Chapter 2.
Ten years had passed since the dreaded confrontation with Cell and Goku had died.
Gohan had settled down in Crane Village with his mother. During his spare time he had gone to the shooting range, something Tien and Yamcha had built near their home in the mountains.
Beer bottles were lined up on top of several cut tree stumps.
Gohan stood a distance about four feet away from the stumps holding his gun in front of him before he began to fire multiple shots aiming at the bottles.
All the bottle burst from his gun fire.
After his father had died, Gohan had trained since then eventually taking a position as a local sheriff of Crane Village.
Usually after practicing his gun slinging, Yamcha would take him and Puar out to Launch's bar to get a couple drinks when they were off duty.
Nothing eventful really happened those nights.
One day however that changed.
Like usual, Yamcha, Puar and Gohan had walked into the Launch's bar sitting at the front counter on the middle right side.
A woman with blonde hair tied up in a bun stood behind the counter with a blue long sleeved blouse with a layered tanned skirt and black boots. She was just finishing filling up a couple of mugs with beer before setting it down on the far right side of them.
Gohan saw a man with shoulder length black hair was seated next to them wearing a handkerchief over his mouth. He wore a worn down brown jacket, blue jeans and knee high black boots. The man was sipping at a mug of beer. Several empty mugs were lined across the counter.
He seemed wrapped in his own world not appearing to notice Gohan or Yamcha. Occasionally he would start the hiccups after taking a sip of beer.
Gohan worried he drank too much.
"Um excuse me, sir. Are you alright?"
The man glanced at Gohan and smiled.
"I think I'm alright, little guy."
He chuckled, appearing to laugh at nothing.
"Little? I'm not little." Gohan said.
"Hey Yamcha, what will it be? Same thing as last week?" the blonde asked.
Yamcha glanced at Gohan before his lips contorted into a grin.
"Yeah, get us two beers."
The drunk man merely laughed louder and in a moment of daring patted Gohan on the head.
"You're a good guy."
The blonde filled up two large mugs with beer handing them to Yamcha and Gohan.
"It's been years since you last came by here with Tien. I kind of miss him. I almost forgot his face," she said.
"He's been taking it easy after," Yamcha spoke before he glanced at Gohan. "'that' incident happened."
Gohan sighed, preoccupied with the man sipping on his drink at the corner. The man was too drunk to talk any sense to. Telling him to keep his hands to himself would be a wasted effort.
"Don't you think you've had a little too much?" he asked.
"It'll be alright. I can drink a couple of more before I get wasted. You can call me 17."
The blonde opened her mouth looking as if she wanted to ask Yamcha more.
Yamcha ran a finger over his lips to tell her to hush. How could he tell her about Goku with his son around?
She glared at him unsatisfied.
"There's no way that's your real name," Gohan said.
"Of course not. Can't trust anyone 'round here. I wouldn't even try if I were you," 17 said.
The short revolving doors made a loud clacking noise which eased to the sound of winding. An old man marched in wearing a black cowboy hat with a pair of goggles attached to it. He wore an brown eye gadget over his left eyes and a black coat that reached his knees. The rest of his attire other then the white cravat he wore around his neck was black from his button up shirt to the black shoes on his feet.
Gohan's eyes followed his form until he approached the man with the shoulder length black hair tapping him on his left shoulder.
17 whirled around.
"Hey, what's the big idea?" he asked.
Gohan noticed he paled at the sight of the old man.
The old man snorted grabbing his shoulder before 17 could move a muscle. His lips curled into a nasty grin.
"Did you really think you and your sister could run from me?"
17 smirked.
"That was the idea, old man."
Puar hid behind Yamcha.
The old man punched 17 across the face sending him crashing from his bar stool at Gohan's feet.
Yamcha knelt down to tend to 17.
"Hey are you alright?" he asked.
Gohan glared at the old man.
"What are you looking at?" the old man asked coolly.
"You must have been a mean man if he was running from you," Gohan said.
"Gohan...not now," Yamcha added quietly from behind him.
The grin on the old man's face widened.
