Two figures surged up out of the swirling light and landed, a second later, on the rock outcropping that hung out over the lake of light. Gohan found it hard to believe it had been less than two hours since he'd last gone through. So much had happened. More than just the last two hours, Gohan found it hard to believe it was still the same day. That he'd woken up that morning to a normal day and now here he was, in Hell, having just returned from another Realm as part of a... failed... rescue mission.
/Videl.../ he thought, closing his eyes. She'd been the main reason he'd gone through. He'd wanted to rescue Vegeta, too, but Videl had been his primary goal. He'd failed at both. Vegeta had been turned into an enemy and Videl... He could only hope that Shenron's powers could span the Realms. /The Supreme Kai might know. Or Piccolo./
He turned his gaze out over the plains of Hell and frowned. He couldn't remember exactly where the path back up into the H.F.I.L. was located. And he didn't really feel like traveling all that way, either. He'd just had to fly back down the Black Skull Path in Makai, to get into the Dead Zone. Another long flight up another tunnel? Not particularly appealing. And then a thought came to him.
"Hey, Paine? Do you know where there's a tear that leads up to the H.F.I.L.?" he asked.
She nodded. "A few." she said. "Come on, I'll take you to the closest."
He nodded and followed after her. He had to admit, he'd not have gotten back already without her. Or at all, apparently. Without her help he could have wondered Purgatory for days before finding the Black Skull Path again. Then been lost in the Dead Zone for years looking for the path between Realms. And, apparently, not been able to cross without being ripped to shreds without the aid of her magic.
He didn't know what would happen to her after this was over but he'd already decided to help her however he could. He felt he owed her for helping him like this, especially when doing so put her in danger. The trip to the tear took only a few moments and the pair pulled to a stop as they reached it.
"Any idea what's on the other side?" he asked.
"No. I've never been any further than Hell." she replied. "I just know that this tear leads into the H.F.I.L., it's one of the main corridors the advance recon teams used."
"Advance recon?"
"The Supreme Mazoku, the ones in on the plan to free Quietus, sent a dozen or so Demons up into the H.F.I.L. and Otherworld to monitor the Kais prior to breaking the Blood Crystal." she explained. "They wanted advance warning if the Kais figured out what was happening before Quietus was actually free."
"Didn't want caught by surprise, I suppose." Gohan said, shaking his head. "Well, I guess we just go through and see what's over there." Paine nodded and the two flew forward, passing through the tear. A second later the pair emerged into the H.F.I.L. and Gohan glanced around to try and figure out where they were, but the area was unfamiliar to him. So he reached out with his senses, looking for a power he knew, some idea of which way to go.
"There we go." he said, looking up and to his right. He could feel an energy off that way, quite a distance away, that he recognized as Mikomi's. "Man, that's still a ways off though."
"Then we should get moving."
"Can't you just teleport us there? Like you did to get us down to Purgatory?"
Paine shook her head. "I didn't teleport then." she said. "I Plane Shifted."
"Uh, what's the difference?"
"Plane Shifting is a magic most Demons and Mazoku have that lets us instantly travel from one Plane to another within Makai, emphasis on Makai. The magic wont let me travel between Planes here."
Gohan sighed. "Well, let's get going then. Mikomi's at least a forty minute flight from here."
XXX
Shinkai, H.F.I.L.
Neikan and Daikirai sat on either side of the crystal ball watching as events on the Grand Kai's world unfolded. Neikan found it exceedingly dull. There wasn't really anything happening, the Kais were simply organizing a defense against the Demons that remained. Apparently they'd decided to give up hunting down the Demons that remained in Otherworld and the H.F.I.L. and focus entirely on protecting the Grand Kai's world and those there.
"This is pointless." Neikan muttered after a few more moments. "There's nothing happening."
"Patience, Neikan. Patience. Information gathering is a slow process, when you want to do it discretely. We sit, we wait, we observe, we learn."
Neikan snorted. "So far we've learned nothing except that the new Supreme Kai is named Kibito."
"Wrong. We've learned what their defensive strategy is. We've learned that Mikomi intends to remain on the Grand Kai's world until the current problems are resolved. We've learned that the new Supreme Kai isn't even a Supreme Kai yet. We've..."
"What?" Neikan interrupted. "How do you know that?"
"Earlier, Kibito said he wished his training was over and he could be more help."
"So?"
Daikirai sighed. "He's still in training." he said. "Training for being a Supreme Kai."
Neikan frowned. "You don't know that. It could be some other training."
"But the only training that would need to be complete for him to be of more help would be that of a Supreme Kai. His training, his transition, hasn't finished yet, and that's why he's not as much help as he wants to be. Information is in the details, Neikan. It's... what's that?" It wasn't something in his crystal ball that had gotten his attention, but something elsewhere in the H.F.I.L., and he looked away from the ball toward what he'd felt.
