin and Viktor lead a S.W.A.T team inside which resulted in all of the perpetrators being killed. Viktor tried to comfort his friend by saying, "What happened today wasn't your fault." Continuing on he said, " If anyone was to blame it was the negotiators who angered the people who were holding the hostages." His words didn't seem to help his small friend one bit, he just decided to not talk anymore about it. After a minute or two, they received a dispatch in the car's radio. "Officers 126-245-234 do you read? Krillin picked up the radio saying, "10-4, what's the situation?" The woman on the other end responded saying,"Gun Fire was heard over by the Old Iron Works, could you go investigate?" They were off duty, Viktor was a little suspicious and said to his partner, "You think we should give it another officer on the shift?" Narrowing his eyes Krillin said, "We'll go check it out."

Clyde saw as the patrol car pulled up to the curve. Arming his sniper with the super human busting bullet that he had be entrusted to test he put his eye in the scope of his sniper. To his surprise he saw another person walk out of the patrol car, saying in his mic, "Shit, another person is with him." Copper rubbed his chin responding, "Is he a civilian?" Clyde shook his head, "No, looks like his, partner." Folding his arms Copper said, "Abort, the operation is now on hold."Clyde could feel his anger rising, "Sorry sir, but just because some person is with him doesn't mean we have to abort. Shutting off his headset so he wouldn't hear Copper scream at him for insubordination. "Aiming his sights he fired two rounds that contained the bullets that would change everything. Krillin sensing the impending danger pushed Viktor out of the way, but by doing so he got hit by two of the bullets, not one.

He was in pain, so much pain. Viktor ran over to his screaming partner as he saw a pool of blood forming around him. He saw a bullet hole next to his heart and one at the spine. A shiver flowed through him, when Krillin said couldn't feel his legs. Rushing to the patrol car he franticly picked up the radio and practically screamed, "This is officer Viktor Zaz. Not stopping he continued, "My partner has been shot send an ambulance immediately!!!" Going back to his partner he held him in his arms, he could feel Krillin slipping and saying things like, "Tell...Eighteen...and...Marron...I love.." His panic was increasing, Viktor said, "Don't you start saying things like that, you won't die, you'll make it home, you'll make it. At this point he could tell Krillin had slipped into a state of unconsciousness. What felt like an eternity, he saw the paramedics arrived and pulled him onto a stretcher.

Staying at the now active crime scene Commissioner Garlington arrived. The both looked at each other somberly when Garlington said, "What in gods green earth happened here Viktor?" Officer Zaz went on to tell the the commissioner about the dispatch saying there was gunfire and how his partner got shot. Rubbing his mustache the commissioner said, "My god, this couldn't have happened." Krillin was the strongest officer they'd have had in the last century, bullets didn't faze him other than being grazed a few months back. He put his hand on Viktor's shoulder and said, "Son, I'm tasking you to tell his family about what has transpired." Viktor had a hollow feeling in his gut. He would have to tell Krillin's family that their husband and father was critically injured. He looked over and said, "Sir, is there anyone else you can send to do the task?" Shaking his head he responded, "No you're the only person that can do this, son." Taking a deep breath, he got into another patrol car and proceeded to ask how he would he would carefully word what had happened to his partner to his famlily. Turning the car on he began the long trek to the Chesnut Residence.

Author's Note

Once more I must thank you for taking the time to read this. A warning for the rest of the story. The language and violence will start to take off to a more dramatic climb. Reviews are appreciated no matter how harsh.

TBC