"You have a lot of guts speaking to me like that. Someone ought to teach you respect," he said, before opening his coat which revealed guns strapped to his chest.
Yamcha stared at them aghast.
"Sh-t," he murmured under his breath.
The old man was about to reach for one of his guns but Gohan was quicker.
Pulling his gun from the holster around his waist, Gohan shot at the old man's hands. This caused the old man to drop the gun. In that instant, Gohan lunged in front of him punching across the face dropping him cold on the floor.
Gohan picked up the gun the old man left and pointed it straight at his neck before he could retort.
"Move another muscle and I'll shoot."
Without turning around Gohan addressed Yamcha.
"Yamcha, get his guns."
Yamcha hesitated for a moment before he got up and opened the old man's coat taking his guns.
After that Gohan held out his hand. The old man sneered for a moment before accepting his hand. Gohan pulled him to his feet.
He slapped Gohan's hand away as if it burned before stomping out of the bar. The old man didn't turn even as Gohan spoke to him.
"Don't show your face around here ever again. If you do next time I won't be as nice."
"Grr, this isn't over," he hissed under his breath.
Once Gohan could no longer hear his boots against the wooden floors of the bar, he knelt down at 17's side even as the blonde bartender had joined them on the floor with a wet handkerchief in her hands.
She dabbed at 17's bloodied lower lip before handing Yamcha a key.
"Here you can take him into one of the backrooms until he recovers."
Yamcha glanced at Gohan.
"Gohan, a little help here," he said placing the key between his lips before attempting to lift 17 by his shoulders.
Gohan in turn grabbed one of 17's arms slinging it over his shoulders and together they dragged him to one of the backrooms.
Yamcha took the key from his mouth and unlocked the door before heading inside. Together they slung 17 on the bed.
The two tended to him until he woke up around 30 minutes later. 17 muttered nonsense under his breath attempting to push invisible hands away.
"I'm up already, geez sis."
17 seemed to catch himself before jolting awake. He appeared tense looking around cautiously. When he caught sight of Gohan he relaxed.
"Ugh, what happened?" he asked clutching his head as if nursing a headache.
"That old man dropped by the bar and knocked you out cold," Gohan said.
"I suppose I should be relieved. At least he didn't try to take me back."
"Take you back? What does he want you for?"
"That old man kidnapped me and my sister for his twisted experiments. He was trying to make an ultimate weapon that he hoped would fare well against the monkey shooter."
Gohan's ears perked up.
"You don't mean Goku do you?" Yamcha asked.
"What would that old man want with my father?" Gohan asked in curiosity. "Does my father even know him?"
"I guess he has a vendetta against him who knows? I'll have to warn my sister when I see her," 17 said sitting up frantic.
Yamcha pushed him back against the bed.
"You just got knocked silly by that old man. You're in no condition to be doing anything right now," he said.
17 sighed.
"What's his name? It's likely we'll meet again," Gohan said.
"He's a doctor that goes by the name, Dr Gero," 17 said.
Yamcha turned to glance at Gohan.
"We should head out soon," he said before turning to 17 patting him on the shoulder. "Try to recover so your sister doesn't worry about you. Launch will take good care of you until then."
Yamcha and Gohan headed out.
Launch met up with them. She held a bottle of liquor in her right hand.
"You heading out? Here, it's for Tien. You could split it three ways if you want to."
Launch handed Yamcha the bottle. They passed her by but not before she held out her left hand giving a short wave to them from behind.
"See ya on the flip side."
Yamcha, Puar and Gohan headed outside. Only Gohan's horse was outside. Puar transformed into a horse before Yamcha rode on his back. Gohan boarded his horse and the two headed out.
SGPD
Yamcha and Gohan rode their horses until they reached Chi-Chi's home. In a stroke of bravery, Yamcha got off Puar before his friend could transform and knocked on the door expecting a harpy to greet him.
Chi-Chi opened the door looking at Yamcha with a raised brow. Yamcha cowered a little in fear at the way her expression seemed to border between calmness and full on harpy.
He smiled hoping to appease her curiosity.
