Inner Workings of My Mind

Chapter 8

Gohan observed the light-purple planet that they were orbiting around. Vegeta was quickly typing in commands into the ship's computer while it was spewing out the necessary information.

"Mineral-based planet with minor animal life and vegetation. Identifying air composition... Nitrogen 75%, Oxygen 23%, Other 2%. No large quantities of poisonous gases detected. Air is determined to be breathable. Average water vapor at 6%. Average temperature: 35.2 degrees Celsius. Gravity: 7 times Earth's gravity. Distress signal originating from 34.0522 degrees North, 118.2428 degrees West."

Gohan listened to the information carefully. The air's composition was similar to that of Earth. However, it had a higher average water vapor concentration and temperature. Hot and humid, great.

Gohan silently walked behind Vegeta. "So what is the plan?" the boy asked.

Vegeta finished typing a command before answering. "We are going to land on the opposite side of the planet so we remain out of their sights. We will then fly until we are just on the outer edge of their scouter range. After that we'll suppress our levels and approach them from that point."

Gohan sat down in the chair next to the Saiyan Prince. The young hybrid's tail unwrapped from around his waist and looped around his thigh. "And if they aren't the remains of Cold's men? What if they are just pirates who stole the ship?"

Vegeta snorted. "I highly doubt that it the case, brat. After Trunks had dealt with Frieza and Cold, I went into space for a couple of months and cleared out the remaining trash of their armies. I made it very certain that the Cold Empire was no more. I destroyed all of the major bases and all of the ships. The only ones who could have escaped had to have been fairly high ranked, even if they only escaped in a small cargo ship."

Gohan nodded and looked thoughtful. "Is that the time that you went out into space and achieved your Super Saiyan transformation?"

Vegeta smirked. "Yes, and getting rid of those pests was the perfect warm-up."

The ship's computer let out a string of beeps before announcing, "Entering atmosphere. Prepare for landing in 3 minutes."

The ship rattled slightly as it entered the atmosphere and approached the surface of the planet. Gohan's tail unwrapped from around his leg and waved around in the air as the hybrid attempted to remain balanced and not fall out of his chair. Vegeta smirked at the sight and let out a harsh laugh.

Gohan scowled at the Saiyan Prince. "I haven't been in space as often as you, Vegeta! Stop laughing!"

It was hot, it was humid, it was miserable.

"I hate this planet," Gohan mumbled as he trailed behind Vegeta. Annoyance flashed through him as sweat dripped into his eyes. The hybrid was not in a good mood.

Gohan fingered the black band made of katchin as he followed Vegeta. The Xealic gem gleamed weakly in the few streams of light the made it through the thick clouds above them. The young half-breed usually wouldn't become annoyed so easily. Was the bracelet already causing him to lose control of his emotions, or was he just imagining things?

Gohan focused on the ki of those that they were quickly approaching. They were much stronger than the average power levels of the universe, but nowhere near Gohan and Vegeta's strength.

The plan was fairly simple. Determine who the three people were, confirm that they wouldn't be a threat to them, and, if needed, get rid of them. The thought of killing made Gohan shift in discomfort and tighten his tail around his waist. Sure, he had killed before, but only when absolutely necessary. Plus, someone like Cell deserved to die.

The power levels were shifting slightly. They were most likely walking around either the ship or their camp. Vegeta and Gohan had to very careful to not be detected. They had no idea if the distress signal was a planned trap to lure in unsuspecting travelers.

Vegeta and Gohan stopped in their tracks as one of the power levels spiked. As the ki signature lifted into the sky, Gohan and Vegeta darted underneath a small grove of trees and lowered their ki to almost nothing. The pair of Saiyans stood absolutely still as the power level approached their direction and watched as it passed overhead.

Gohan let out a small sigh of relief. They didn't know that they were there. Vegeta, however, stiffened in his position and the Prince's eyes widened as they tracked the figure in the air.

"We're leaving, brat," Vegeta commanded as he turned back in the direction of the ship. "They're not worth the effort of investigating."

Gohan looked at Vegeta curiously. Was the Prince of Saiyans afraid? No, that wasn't it, but Vegeta's reaction certainly was confusing. Gohan shook his head. The boy needed to find out what was going on.

"Who are the, Vegeta?" Gohan asked.

Vegeta scowled and his eyes darkened. "It's a trap. They were personal guards to Cold and their specialty lies in deception, capturing, and restraining. They are not physically strong, but we might get caught in their trap. It's too risky."

Gohan stared at Vegeta in disbelief. Too risky?! Coming from the hard-headed Prince of Saiyans? How skilled were these guys? "And what exactly is their ability?"

"They are triplets with highly developed telepathic and psychic abilities. They can create cages and barriers that are impossible to break, even with ki. I know there is a limit to how much of an attack that they could take, but I do not know that limit and I have no desire to be trapped," Vegeta explained.

The Prince took a step towards Gohan, his aura turning menacing. "And don't you dare think that we won't be taking care of them, brat! We will destroy the planet from a distance. I have a score to settle with them anyways," Vegeta said, his dark eyes flashing.

Vegeta turned and began heading back towards the ship. Gohan followed, suddenly very worried. The hybrid's feelings quickly shifted to annoyance and he glared at the black metal firmly clasped on his wrist, tugging at it. Yup, the bracelet was definitely affecting him. His emotions were altering like crazy.

Gohan suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. The boy shook his head rapidly to try and gain his bearings. The feeling of worry returned at full force as the dizziness didn't disappear. This wasn't the fault of the bracelet.

"Vegeta..." Gohan groaned as he swayed. His tail unwrapped from his waist and waved behind him, keeping him balanced. The Saiyan hybrid felt a sharp spike of pain as an excruciating headache hit him.

Vegeta looked back and stared at Gohan with confusion in his eyes. A scowl appeared on his face and the elder Saiyan stepped towards Gohan. "What is wrong with you, brat? Stop being such a-" Vegeta cut of as he let out a hiss of pain. The Saiyan Prince put a hand onto his temple as he wavered and attempted to push through the pain.

"Fuck," Vegeta cussed. "Those goddamn bastards trapped us." The Saiyan Prince groaned again as he felt another spike of pain flash through his head.

Echoing laughter could be heard around as three figures dropped out of the sky and landed in a triangular formation.