Chapter Thirty-four - Arrivals

"No, no, put your back into it." North Kai said as Yamcha's swing at hitting Gregory missed widely. The Kai had been right, Yamcha had caught Bubbles not more than two hours after Yemma had contacted him about Marron and Trunks. Neither he nor Krillin were yet close to hitting Gregory, though. The Kai figured it'd be another two or three weeks before the two of them finished with the bug. Tien, on the other hand, had very nearly hit him on his last attempt. He knew it wouldn't be much longer, now, before he did. A few hours, perhaps.

Turning from the training warriors again the Kai stretched out his senses to the mortal world once more. He knew that Pan and 17 were due to arrive on Zendavou sometime that day, and wanted to see what the four former Masters would do next. He had no doubts that 18 and Bra would both still want revenge for what happened ten days ago. He had to admit that he was a little concerned that Pan and 17 wouldn't be able to control the two of them, stop them from doing something so foolish as charging right in at Saiya.

He had always figured that 17 and 18 might eventually defect, and that Pan certainly would if the Empire ever did anything to 17. The four were not nearly as cold as their families, Gero, or the Changelings. Before the Supreme Kai had come to him about his plan he'd always felt that the four of them would be the best chance of stopping the Masters. Now he was hoping they'd help make things easier for his students when the time came. But if they got themselves killed now, before the five with him were finished with their training, they'd be of no help to anyone.

Finally he got a lock on Zendavou and found that there were now two saucer ships in the clearing. "They've already landed. Let's see where they're at..." He moved his gaze to the grove where Marron's grave was but found it empty. A very rare occurrence since the grave was first dug, made even rarer after Bra had arrived. He shifted his gaze along the cliff a little and then stopped as he found them. "...the right to fight the other, without interference, to the death." Bra was saying. The Kai furrowed his brow and focused more closely on the conversation.

"Nothing says they wont interfere if they think they have to." said Pan.

"Father would never let them. If they tried he'd blast them himself, if he's still got the strength for it."

"So it's settled." said 18. "We leave for Saiya in an hour."

The Kai sighed. "Unfortunate." he thought. "Well, with luck they'll manage to escape without being killed. I wont hold my breath that they'll succeed though. Vegeta's already on the lookout for them, they wont get him by surp- Grand Kai?" the Kai asked, sensing a mental nudge. "What... wait, is it done?"

"It is. You can come when you're ready."

The Kai smiled and turned to face his students. Yamcha was still trying to hit Gregory. "Break time!" he called as the Human missed again. "All of you, take a rest. I'll be back in a moment." And with that he vanished.

"Back in a moment?" Mitsuki asked. "Where's he going?"

"You... you don't think he's gone to..." Krillin started, but then the Kai appeared again, with a young blonde woman holding onto his shoulder, halo floating over her head.

Marron looked around her in wonder. Death hadn't exactly been what she'd expected. She'd been terrified, the entire time she was in line, that her mother would appear behind her. But instead it had been Trunks who'd shown up, just as she'd stepped up before that large red man. And then she'd gotten a real shock when he'd asked her to stand aside, that special arrangements were being made for her. She couldn't figure out why, what was so special about her, and had remained confused until after the Grand Kai had transported her back to his world. There she'd been told what was going on.

The North Kai had arranged for her to come to his world where the Earth Resistance members were currently training, including her father. Though that had to wait until after he'd protected her from the gravity of the planet. But now the ritual was over and she was on the North Kai's small planet and looking around her, both at the world and the people standing only a few feet away. She recognized four of them from the files she'd gone over on Saiya. Enzeru, Tien, Yamcha and... her father.

"She really looks like her mother." Tien said.

"Hi." Marron said simply, smiling a little. She really wasn't sure what to say so she said the first thing that came to mind, seeing that the five of them had no halos. "I guess Bulma was right..."

"Huh?" Enzeru asked.

"Oh, a while back she and I were talking and she told me you'd survived." she explained. "Told me not to tell anyone but... but 18. But I... never got the chance." She closed her eyes and sighed. "I tried to but... I didn't have enough strength left anymore to get the words out."