"We're back."
Chi-Chi pulled Gohan inside. She glanced at him with a frown feeling around his body from his arm to his chest area.
"Are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"
Gohan chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm fine, mom."
Chi-Chi rolled her eyes.
"Honestly you three are so reckless. Gohan has no business learning to use a gun."
A young boy with Goku's spiky hair ran over to clutch at Chi-Chi's leg. He was wearing a set of white pajamas.
"Mom, is Gohan back?" he asked.
"Goten, don't be so rude. Apologize to Mr Yamcha."
Goten frowned.
"I'm sorry, Mr Yamcha."
Yamcha chuckled.
"It's alright, little man."
The corners of Chi-Chi's lips seemed to stagnate between her usual frown and a smile. It seemed the gesture of smiling was too hard for her. Yamcha wondered if it was because she couldn't allow herself to warm up to the people teaching her son to use guns in the first place. Perhaps it sounded too much like Goku giving up warmth and comfort for the right to load bullets in a gun barrel and considering her husband died she didn't want that kind of life for Gohan.
"Thank you for bringing him back safely," she said.
"See you, Chi-Chi." Yamcha said before addressing Gohan. "And see you tomorrow, Gohan."
He hopped back on his horse and rode off.
Once he was gone, Chi-Chi addressed Gohan.
"Sit at the table and I'll heat up your dinner."
Gohan sat at the table. Chi-Chi handed him an envelope.
"Earlier you got a letter from Bulma."
With excitement, Gohan opened it at the table before reading the contents of the letter. Chi-Chi noticed he paled moments after opening it.
"What's wrong?"
"Bulma says she's heard rumors that Freeza's back in town."
"Isn't he dead?"
"Dad shot him but I guess he wasn't dead," Gohan said.
"What could he want in Crane Village?"
"I don't know but I don't like it," he said before continuing to read. By the time he finished the letter, his frown had vanished and was replaced by a large smile.
"Good news?" Chi-Chi asked.
"Yeah, Bulma's coming over in a couple of days to help me refill my bullets," Gohan said.
Chi-Chi groaned.
SGPD
At around the same time this was going on, Yamcha had rode to Tien's house before taking the bottle of liquor from his satchel.
He knocked on the door.
"Tien, are you in?"
A bald man with three eyes answered the door."
Tien replied with sternness.
"Yamcha, you're late. Come in."
Yamcha nodded before heading inside.
The atmosphere was cold and tense like it usually was. Tien was silent like he was always holding back what he truly wanted to say. Yamcha feared if he truly spoke what was on his mind, Tien would erupt like a volcano when it was at the end of a long dormant state.
It would be less like a dormant volcano and more like an explosion if he brought up old memories of their friends.
Feeling like he was tiptoeing the path between feigning neutrality and stepping on deep rooted land mines, Yamcha merely held out the bottle of liquor in means of an apology.
Tien accepted it setting it on the kitchen table before fetching glasses in the cupboards. He set one in front of himself and one in front of Yamcha before opening the bottle.
Once Tien opened the bottle he poured liquor into Yamcha's glass before pouring some into his own.
"Cheers," Yamcha sold holding out his glass. Tien clinked it against his own before taking a sip.
"Launch told me to say hi. She misses you," Yamcha said.
"It's been a long time. I'm not the same person i was back then."
Yamcha smiled in attempt to break the tension.
"None of us are. That doesn't mean we have to throw away our past."
Tien looked out of his element.
"I suppose."
"You reckon Gohan might become an expert gunslinger one day?"
Tien set his glass down with a loud thunk. He turned and marched off to his room.
"I'm heading to bed."
Yamcha opened his mouth as if to retort but found he couldn't speak. He closed his mouth shamefully. Most of their life revolved around guns and their destruction. Tien saw first hand what guns did to the people around him.
It was no secret he'd prefer Gohan not to experience it but what else could they do. Cell didn't disappear he never did. They merely wait until he catches wind of where they remained hidden for ten years.
Yamcha set his and Tien's glasses in the sink and began to wash them before putting them away.
