Once we were safely in orbit, Captain Amelia called a meeting with the crew to discuss the specifics of their mission. I listened intently, taking mental notes and studying the blueprints of the area where they would be meeting their mediator, on the off chance that they would run into any trouble and might need help.
The captain, with her authoritative presence, made it abundantly clear that she expected nothing short of excellence from each crew member, even me. Her irritation with my presence on the team was palpable, but I couldn't afford to let her doubts weigh me down right now.
As we get closer to Planet Silos, I start to pick up on the few flashes of ki from their people. They aren't a particularly strong race, but there are few citizens who could cause some trouble for untrained humans.
My thoughts are interrupted by a soft chime as Amelia's voice comes over the intercom. "Pan, come to the control room. We're approaching the coordinates."
I take a final glance out into the abyss, then make my way to the control room. The corridors echo with the hum of anticipation, and I am keenly aware of the 3 crew members' skeptical glances as I enter.
I can see the screen displaying our destination. Captain Amelia is at the controls, her expression tense. "We're approaching the planet, Pan. Prepare for landing."
As we descend toward Silos' surface, my heart pounds in my chest. The uncertainty of our mission weighs heavily on me. I just can't shake the feeling of dread. And as we touch down on the nearly barren landscape, my fears only deepen.
"Pan." The Captain stops me before I can exit the aircraft. We just landed and the captain reinforced all of our security measures before we exposed ourselves to this foreign land.
Luckily for us, Silos' air is breathable for humans so we don't need to wear a protective suit this time.
The trip over here was tense to say the least. I don't know if the captain mentioned to Adam or Jane of my conversation to Trunk or not but I can't ignore the elephant in the room when It comes to her and I.
Captain Amelia paces back and forth, her intense gaze fixed on the control panels, her jaw clenched. I knew she's not happy about me being chosen for this mission. In fact, she was more than unhappy; she was downright irritated. And I can't blame her. As far as she knows, I am the youngest crew member, and my involvement in this mission is shrouded in secrecy.
She has been giving me both curious and distrustful looks since that meeting 2 days ago but she has yet to ask me a single question about it. I guess that time has finally come as she watches the other two exit before turning to me.
"Pan," she says slowly, turning to face me, "I understand now that you have a personal relationship with the Briefs' but honestly, what I still don't understand is why they chose you for this retrieval mission. You've barely had any field experience. It doesn't make any sense."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "I know, Captain. I can't share all the details, but the higher-ups at the Capsule Corporation have their reasons. It is something important."
Amelia's piercing blue eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, I felt like she was trying to read my thoughts. "Important? You're being too modest, Pan. This is the first ever space expedition for Capsule Corporation. They could have chosen someone with more experience, someone who's proven themselves."
I shifted with irritation under her scrutiny. Proven themselves? Even if they don't know the truth of it all, I have spent 3 years on this ship giving my all for this expedition. I took it as seriously as any of the other crew and I worked my ass off for them. My contribution on this ship went beyond being just another crew member so her words irked me like never before.
Eventually she sighs when she realizes I won't be saying anything further. "I suppose you will be needing a VAT?" Captain Amelia asks as she reaches into her bag but I shake my head to stop her. VAT stands for Voice Activated Translator. It's another genius device created by the Capsule Corporation that Translates languages in real time. You just pop it in your ear like any other earbuds and it translates whatever is being said to your native language. Currently it has all earth languages stored on it and over 3000 different alien languages.
Usually I would readily accept the device to make things easier on myself but I have no need for it on this planet. Planet Silos is one of the few planets left that speaks the common tongue that was used on Planet Vegeta before its demise. That worked well for me because Vegeta thought it important for all the saiyans left on earth to know the language of our ancestors, so he taught it to us. Even now he speaks it to us when it's just the saiyans around.
"Thank you captain but I won't be needing it today. This will be a fast mission. I will be in and out." I say leaving no room for any inquiries. Trunks had put me in a tough spot but I want to keep my personal life away as much as possible.
As I stand before Captain Amelia, her piercing blue eyes fixed on mine, I can sense a mixture of curiosity and thinly veiled envy in her expression. I had thought we shared an acceptance of one and other, one forged through countless missions and a mutual understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. But today changed that. Today, I am going to embark on a secret mission that she is not privy to, and it is hard not to feel the tension in the air especially after her earlier comments.
Amelia offers a strained smile, though her distrust seems to gnaw at her. "Pan, I know you've received orders from high up on the chain and you were specifically chosen for it but I need to know if you can tell me more about it? I am the captain of this crew and I need to ensure the safety of all my members" she tries one more time to get some information.
I can see the suspicion in her eyes, the jealousy hidden behind her forced smile. I had expected this, and I can't blame her entirely. "Captain, I wish I could tell you everything, but the mission is based on a personal matter, one that is not my place to share. Please forgive me for the unprofessionality of the entire situation but I can assure you I am in no danger." I reply, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
"I'll do my best to complete it successfully and return as soon as possible." I say finally. She eventually nods in agreement but her disappointment and mistrust is clear to see as she gives me an unconvincing smile. "I understand, Pan. Just promise me you'll be careful out there. If you need anything, you know you can rely on me."
I appreciate her concern, though it is tinged with a lack of trust that stings. Part of me wishes I could confide in her fully, but the truth of it leaves no room for that. I can't share the specifics with anyone in this ship, not even the captain. "I promise I'll be cautious," I assure her. "And I'll be sure to contact you if I need any assistance. I know you will have my back if I need it, no matter what."
Captain Amelia's eyes soften slightly, and she reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. Her unease is still lurking beneath the surface. "That means a lot, Pan. Just remember, we're a team, and I'm here for you no matter what. Now, go out there and make us proud."