"Marron, how much do you know about what's happened since your death?" North Kai asked.

"I know Trunks died." she said. "I saw him, but that's all."

North Kai nodded. "Your mother recorded everything she saw on Gorneo." he said. "From shortly after she arrived until she killed Trunks. She then sent that video out to her brother. Pan saw it as well and she sent it on to Bra." Marron closed her eyes at the mention of Bra's name and the Kai patted her arm as he continued. "They've all defected, now."

"Wh-what?" Marron asked, shocked, opening her eyes again.

The Kai nodded. "17 didn't want his sister to go it alone, Pan refused to let him go by himself, and Bra... well, she's as upset as your mother. She actually punched her father before she left." Marron's eyes widened at that. The Kai just sighed. "And I just saw, right before coming to get you... they're going to Saiya. 18's going to challenge Vegeta."

"That's suicide!" Krillin cried. "What's she thinking!"

"She's not." said the Kai. "She just wants revenge. I'm hoping that the others will be able to get them out of there when this fails. They wont arrive at Saiya for a while though, at least nine days. I'll watch for them and, when they do arrive, I'll let you watch if you want." He then turned back to Marron. "Now, before I let you get accquainted with everyone, there's something I think you should see."

"What?"

"Come, place your hand on my back, close your eyes, and I'll show you."

Marron nodded and then did as asked. A moment later she smiled and started crying as she gazed at the head stone to her grave.

XXX

Tao had quickly become grateful for whatever twist of fate had brought him his latest passengers. The day after he'd picked them up proper introductions had been made. The Sai-jin in the group was none too pleased to be traveling with him, though he also got the impression she wasn't pleased to be with the others either. The rest of the people from the Talon hadn't cared that he was Resistance, however, and he'd learned a great deal from them. Learned about Brolly, the conspiracy, heard the scouter recording that Eve had found, all of it.

Though his ship really was too small for them all. They had managed to convert the old training room into something of a mass sleeping area. Nail remained on the bridge at all times since he required no sleep and Tao had his own small room while Xeno, Everfrost, and Rain each had set up a cot in the training area, Eve simply slept in her pool of ice water, and Storm and Zukina (much to the Sai-jin's obvious distaste) shared a sleeping bag on the floor.

Needless to say the sixteen day trip from the location of the Talon to Xentron had been a trying experience. But, at last, they were there. Tao had just landed his ship at the ship port along the outskirts of the largest city on the planet, Xentron City. It had already been decided that Nail would attract far too much attention wondering around the planet. Storm, Rain, and Zukina, who had nothing but battle armors to wear, couldn't even step outside the ship without running the very real danger of being attacked and killed. So Tao, Xeno, and Everfrost were going to head out and get supplies. Tao was going to hunt for a new, larger, ship since his new companions would be staying with him. Meanwhile Xeno and Everfrost were going to find clothes for three of the women and some coolant suits for Eve.

Xentron was mostly desert. The average temperature in Xentron City during the winter was 92 during the day, in the shade. The current temperature was 117, considerably more than the Nezerof's body could even hope to contend with. They didn't know how long they'd be on the planet, and without a coolant suit Eve wouldn't be able to leave the ship. And the suit would make things easier on all of them during their travels since there was a limited supply of water and her remaining submerged all the time was impractical.

Tao had wanted to stay off the network while in space, his ship didn't have the same clearance as the Talon so any connection would have been logged and traced, so Eve had had to postpone her research. So, while the three of them shopped Eve was going to start her hacking again.

"Alright, I'll see if Ferri's still got a shop here." Tao said. "With luck she will and we'll be able to get something good at a reasonable price. Otherwise we could be a while hunting down a new ship. Do you have everything you need?"

"Yep." Xeno said, patting his pocket. "We should have enough money and capsules for everything."

Tao nodded. "Be sure not to draw attention to how much money you do have. Don't forget, there's no real government or law here. The locals do police themselves but that doesn't stop everyone. And some of the outlaws here provide services to the planet and so are very nearly given free reign as payment."

"Right." Xeno said, nodding.

"Alright, let's get to it."