SGPD
Early the next morning, Tien headed out with three bouquets of flowers in his hands walking up a nearby mountain pass. Once he arrived at the top of the mountain he looked down at the three gravestones in front of him.
Tien set a bouquet of flowers on two of the gravestones. He hesitated before putting the flowers below the third gravestone.
He looked at the rightmost gravestone with a frown on his face and a contemplative silence.
'Goku why did you have to die so young? You had so much to live for and who am I? Chiaotzu's gone, Krillin's gone and you're gone... for ten years. Ten years? It's really been ten years.'
Tears fell from the corners of his eyes.
He wiped them with the back of his hand and smiled.
"Ha, I said I wouldn't cry yet here I am."
Tien frowned.
"Your eldest son is growing older everyday. He aims to become a gunshooter just like you but I worry he's doing it for all the wrong reasons. Your son isn't a killer. He has a good heart just like you."
He gritted his teeth clenching his fists at his side.
"As for your other son, Gohan says he wants to become a gunshooter too. Gohan says he has the same passion for guns that you had when you were alive," Tien said coolly.
"Not like you I reckon," A gruff, scratchy voice uttered from behind him.
"Hard to say, need to like guns to kill people," Tien said. There were different fields of assassins. Some liked to use needles to kill their victims, others used throwing knives.
Tien became more interested in guns after hearing about them in trading shops.
"Where's the one you call 'Goku'?"
"He's dead."
"Liar," the voice spat behind him.
"I'm not lying. He's been dead for ten years."
Tien heard sinister laughter behind him.
"How did he die?" the voice asked.
Tien's left hand gripped the gun on the holster around his waist. It was concealed under his black coat.
He turned and saw an old man appeared to be addressing him. Tien noticed the man wore a black buttoned up coat.
"Trying to play hero," he replied with bitterness.
The old man smiled.
"Are you going to be a hero, too?"
"I'm not a fool like he was. He's the one who died."
Tien pulled out his gun but before he could aim it in the old man's direction, a gun rolled down the old man's left sleeve into his hands.
Tien shifted trying to evade the impending gunfire.
A burning pain came from his abdomen. He clutched his stomach feeling liquid coat his fingers.
His legs felt weak, collapsing under him.
"It's a shame, you won't live to be a hero."
Tien felt his cold gaze, the voice was like stone, emotionless, lacked empathy much like the old leaders of his old gang of gunslingers.
The voice faded and only when it was gone did Tien move. He inched backwards until he leaned against Goku's grave trying to catch his breath, trying to focus on something other than his stomach.
SGPD
Several hours after Tien had gone up to visit his friends' gravestones, Yamcha got up with the intention of cooking up a can of baked beans.
It was as he walked into the kitchen that he saw Tien wasn't seated at the table. If Yamcha knew nothing of Tien's routine, he wouldn't have thought nothing of it.
Every morning, Tien would always be seated at the table finishing off his breakfast by the time Yamcha got up from bed. Tien did this because he often did morning chores including tending to the chickens and working in the garden.
Yamcha walked outside seeing if perhaps he was still tending to his morning chores.
Tien was nowhere to be seen.
Yamcha contemplated where he might be.
'He can't be at work. We always go to work together.'
His index finger and thumb together stroked his chin. As he stopped to think about what Tien had said to him the night before to judge whether Tien had given him some clue of his whereabouts, Yamcha was struck by a revelation.
'That's right. We were talking about Goku yesterday weren't we? He has to be visiting Goku's grave but if he went there, he should have been back by now.'
Yamcha headed back inside the house into his bedroom packing his gun just in case. Puar transformed back into a horse as Yamcha boarded him and headed out in the direction of the mountain pass where his friends' graves were hoping Tien was safe.
Once he had arrived to the top, Yamcha got off Puar to look around where his friends' graves were. There was no sign of Tien anywhere and Yamcha thought to head back before he caught a glimpse of something move from behind Krillin's grave.
Yamcha swallowed holding his gun out in front of him. It wobbled, his shoulders tensed holding the gun in place.
"Tien?" he called out.
