Risk
Chapter 14
The warm weather had finally returned to the area by the time Goku had mastered Instant Transmission well enough to teleport not only around the planet, but also to visit other planets if he so desired. While Goku nailed Instant Transmission, Chi-chi had secretly learned other various skills that she would put to good use in the future. By then, their ships had finally been repaired thanks to Kenshu and the other Yardrats that lived on the planet.
"Thanks again," Goku shook Kenshu's hand with a smile on his face.
"You may have to figure out Earth's coordinates in order to return home," Kenshu told the Earth-raised Saiya-jin. "Both of you should head to the trade planet of Stolkim and gather information there. I will warn you though that you should keep your tail hidden Goku because Frieza's men might be looking for you."
"Of course." Goku had pulled on the sash so his tail could be hidden. Chi-chi, who was wearing the same garbs the Yardrats had given her felt rather uncomfortable the way she had been dressed. Maybe on Stolkim, she could find something a bit better suited for her body.
"Thanks," Chi-chi started to turn.
"Wait a moment," Kenshu held out a crafted headband. "I've been noticing you pushing your hair out of your face a lot lately and figured you would have an easier time with this."
"Thanks," Chi-chi accepted the headband and pushed it through her hair. Her bangs, which have grown longer, were pushed back by the headband so they were no longer hanging over her eyes in an annoyed fashion much to her relief.
"See ya," Goku waved and the couple entered their ships. The dull roar of the engines signaled their preparation of their departure from the planet that had been their home for close to a year.
A week later, Chi-chi was shaken out of sleep when she saw a city below her on the ship that she was in. Their ships were heading towards the outskirts of the town where it was completely barren and deserted.
"Goku, wake up," Chi-chi pressed a button on her intercom. Moments later, she heard a moan from the other ship.
"Hey, we're here." Goku yawned sleepily. Both of them have talked to one another through the intercoms after accidentally discovering it on the ships. That kept them both from being insane flying through space in pure boredom or trying to sleep in vain.
"While you find out what the coordinates are, I'm going to see if I can find some better clothes," Chi-chi muttered.
"Okay," Goku shrugged it off before the ships hit the ground.
Chi-chi had flown towards the market where she browsed the shops for an outfit that would better suit her needs. Everything seemed too highly marked and written in an odd language that she could not make out. Her eyes caught sight of silver chest armor with a beautiful reddish dress beneath it. An ivory and golden trimmed belt held the dress to the armor. White lace danced at the neckline of the dress above the golden trimming. It even had fingerless reddish gloves that matched the dress. Sadly, there was no price on this armor and thought it was the perfect thing she could wear home.
"Excuse me," Chi-chi called out. "I want to know how much this dress is…"
"Hm?" A short elf-like man came out from the back. His skin was a coppery color and his orange hair was in a Mohawk-like shape. "Which one?"
"This one," Chi-chi pointed.
"Oh that? No one's ever seemed to take much interest in that one," the shop keeper replied. "I was thinking of throwing it out, but if you want it, go ahead and take it."
"Thanks," Chi-chi smiled before looking the dress over. "Do you have a changing room?"
"Huh? What's that?" Chi-chi face vaulted when she heard that response.
Elsewhere, Goku walked through the city streets in search of directions towards Earth when he overheard talking in a bar. Poking his head in, he noticed thugs in alien armor standing near the bartender in a threatening way.
"Give us directions to Earth or we'll ensure that Frieza takes out this planet!"
'Frieza? He's alive?' Goku thought silently to himself.
'I would have sworn we finished him off on Namek. The lucky bastard!' Kakarrot growled within Goku's mind. 'We should slaughter them and get the hell off this damn planet.'
'No. I need to find Chi-chi so we can get off this planet. Last thing we need is for more innocent lives to be taken without mercy.'
'Do what you want then.' Kakarrot huffed rather gruffly. 'You do know that they could take her hostage…'
'Not if they don't know where she's at,' Goku reassured Kakarrot before walking into the bar. He walked towards the soldier that held the bartender and punched him across the face.
"W-what the hell…?" Goku grabbed the guard; his hair flickering gold without any warning.
"Tell Frieza that we'll meet on Earth," Goku growled before turning to the bartender. "That is after he tells us where it is."
If anything, the bartender was more than startled when he was facing an irritated Super Saiya-jin than he was with Frieza's solders. If one were to take the other route, he would have gladly have been killed by Frieza and not tell him a single portion of the coordinates.
In the outskirts, Chi-chi had just finished braiding the locks of her hair while waiting outside the ship for her husband to return. She had not expected him to appear suddenly through teleportation nor the irritated look that he had on his face. A golden aura seemed to blaze around him in a slightly controlled manner that indicated that her husband had just dealt with something that made him angry.
"Let's go," Goku said in a rough sounding voice; one that he normally wouldn't use to order his wife around with.
"Now? What's wrong?" Chi-chi asked.
"I'll explain later, we need to get back to Earth now!" Goku yelled at her. Not expecting that, she felt tears stinging in her eyes.
"Alright…" Chi-chi climbed into the ship quickly while waiting for Goku to punch the coordinates into her computer. The ship's hatch closed and she felt the ship lurch before lifting off. 'What's caused him to get angry this time?' Wiping the tears away with a sleeve, she closed her eyes and held back a whine. 'I hope this isn't about Frieza…'
In the other ship, Goku calmed down and felt guilty for yelling at his wife. He pressed the button to hear his wife crying in the other ship. Deciding not to bother her at that moment, he released the button and growled mentally to himself.
'Why am I being so cold and uncaring all the sudden?'
'You're only concerned about our love being in danger. Last thing we want is for her to be dead again.'
'Yeah, but I shouldn't have yelled at her. I almost feel like I'm hurting Gohan's feelings again.'
'Wait a while before talking to her. She needs to get herself under control first.'
'Right.' Goku looked out the window of the ship; watching stars fly by like snow on a cold winter's night. It was odd that a year ago, they were in the same ship training in the same ship ready to risk everything to stop Frieza and his henchmen. His battle against the tyrant felt like it was a never-ending one that almost deemed him immortal. If it hadn't been for his legendary transformation, for Kakarrot's awakening and for his wife's death, he would have perished back on Namek along with her. 'I really owe her so much…'
To Be Continued…