XXX

"So you grew up on Indipity?" Krillin asked. He and Marron were stretched out on a pair of the North Kai's lawn chairs, sipping cherry milkshakes and watching Yamcha swinging at Gregory again. Well, Krillin was watching. Marron couldn't see the bug or the mallet move.

The blonde nodded. "Yeah. For fifteen years I didn't have any idea I hadn't been born there. I'm not sure how I got from Earth to Indipity, though. 18 said she just left me on an orphanage step..."

"Some of the orphanages smuggled their kids out, off the Earth." Krillin said. "Risky business, but worth it."

Marron nodded. "If not for them I wouldn't have had what I did. I grew up in a pretty nice house in a pretty nice area. Indipity's always been nice, though. They just handed over planetary control to the Empire without a fight. There were complaints, of course, but Indipity was a stable world and got the benefits for it. Not all was roses but I was lucky to be away from the worst parts of the planet."

"So how'd you find out you were adopted?"

"My adoptive parents died in a ship malfunction. They left me a video in their will that explained it. They also left me the house and a good bit of money, enough I was able to finish school and get myself enrolled at Teknu University. I'd just finished up my six years when18 sent 16 to come get me." Marron bit her lip for a moment and then looked over at Krillin. "She still loves you, you know." she said. "She never said it, but I could tell."

"That was never the problem." he said with a sigh as Yamcha gave up again and Tien picked up the mallet for another go.

"She'll make it." Marron said. "Bra will make sure she does, I know she will. And eventually you'll go back and now you'll be able to go to her."

"So, what about you and Bra? That's not something I'd have ever guessed."

Marron could tell a blatant dodge when she heard one and she went along with it. "Me either, any of it. I spent so long with my head in my books, and locked in my dorm room on campus, that I never even had a crush on anyone in my entire life. Not until I got to the palace and met Bra. I wasn't sure at first about it but by the time I left for Gorneo..." she sighed. "I was so looking forward to our three months together, not having to hide anymore. I... I can't help but wonder if I'd still be alive if we'd told Master Vegeta about us..."

Krillin opened his mouth to say something but stopped as a loud crack sounded over the small planet. Tien had finally hit Gregory. "Wow, look at him go!" Krillin cried as he watched the yellow streak that was the small bug zip off into the distance.

"Excellent work, Tien!" North Kai called from where he sat on his own lawn chair. The short Kai hopped off his chair and walked over to where the other four stood. "Well then, now that three of you have passed the pre-training it's time to begin the actual training. And for that we've got to call in someone else who's volunteered their services." The Kai closed his eyes then. "It's time." was all he said through the telepathic link. He opened his eyes again just as he felt his former student materialize behind him.

Tien's eyes widened as he saw who it was. "Ch-Chaotzu!"

"Hi, Tien."

XXX

"You've got to be kidding me." Everfrost said, gazing at the 'shopping' list the three women had put together (Storm had listed items for Zukina).

"What is it?" Xeno asked, glancing at the screen of his small computer. "...She doesn't actually expect us to get those, does she?"

"I'm more wondering if she expects Zukina to actually wear them." said the Human.

"I doubt it. She probably expects to have to do it herself. Not that it matters, I'm not buying them. If Storm wants them that badly she can go buy them herself, later."

The two came to a stop outside a clothing store as Everfrost did one final look at their list. "We should be able to get everything, even Eve's coolant suits, here since I'm not buying that stuff for Storm either."

While the two of them walked into the store to buy the clothes Tao walked into Ferri's Ships in another part of the city. "It's been a while, Ferri." he said, approaching the counter.

The woman behind it looked up and smiled. She was only three foot tall, had long green hair down to the floor, bright pink skin, thin bug like wings, yellow eyes, and no clothes. A fairly common occurrence on Xentron as a means of coping with the world's opressive heat. She looked no older than eighteen but Tao knew she was vrey much older than that. Older, even, than any of the Masters. "I'll be damned, Tao!" she cried happily, jumping over the counter and rushing over to him. "Where the hell have you been?" she asked, flapping her wings to fly up to eye level with him and punching him lightly in the arm.

"Here and there." he replied. "Business still going good, then?"