Yamcha heard someone groan before Tien held his arm up.
"I'm here."
He put the gun back in it's holster around his waist before approaching the place where Tien's arm hung out.
"What's wrong with you?"
Yamcha choked upon seeing Tien clutch his stomach, red liquid coating his fingers.
"Who shot you?" he asked.
"I don't know. Some old man. He said he was looking for Goku."
Yamcha helped him up putting one of Tien's arms over his shoulders and hoisting him to his feet.
He set Tien on his horse before climbing up after him. Yamcha grasped the reins reaching past Tien with his arms brushing his sides then the two set off.
PDSG
Later in the afternoon, Gohan heard someone knocking frantically on the front door as he was finishing lunch.
Chi-Chi was in the kitchen with Goten doing the dishes.
"Gohan, can you get that? I'm busy at the moment," she said.
Gohan got up from the table and opened the front door only to find Yamcha standing outside, pale with a large frown on his face.
"Are you alright? You look pale," he said.
Yamcha turned to look in back of himself before glancing to the right and left in a brisk motion. He seemed satisfied, his voice turned quiet.
"Enough about that. Can we talk inside? I don't want to be overheard."
Yamcha looked towards the kitchen with worry hearing the sound of Chi-Chi washing the dishes.
Gohan turned noticing where his gaze was directed.
If Yamcha was worried about Chi-Chi overhearing them, the incident must have been related to him and his father.
Gohan walked inside, Yamcha following close behind.
"Gohan, who was that at the door?" Chi-Chi asked.
"It's only Yamcha. I'll finish my dinner later. I'm going to pack my things."
Gohan headed to his room with Yamcha behind him and closed the door, locking it behind him.
He glanced at Yamcha once the door was closed.
"So what happened?" Gohan asked.
"Someone attacked Tien this morning," Yamcha said.
"Is he alright?"
"He's safe now if that's what you mean," Yamcha said before getting lost in his thoughts. Memories of seeing Tien clutching his stomach flashed in his mind. "There was so much blood."
"Who shot him?" Gohan asked.
"An old man. Tien said he was looking for Goku."
"Well is he alright?"
"He's alive if that's what you mean."
"Where is he now?"
"I brought him to Launch. The doc has already seen him."
"Then what are we waiting for. We gotta go see him."
Yamcha gripped Gohan's shoulder holding him in place.
"Not so fast. It's dangerous. That old man was after your father. If he catches wind you're his son what do you think he'll do to you?"
"When dad died, I was alone. I thought I had nobody. Everything seemed hopeless, I thought we were dead. Tien took me under his wing, treated me like a old friend. He's one of us too. I can't just leave him."
Yamcha recalled a time when he had ran into the Monkey gang before they were split, it had been comprised of Vegeta who was leader, Nappa his second in command and Raditz, Goku's brother who Nappa had taken in a little after their parents had died. Raditz had been killed months ago and the rest of the gang had come back to wreck havoc on Goku's hometown in revenge.
Yamcha was the first to go down.
Nappa had shot him narrowly missing any vital organs. He had folded keeling over in pain. Chiaotsu, Krillin and Goku had thought he was dead.
It mattered little whether the prey was alive or dead in the eyes of gang members. He supposed Tien knew that better than anyone.
Nappa pointed his gun at his back. He heard the sound of a gang firing, a hiss of pain and someone cursing under their breath.
"Leave him alone."
Tien grabbed his left arm dragging him out of his line of fire still pointing the gun at Nappa. He saw the gun had left Vegeta's hands and Chiaotsu was behind him pointing a gun at his back.
From that he assumed Chiaotsu must have used his abilities to hijack the gun from his hand.
He owed them alot, especially Tien after Chiaotsu died. In a daring move, Vegeta pulled a knife from his pocket and turned stabbing Chiaotsu in the gut before grabbing his gun off the ground.
Tien had been beyond himself. In a feat of strength however Yamcha recalled pulling him out of the way of Vegeta's gunfire behind the cover of rock. If he hadn't gone out of his way he was certain Tien would have greeted his death gladly.