"Two powers, both stronger than Malchio." said Neikan, also looking that direction. "I think that's where that tear is, the one I came through. One of them feels..."
"Paine." said Daikirai. "Not sure who the weaker power is. Maybe one of the Mortals?"
"Hmm. I think maybe I'll go check it out."
"Don't bother, they're heading for the Grand Kai's world."
"So?"
"So, that's where Mikomi is. We'll be able to see them on the crystal ball soon enough. We'll find out what's going on."
"Bah. I'm getting tired of this waiting. Can't you just scan the Mortal Plane for what you want?"
"If I had a better idea of what it..." Daikirai's response cut off as the image in his crystal ball began to shimmer and ripple. Some kind of interference was distorting the image. He was just about to try and clear it when Quietus's face materialized inside.
"Lord Quietus?" he asked, surprised.
"Daikirai. Have you seen any sign of Neikan?"
"I'm here, my lord." Neikan said.
"Perfect. I've got new orders. You are to hold position and observe the Realm until further notice. Track any Kais and their allies, figure out who the strongest ones are. These Mortals have more surprises than I'd expected. I want to know all of their tricks before we move again. Also, Dabura and Nefaria have escaped, keep a look out for them. Track them if they show up but do not engage anyone until further notice."
"Yes sir." Daikirai said as Quietus's face faded out and the Supreme Kai returned to view.
"Damn it." Neikan muttered. "More waiting. What's the point in me even being here? Bah!"
XXX
Makai, Limbo, Home of the South Mazoku
Nefaria and Dabura appeared at the home of the South Mazoku, about a dozen feet from the edge. Nefaria glanced around as they materialized, she'd never actually been to any of the lower Mazoku's homes. She'd never seen any of the Shinkai Realm's 'Lookouts,' where the Guardians watched over their worlds from, but if she had she'd have noted the similarities between them and her present location.
There were differences, however. The scale was significantly smaller, only about fifty feet across instead of almost a thousand. There were no flower beds or trees or any other sort of plants to be found. Just a solid stone floor, possibly granite. It also lacked a shrine, instead having just a single small building at the center. Not even the size of an entire room.
"Not very large." she said.
"Size isn't everything." came a female voice from inside the small building. A figure stepped out of it then, emerging from the dark shadows within. She was rather short, only about four and a half feet tall, with light green skin and pink eyes. "And looks can be deceiving."
She flicked her gaze off Nefaria and over to her other visitor. "Lord Dabura. What brings you here? I have already said I am remaining neutral. There is still a Realm to manage."
"You have." Dabura agreed. "And it's a choice I respect. You are focused on keeping the Realm functioning and I appreciate it, especially now that Malchio is dead."
"Hmm, yes. That." the Mazoku said, frowning. "He was always a moron. Should have stayed out of this mess. Would have saved the rest of us a lot of headaches. Especially since Quietus... co-opted most of the Demons. We are the only reason there's still any kind of order left. We don't have the time to be helping anyone."
"I know. And again, you have my thanks. However, the aid I require would assist you as well."
"Alright, I'm listening."
Dabura nodded. "We had allies with us from Shinkai." he said. "Mortals. They were killed in the recent battle with Quietus and their souls are... lost."
The Mazoku's frown deepened. "Shinkai souls lost in Limbo?" she said. "And if they were helping you they were likely allies of the Kais then, yes?" When Dabura nodded yes her frown deepened even further and she shook her head. Pure souls, beings good enough to ally directly with the Kais, ones that would likely have been sealed in the Dead Zone if they were Makai native, could cause disruptions in day to day functions within Limbo just by being allowed to remain. Still...
"I appreciate the situation but it is not as pressing as others." she said at last. "Your lost souls will keep."
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. The three I speak of have strong wills. They will undoubtedly manifest in time. Being out of their Realm they'll be disoriented at first, without guidance, so it could take days, weeks, even years, but it'll happen. Meanwhile they'll be loose balls of unfocused good will."
The South Mazoku closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. The more Dabura talked the worse this sounded. If they had the strength of will to manifest soul bodies on their own they had the strength of will to majorly screw things up. And being disoriented meant they would be acting on instinct. The instinctual actions of a pure Shinkai Mortal's will lost within Limbo was not something she wanted to experience right now. Let alone three of them.
"Alright. I see your point." she said, lowering her hand and opening her eyes again. "I'll locate your Mortals for you. But you, you get them out of Makai before they die again. Got that? I've got enough of a mess to deal with." She turned then and made her way back to the small building.
Nefaria had arched an eyebrow halfway through the conversation, surprised at how offhand the lower Mazoku was considering who she was talking to. It was quite a contrast to the way she'd seen everyone else interact with Dabura. As the lower Mazoku left Dabura noticed the surprise on Nefaria's face and chuckled.
"You get used to her." he said. "She's the oldest of the lower Mazoku, almost two million years old. Despite that, she's much weaker then the rest because she doesn't train. Not physically, anyway. She was a witch in life and she hasn't let death, or becoming a Mazoku, change that."