"Better then ever." Ferri said, grinning. "It helps now that I've got a more, shall we say, consistent client base. If I had to rely on just you I'd have gone broke years ago. So, what brings you to Xentron? Need some more work on that ship of yours?"

"No, not this time." said Tao. "I've picked up quite a few... traveling companions recently. My ship is not large enough for all of us. I figure it's time to upgrade."

Ferri smiled. "Something bigger and faster, eh? Well, I'll be happy to help with that. There is a problem, though. I've only got fifteen ships currently in stock and all of them, I'm afraid, have already been purchased. Massive order came in just three days ago from one of those consistent clients I mentioned. They'll be here to collect them in a few days. After that..." Ferri shrugged. "I can build you anything you like, so long as you've got the money for it, of course."

Tao nodded. "That's fine. I'm in no rush at the moment, I still have to figure out where to go next. And, unfortunately, it wont be as easy to find this time."

Ferri raised an eyebrow at that. "Harder to find than Ancient temples most of the universe doesn't even know about?" she asked. "What could be harder to find than that?"

"Slug." replied Tao. "He's apparently claimed the remaining items I'm after and I still have no idea where he is. I've considered the possibility that he's already found Homeworld and is hiding out there but... new information has come to light about another possibility. It's one of the main reasons I've come to see you, specifically." Tao glanced over his shoulder at the door. "Perhaps we should keep this private, though?"

Ferri blinked a few times. "Private?" she asked, tiliting her head. "We're on Xentron, what's there to talk about that can't be talked about in the open?"

Tao clasped his hands behind his back. "Imperial matters." he said simply.

Ferri frowned at him for a moment but then flew over to the door, locked it, and then flipped over the sign from Open to Closed. That done she flew back over to her counter and sat down on it, her legs dangling over the edge. "Alright. Let's hear it." she said. "No promises, though. You know the deal."

Tao nodded. "I've recently discovered a connection between Turles and Cooler." the Human said. "It's an old one, as far as I know. But it poses the question of if there's a connection between Slug and Cooler as well. Because then Slug could hide on any number of world's controlled by Cooler."

Ferri pursed her lips. "I see." she said. "And you were wanting to ask me if I know of any such connection?"

"Yes. Anything at all related that you heard or saw." said Tao.

Ferri frowned again. "How'd you find this connection?" she asked.

Tao's face remained blank as he considered the question, or rather, the fact she'd asked it. She'd never asked him where any of his information had come from before and he found it a bit odd that she did now. "Restricted files." he replied at last. "A scouter recording."

Ferri pursed her lips and then made a popping sound as she rocked back and stared up at the ceiling. "You sure like to find messes, don't you?" she asked. "Tinto's about as big as they come." She sighed and rocked forward again, putting her arms down on the counter and leaning on them.

"So, you've heard about what happend there, then?" he asked. He'd figured she likely had, she'd heard about most things that happened in the Empire when she'd still been a part of it.

"Nah." she said, waving a hand. "I was there. Real fine mess, that was. I don't know everything that happened there but I know enough. Main reason I been so helpful to you since you went and told me you were chasing Slug and Turles."

"So Slug was involved as well?"

Ferri nodded. "Sure, he was the one that blew the planet up after everyone else had gone, and Cooler had gotten what he needed." she said as she started kicking her feet back and forth.

"What he needed?"

"Ancient documents. And I don't mean old, I mean Ancient." Ferri popped up off of her counter and flew up to a shelf on the right hand wall where she began rummaging through the dozens of books stored there. "The Ancients had a small outpost there where they stored some prophecies and other things. Including detailed information on the Potara creation process, beyond what I told you the first time we met, and a few other bits and pieces of their world." She pulled a book off the shelf that was nearly half a foot thick and flew back to the counter, dropping it with a thud.

"See, Cooler found an Ancient building the year after his family met the Sai-jins. Somewhere on Zendavou, I don't know where exactly, I wasn't with him then." She frowned. "During that excursion they were still considering giving me to that Flagon oaf as a gift, in exchange for that new engine coil technology. So I was stuck in Cold's palace while they tried to work out the details. Luckily for me he went and ticked off someone and got himself killed before that. Anyway, I heard all about it when Cooler came back. He wasn't sure what it was he found, of course, Ancient text isn't something most people can read.