Yamcha swallowed.
"You're right," he said. "Though I hate to admit it. Look Gohan, just promise me you'll be careful and look out for yourself. You have a gun for a reason."
Gohan nodded.
"Alright."
SGPD
The two headed out for town. As they were about to head by the bar, Gohan caught sight of someone who looked very familiar.
He had to squint as he thought his eyes were deceiving him but there was no mistaking the cold red eyes and the striking purple buttoned-up vest over a rolled up white shirt with matching pants. This was Freeza. He was leaning against a wooden pole that held up the soffit that stood above the entrance of the bar.
His appearance had changed a little since he last seen him. His left arm was now replaced with a mechanical arm.
Freeza took off his purple hat revealing his head full of purple hair with flecks of grey mixed in.
"You're ballsy I have to give you that. I never knew your family could be so foolish," he said.
"You're alive?" Yamcha asked.
Freeza chuckled, his ends of his lips curling into a wicked grin.
"Why so shocked? You didn't really believe I was dead did you? That monkey never found a body."
"What are you doing here?"
"What makes you think I'd tell you?"
Yamcha pulled his gun but Freeza was quicker pulling his gun on him.
"I wouldn't try anything unless you want to taste a barrel of lead."
Yamcha put his gun down.
Freeza turned his attention towards Gohan.
"Before I shoot you both dead, I suppose I could give you hint. Do you two happen to know the history of the Red Ribbon Army?"
"I think we got the gist of it, Bulma is an inventor. She's up to date with stuff like that," Yamcha said.
"Then you know all about their latest work," Freeza said rolling down the sleeve of his left arm revealing more of his metal arm. "Due to my position I get experience first hand. I'm proud to show you their new work."
Freeza removed his left hand from his gun as it began to transform before their eyes. Freeza's left hand was now replaced with a gun of it's own pointing at both Gohan and Yamcha.
"Goodbye."
There was a loud noise before Freeza flinched. He grabbed his wrist where the gun was, smoke coming from where a bullet had hit the gun.
Gohan and Yamcha turned seeing Lunch blowing the smoke off the gun. Luckily for Freeza, Lunch was more reasonable than her blonde alterego, Launch.
"Calm down now. We wouldn't want a bloodbath outside now would we?"
Freeza hissed before his gun hand transformed back into a feasible hand.
"You're right of course. I merely had a lapse in judgement. It won't happen again," he said averting his eyes from her.
"Yamcha, Gohan, won't you come in?" Lunch asked, before her lips curled into a smile.
Yamcha whose mouth was agape from this twist of events closed his mouth and followed her inside. Gohan followed him closely behind.
Yamcha turned to Gohan. "I'm going to check up on Tien. Are you coming?"
"No, I'm gonna stay down here and talk to Lunch for a bit."
Once Gohan was certain he had gone, he spoke to Lunch.
"Say Lunch, can I talk with 17?"
"Of course, he's upstairs to the door on the left."
Gohan headed upstairs and entered 17's room. He was surprised to find 17 already up. He was sitting up in bed reading a small book.
"Yes?" 17 said not looking up from his book.
The edges of Gohan's lips twitched shying between a frown and a smile. He gave a short cautious wave.
"Um, hi."
"Don't you think you're in the wrong room? I heard your friend was injured."
"I see you're doing better."
"Why are you here?"
"So did you hear what happened?"
"I overheard a bit of it. Honestly I wasn't interested."
"Tien said some old man was looking for my father."
17's eyes widened.
"Wait, your father's name is Goku isn't it?"
"How did you know that?"
17 ignored him.
"That isn't important. He'll come back and everyone here will be in great danger."
"How? He shouldn't have any idea about this place," Gohan said.
"That's the same old man who came by yesterday."
Gohan's eyes narrowed.
"You know him?"
"He goes by the name Dr Gero also known for his work for the red ribbon army."
Freeza flashed in Gohan's mind.
'That's why he was outside this place.'
"So what do we do?"
He could tell Yamcha and Lunch but with Tien down the three of them didn't stand a chance against Dr Gero and Freeza if they had the entirety of the Red Ribbon army on their side.