"Not just a witch." the Mazoku said, coming back out of the building once more, and apparently carrying a fishing rod. "I was the most powerful damned witch the Mortal Plane has ever seen. Ruled the entire Mazoku forsaken thing at one time, not that anyone had the slightest clue I existed."
"What?" asked Nefaria, confused. "How did you rule if...?"
"Shadow Queen." the Mazoku replied, walking up to the edge of the structure and gazing around at the empty sky. "I stayed out of sight and kept all the big, strong, blusterous idiots out as the figure heads of the empire. I ruled, they got assassinated." The Mazoku paused for a moment, and turned her gaze to look up at Dabura. "Though I get the impression you weren't referring entirely to my magic." The Mazoku King just smirked, and she grunted in response.
"Well, may as well pull up a seat." she said, pulling back the arm holding the rod. She gave it a few small flicks, then let loose casting the hook way off into the distance. "Can't say as to how long it will take to catch your souls. Depends how far out they are, and how much they like my bait."
XXX
Shinkai, Planet Vegeta, Sai-jin Palace
"Any luck?" Goten asked, scanning the crowd. Cheri had told him what Ornja and the others looked like, three times, but he still wasn't sure. He kept getting things mixed up. Was Ornja the one with hair crazier than his uncle Raditz, or was that one of the other ones? He thought Cheri said one of them had a scar on his forehead, or over his eye, or something, but he couldn't remember for sure.
"No. Not yet." Cheri said in frustration. She didn't know what Ornja was up to but it had been no good before and likely was again. If something happened, if people got hurt because she couldn't stop her... She shook her head to clear it. She couldn't let her mind wander to the worst case scenario.
The two of them had almost reached the end of the Grand Hall and there was still no sign of Ornja or the other four. They could have over looked them, there were so many people in the space it was starting to get crowded. Missing five Sai-jin amid the throngs wouldn't be too difficult, even if most of those in the hall weren't Sai-jin.
"Dead end." Goten said a second later as they reached the end of the room. He turned around and looked back up the way they'd come. He could see the other three off at the opposite end of the room. They'd almost reached that end as well and clearly hadn't spotted anything, either. "Should we go back?" he asked Cheri.
The girl sighed. "Yeah, I suppose so." she replied. "Just keep your eyes peeled. Maybe we'll see something on the way back." But they didn't. They flew back the way they'd come, the other three flying back toward them as well, and didn't see anyone that looked like Ornja or one of her allies.
"Anything?" asked Sakura. Goten and Cheri shook their heads no.
"Damn it." Trunks muttered.
"Trunks!" Akemi cried, and the boy flinched a little.
"Sorry, Akemi." he said, crossing his arms. "But this bites. You're sure you saw her?"
"I told you, I'm sure!" the girl said.
"So where did..." Cheri started, but paused because Goten had suddenly started tugging on her shirt. "What is it?"
"You said one of them had a big scar, right?" he asked. "Going across his forehead?"
"Yeah. Did you see him?"
"I think so. He was just down that way." He pointed down the wall and the others all looked but saw no sign of him. "He walked up to the wall and then... through it."
"Through it?" Trunks asked, crossing his arms. "How could he walk through a wall, Goten?"
"I don't know! But he did! He walked up to it, pushed it open like it was a door, and then walked through!"
Cheri blinked in shock a couple times, eyes going along the wall, counting the paintings. The area Goten was pointing to was between the sixth and seventh ones coming up from the main entrance, which meant... "Come on, this way." she said, flying off quickly. The others hesitated for a second and then followed. By the time they reached her she was floating in front of a space of blank wall, staring at it.
"There's nothing here." said Trunks. "No door, no guy with a scar."
"I'm telling you, he went through the wall." Goten said.
"And I'm telling you that..." Trunks trailed off there. While they'd been talking Cheri had gone over to the wall, eyed it up, then quickly smacked it in three different places. The wall suddenly split open, a hidden door swinging inward. "What the? What... is that? How did you find it?"
"It's a security corridor." replied Cheri. "They're all over the palace. Only palace security is supposed to know where they are and how to access them. They're meant to let security forces have quick and easy access anywhere in the palace, and to prevent any occupying force from blocking access to security agents."
"I didn't even know they existed..." Trunks said, shocked.
"I only know because mom showed me some of them. She's your mom's head of security so she knows all of them. She taught me a few in case the palace ever got attacked, so I could escape safely." She frowned as she crossed her arms then. "I should have thought of this, those five from before were all wearing palace security armor. Remember?"
"I never saw their armors close enough." Trunks said, shaking his head. "So, where does this hall lead?"
"There are three exits from this hall, counting this one. That leaves two possible places our target could have gone. One exit is near the kitchens, the other is near the guest wing. There's no way to know which way he went."
"Yeah there is." said Sakura. "We check."