"But that's where I came in. I can read anything, after all, so he gave it to me to translate. He knew it was something good right from the start, all the defenses and everything that were guarding it." Ferri flipped open the book to somewhere near the middle. "What he found was a small storage area for Ancient technology. The plans for them, anyway. Nothing too impressive or anything, but some nifty toys. Robots, computers, ship systems, teleportation units, ki control units, and so on." She pointed to different bits on one of the pages with each item she mentioned.

"Course, most of it was beyond our technological level at the time. I'm sure a lot of it still is, even now. He had some secret factories made to work on the stuff, though. I guess he figured, what the hell, why not? Worst that could happen is it doesn't work. Before I left they'd managed a few of the simplier items. Anyway, the thing is, there was also data in there about Homeworld itself." Ferri tapped the second page she'd opened to and Tao glanced at it. He recognized the writing, it was Ancient.

"Some of the stuff was missing, torn pages, faded ink, that sort of thing. But from what I did have I determined that the Ancients sealed some great and terrible power deep inside their world. Something that it had taken them all to imprison, and which had nearly wiped out all life in the universe. Cooler, of course, loved that. Some great power he could go out and find? He was all for it. Only, we had no idea where to look. The documents mentioned another location on another planet that had more information, though, so Cooler went searching for it.

"Only, he wasn't as careful as he thought. Somewhere along the way Bardock figured out what Cooler was after. Apparently he even learned more than me cause some of the stuff I heard him say didn't make much sense and still doesn't. Point is, he went chasing after the same thing as Cooler and, eventually, they found out that Tinto was the planet in question. Thus we get to the events on Tinto and Bardock's fight with Cooler." Ferri sat down on the book, legs crossed, elbows on her knees, and put her head in her hands.

"Bardock beat Cooler to the planet and managed to take some of the stuff there and hide it, somewhere. But Cooler got there before Bardock could hide all of it and he still found out how to find the Ancient's homeworld and unlock that great power he'd learned of before." Ferri shrugged. "Once he had what he needed he left and Slug blew the planet up to cover their tracks."

Tao pursed his lips in thought. "Why are Slug and Turles working with him?" he asked. "And Vegeta, too? He was on Tinto as well."

"Who says they are?" Ferri asked. "From what I picked up they've all got their own motives and reasons, and I'm not entirely convinced any of them are actually loyal to anyone else. It's a real mess, like I said. Everyone's trying to double cross everyone else. But what do you expect? We're talking about Changelings and Sai-jins here. They'd stab their own mothers in the back for a little more power. Honestly, I'm not even sure if Slug, Turles, and Vegeta even know what it is they're looking for. I mean, what it is Cooler's looking for, cause none of them actually know what this great and terrible power is, they just want it."

"Any ideas on where Slug might be hiding, then? If he's got Cooler's support that gives him a number of places to lay low."

"Sorry, I haven't got anything on that." she said. "Tinto was the one and only time I ever saw Slug. Never saw or heard anything that might have been him hiding somewhere, either. Maybe Vegeta's the one giving him safe harbor? I never had enough contact with the Sai-jins to know about what happens on Saiya, but he's definitely tied to Cooler and Turles, which ties him to Slug, too."

Tao frowned. It was possible, Vegeta was certainly involved with Cooler back on Tinto. "Thanks for the info, Ferri."

She nodded. "Any time." she said. "I like you, and I don't want Slug and Cooler finding this power. They're nasty enough without it." She flew up off the book again, closed it, and then flew it back up to the shelf. "So, about that ship you came for." she said, flipping the sign on her door back to Open and unlocking it. "I'll build a nice custom one, whatever you want and need, half price on all parts. How's that sound?"

Tao nodded. "Excellent." he said.

She grinned. "Of course it is, it's one of my ships. Well, come on, let's get started on the plans."