The army had members assigned to most cities and small towns to protect the citizens and to ensure everyone paid taxes. The Red Ribbon Army wasn't a terrorist military unit known for developing it's own independent weapons and equipment. It was a military branch of government that spanned across the continent caring for the citizen's needs while ensuring their protection from enemies most consisting of aliens from different planets.
Goku just happened to cross a couple of bad seeds amongst the larger army but there was no telling how many were still sour by the damage done by him.
"I'm running. Me and my sister can't afford to get involved."
"That's not a plan," Gohan said.
"What would you have us do, genius?"
It was just as likely 17 and his sister had people in the Red Ribbon Army who were after them as well.
"I'd be more help if you'd tell me just how are you related to Dr Gero and the Red Ribbon Army?"
17 sighed.
"After our parents died, Dr Gero was after me and my sister. He wanted to perform experiments on me and my sister enhancing our bodies with what he terms as 'steam' technology. Me and my sister weren't interested in being guinea pigs so we ran away. Sound pretty simple don't you think?"
"Was anyone in the army after you besides Dr Gero?" Gohan asked.
"The Sniper. It the person he hired after we went missing. He also hired Freeza and his army."
Gohan smiled.
"That's good. I don't know about the Sniper but me and Yamcha can deal with Freeza and his army."
"You? What's a couple of sharpshooters going to do against an army of cold blooded hooligans?"
"You said they'll head here. We just prepare for them before they arrive."
17 looked at Gohan like he was crazy. Gohan headed out the room to talk with Yamcha in Tien's room.
Yamcha turned as Gohan headed in the room.
"Gohan, what's the matter?"
SGPD
"So you're trying to tell me that old man who is after your father intends to come here?" Yamcha asked.
Gohan nodded.
"You're hoping we can get the upper hand on them."
Gohan glanced at Tien sleeping soundlessly.
"It should be easy. We have the equipment needed to set traps. Tien taught me how to make molotovs and you're good at setting traps."
"That's well and good but you're forgetting something. Your mother wouldn't want to see you wrapped up in the troubles of your father."
"We don't have to tell her."
"I'm inclined to agree with her, Gohan. I would have let you do it otherwise but now we know the Red Ribbon Army is involved."
"What does that have to do with it? What are you so afraid of?"
"This may be too much for us to handle alone," Yamcha said. "Even more with Tien out for the count."
Gohan frowned.
"Look Gohan, we could discuss it some other time. I'd just prefer we talk to Chi-Chi before we start drawing guns on the greatest super power in the world."
Gohan sighed.
"I guess you're right," he said turning his head to the side avoiding Yamcha's eyes.
"Are you ready to head home?"
"Yeah."
With that Yamcha got up from his seat and Gohan followed him out.
They headed downstairs and stepped out of the bar heading for their horses. Lunch stopped them before they walked too far.
"Yamcha, can you come here for a minute?" she asked. "I have something to give to Chi-Chi."
"Alright," Yamcha said before turning to address Gohan. "Gohan, you wait by the horses. I'll be right back."
Gohan stood by the two horses which were tied to a post near the bar. His eyes were pinned on the entrance to the bar awaiting Yamcha's return as he headed inside.
Minutes passed, Gohan was so preoccupied with this endeavor he hadn't noticed Freeza stepping out of the pawn shop behind him. He walked with stealth creeping behind Gohan before knocking him out with the butt of his gun. Freeza reached for his gun and tossed it away lifting Gohan's left pant leg and removing the knife from it's holster tossing it away.
"Like father, like son."
Freeza smiled picking him up and carrying him in a fireman hold. He brought him over to a a wagon full of haystacks dragged by a couple of horses. Freeza set Gohan inside before tying his hands in back of him. He concealed him behind the haystacks.
He sat in the front of the wagon taking the reins in hand and set off with Gohan in tow.
After Yamcha got finished talking with Lunch after receiving her letter, he stepped outside heading towards the horses.
Gohan was nowhere in sight.
"Gohan?"