XXX

"I can't believe it cost 350 Credits for what little bit we got." Everfrost muttered as he and Xeno entered the ship port. They'd managed to get everything on the shopping list, though it had taken nearly three hours. "This place doesn't even have Imperial taxes to jack up the prices."

"No, it's just run by a bunch of criminals and outlaws." said Xeno. "I'm surprised they didn't charge us more." The two made their way through the streets of the ship port to where they were currently parked in silence after that. When they reached the ship they found the door already open and Rain standing in the doorway, wrapped in a towel, yelling at two large red skinned men with bull horns and dog faces. "Oh, terrific." Xeno muttered.

"Look, fuck off already." Rain said, hands on her hips. "I've already told you, we want nothing to do with you."

"What you want and what's going to happen are two different things." said the man on the right. "We run these parts, including these ship docks, and what we say goes."

"What's the problem?" Xeno asked as he and Everfrost came up behind the two men. They were both at least eight feet tall and twice as wide as him and Everfrost combined.

The two men turned and frowned at the new arrivals. "Best be on your way, shrimps." the one on the right said. "This aint none of your business."

"Actually, it is." said Everfrost, pushing past the two men and starting up the steps into the ship. Xeno hesitated a moment and then quickly followed after him. The Human stepped inside and saw Storm and Nail both just beyond the doorway, Eve back a little from that. Storm had her scouter on and was frowning. "How strong are they?" he asked quietly.

"Around eighty thousand each." she replied, continuing to frown.

"I could take them both, even two on one, but we're hoping I don't have to show myself." said Nail. "As Tao said before, I'd rather stick out."

Everfrost nodded as he handed the Capsule of their stuff over to Xeno and then went back to the door. "So, what's the problem?" he asked, stopping to stand beside Rain.

The two red skinned men frowned more at him. Apparently they weren't happy that the two new arrivals were with the ship too. While they continued to frown it was Rain who answered him. "These two oafs are claiming we have to pay them to be here, otherwise they'll smash our ship."

"Well, we can't pay you." said Everfrost. "Tao has all of the money."

"Tao?" asked the one on the right, blinking. He turned his gaze from those at the door to the ship itself, apparently looking it over. "You mean the Human?" he asked.

"Yeah." said Everfrost.

The two men turned and started mumbling to each other for a moment, then turned back to the ship again. "Alright. You tell Tao that Ludic and Ridic came by." the one on the left said. "He'll know where to find us." And with that they turned and lumbered off.

"Geez, if I knew it'd be that easy to get rid of them I'd have done it fifteen minutes ago." Rain muttered, closing the door.

"So, got our stuff?" asked Storm.

Xeno nodded and held up the Capsule. "We didn't get everything you had down for Zukina." he said. "If you want that stuff you can buy it yourself."

"Fine, fine." Storm said, grabbing the Capsule.

XXX

Zukina kept glancing toward the ladder down to the lower level every few seconds, just to be sure no one was coming up. Being caught would be, she knew, unpleasant. But the two oafs outside the ship had given her time alone, something she'd not had since Storm first took her down to the hold aboard the Talon. After Eve had gone down as well she had waited to make sure no one would come up but the argument below was keeping everyone's attention. So now she sat at one of the computer panels waiting for a connection to the ComNet to go through and holding her breath.

She got a link in just as she heard Everfrost's voice below. With him and Xeno back she figured her time was running short and acted quickly, typing out her message and then sending it. She'd just disconnected from the ComNet and moved away from the computer when she heard the sounds of people coming up the ladder from below. She turned away from the ladder as she forced herself to stop smirking, not wanting whoever was coming up to see it.

XXX

It was four hours after Zukina's message went out that it arrived on the terminal in Frieza's throne room. The Changeling had been going through notices and reports merely because he was bored and nearly flicked the message off before he caught what it contained. "Finally!" he cried, pounding a fist into the arm of his chair. Reaching out a hand he hit a series of buttons on his terminal and the screen shifted from the message to an image of the galaxy with several blinking purple dots on it. A few more button pushes and he was zoomed in to a small star cluster and a single blinking dot. Double tapping that dot brought up a connecting notice for a moment and then a round blue face.

"Master Frieza." the man said, nodding slightly. "What do you need?"

"You're closest to Xentron." Frieza said. "Redirect there at once. I just recieved information stating that Tao is on the planet. Locate and eliminate the Human and find out if the Namek is still with him. If he is, then capture him!"

The man nodded again. "It shall be done." he said before the screen went blank again.

As Frieza stared at his reflection he couldn't help but smirk. They were about two weeks away from the planet but this was the first lead he'd had on the Human's location in over a month. The fact he had a location for him at all was putting him in a good mood again after that disasterous meeting ten days before that Bra had interrupted. Had it not been for Vegeta's ultimatum he would have been pleased by the deterioration of the Sai-jins' affairs. Instead, his brother had continued to refuse to budge and in the end the Sai-jin King had held to his word and made a decision for them. Cold's portion of the galaxy and Imperial matters and power had been given to Piccolo. The Namek was currently in transit to Cold's planet to assume control until the Changeling surfaced again.

Thinking about reading that decree on his terminal caused him to scowl but he pushed those thoughts aside after a moment and focused on this more fortunate turn of events. "With any luck he'll still be there when they arrive." he thought, smirking again. "And then I'll have him at last!"

XXX

Bra watched the viewscreen as Saiya drew quickly and steadily closer. Their nine day trek from Zendavou to Saiya was now almost over. They were only a few minutes away now and as the planet drew closer Bra became more and more determined. Determined to see her father pay for Marron's death and determined to make sure 18 survived. She hadn't been able to protect Marron but she promised herself, and Marron too, that she'd protect 18, no matter what. The Cyborg was now her only link to Marron and she knew she'd die before she let anything happen to her. It was her own way of appologizing to Marron.

Pan, on the other hand, was getting more and more nervous as the world drew closer. She was terrified that things would go badly. That something would happen to Bra or 17. She'd tried to convince them both to stay back with the ship but neither would even consider it. Both insisted on being there, on seeing the outcome of the fight. She knew that if her father or grandfather stepped in then they wouldn't stand a chance. She didn't know how much power 18 had while transformed but she doubted it was anywhere near enough to deal with either of them. She still wasn't convinced it would be enough to deal with Vegeta. Strong enough not to be budged by her didn't mean strong enough to fight evenly with the Sai-jin king. She knew there was something else gnawing at her, too, but chose to ignore it.

17 was concerned as well. Concerned for 18 and for Pan more than himself. Even though he was weaker than her he was determined to protect Pan from any threats. Even if it was Kakkarotto that was the threat. He was also worried about what confronting the three Sai-jins would do for Pan's mental state. The girl was getting edgier and jumpier every day. He knew it was more than just nerves about what was soon to come, more than just concern for those with her. It was concern about family, too. About the answers they'd give her for why they allowed what happend on Gorneo to happen. He knew she wanted answers, she wanted a reason to forgive them, and he was worried about what would happen to her when she didn't get it.

Faith had even convinced the others to take her with them. She'd be of no help in the fight, she knew that, but she didn't want to be the only one left with the ship. After everything she'd been through with 18 back on Leberion she wasn't willing to abandon her now, even if the most she could do was just be there as moral support. She was terrified, of course, but she also knew it didn't matter if she went with them or stayed with the ship, if 18 lost she'd probably end up dead herself, too. It wasn't a welcome thought, but she'd been unwilling to stay on Zendavou for the same reason she was unwilling to stay with the ship.

18 was the only one on the ship who wasn't nervous. She knew that, win or lose, she'd get an outcome she wanted. If she won then she'd have the revenge, the justice, that she'd promised her daughter. If she lost... Well, she wasn't sure if she'd end up in the same place as Marron or not but she had her fingers crossed. Her only concern if she lost was everyone else getting away safely. Before they'd left Zendavou she'd tried with each to have them stay behind but they had all adamantly refused. She was grateful that they were willing to come with her, though. She'd found that the fact that Bra didn't hate her, was in fact on her side, was the most empowering of all. It made her anger and hate and need for revenge feel more justified.

"Atmospheric entry in two minutes." Pan called from where she sat. "We'll be on the surface in eighteen minutes."