With a final nod, I turn to leave the room, my heart heavy with the unspoken tension between us. I wish I could share a little bit with her, but the cloud of doubt that hung over our relationship has become a stark reality. As I walk away, I can't help but worry about the mission ahead. The lingering shadow of distrust cast by Captain Amelia took a backseat as the dread of what was to come settled fully in my stomach.
The planet's surface is pockmarked with craters, and the landscape is mostly a bleak and desolate gray.
I followed the coordinates provided by Trunks, my boots crunching on the rocky surface. The silence of the outer city is deafening, and it only adds to the eerie atmosphere. I keep a watchful eye on my surroundings as I make my way into the city.
As I get closer to the location, I spot a few people milling around. Most are merchants trying to get me to buy something. I approached them cautiously, my gloved hand reaching out to brush a few of the items.
Moving on from the streets of markets I finally see the path I'm supposed to take to get to him.
The moment I make my way down the dimly lit alleyway, my heart begins to race. I know what awaits me at the other end of this narrow, dodgy passage, a reunion with someone I wish I didn't have to see again, someone who's actions still wounds me deeply. The memories of our shared history hangs heavily in the air, and I can't shake the dread that had settled in the pit of my stomach.
As I navigated the labyrinthine alley, the flickering overhead bulbs cast eerie shadows on the cracked and graffiti-covered walls. The locals stare at me in distrust but they don't make any move to approach me. Most of them huddled into corners or sitting on the ground against the walls. They whisper to each other with every step I take.
The evening air is cool and crisp as I walk through the dimly lit alleyway, my heart is pounding with anticipation. I am on my way to meet a man I despise with every fiber of my being, but circumstances have forced me to set aside my grudges. The only reason I am here is for Trunks. Only for him would I ever do this.
As I turn a corner, I see Zackros waiting there, leaning against the wall, casually checking his device and watching the people passing by. I nearly backed out of there to run back to the ship, but I forced myself to stand firm.
His tall frame is illuminated by the faint glow of a nearby streetlamp. He holds a small package in his hands, and I can't help but resent the fact that I have to accept anything from him. I clench my fists, trying to steel myself for the inevitable confrontation.
He looks the same as he did all those years ago except older now. He is as old as my grandfather and he is starting to look like it. He doesn't have the saiyan genes to help him out in that department like grandpa Goku does. His hair is completely white and his face and hands wrinkled. His clothes are in good condition so I can tell he has settled into a somewhat decent lifestyle after all those years of imprisonment. To anyone else he looks like a sweet old man but I know the evil that lurks beneath.
We stand in silence for what feels like an eternity, the weight of our shared history hanging heavily in the air. I knew that to complete this mission, I would have to see him, but being in his presence churns my stomach.
"Hello Pan," Zackros greets me in the old tongue of the Saiyan people, his voice a tad too friendly for my taste. I can feel the bile catch in my throat as I hear his voice for the first time in a year. I think back to when I first met him. When I thought we were on the same side. Little did I know all the pain he would initiate and the scars he would leave.
"Zackros," I reply curtly, trying to act strong, like I'm not affected by seeing him after so long. I refuse to make eye contact. I gesture impatiently to the package. "Give it to me and be done with it."
Zackros hesitates for a moment, as if he wants to say something, but I am not in the mood for any conversation. My mind is set on the mission at hand, and I don't want to be delayed any further by memories of our past.
"I thought we could talk for a little bit first." he says blandly, his eyes filled with a knowing look.
I gritted my teeth, struggling to suppress the rage that wells up within me. "I don't want to hear it," I spit. "You're a despicable person, and nothing you say can change that."
Zackros lowers his gaze, his shoulders tensing. He hands me the package, and for a moment, there is a silence between us. The weight of the package feels heavy in my hands, like a reminder of the torment I had endured because of him.
"I had no other Choice, Child," Zackros says, his voice barely audible. "I don't. Want. To. Hear it." I want to scream the words at him. I can't take this, not now, not ever.
Zackros nods finally, his face a stone mask. "Have it your way then, but you tell the prince that with this, my debt toward him is paid."
I shutter at his words and he catches onto the look on my face. "I see, you haven't told him." I clench my teeth trying to stop myself from killing him at this moment. "No, and he is never to learn of it." I say with so much anger and so much pain that I'm not capable of hiding any longer.
He nods but he has an odd expression on his face. If I didn't know better I would think he was stricken by his past actions. "Fear not, he will not be hearing the truth from me. And I'm well aware that the debt I owe YOU cannot be repaid so easily. You did suffer far more than he did after all." He says it coldly, as though my suffering had nothing to do with him at all.
"Fuck. You." My words come out slowly but there is no missing the deadly tone to it. "Have things your way little saiyan but you know how to find me when the time eventually comes."
I walk away, not being able to stomach looking at him any longer. My footsteps echo in the now empty alley, the package clutched tightly in my hand. My heart is heavy with the burden of the past, and I can't shake the feeling that I made a grave mistake by coming here. The hate that has built up in me in that one conversation has my stomach revolting.
This was for Trunks. This is the last time I would ever do this for him. Never again will I let that man come near me. I force myself to keep moving, to put one foot in front of the other, determined to get back to the ship. I can't let my personal demons get in the way of my mind on this foreign planet.
Once I reach the vast expanse of the spaceship, the hum of the engines lets me know that the others have already returned yet there is not a person in sight. Works out fine for me as I don't want to see any of them right now. I find myself alone in the control room, staring into the dark screen that greeted me. It's in these moments of solitude that my doubts and fears creep back in. Wanting to get this over with, I turn on the computer and call Trunks. He doesn't answer immediately and I get lost in my thoughts again. When he does answer, a small frown and stress shining in his eyes is what greets me.
"Pan." he says plainly, taking in the anger I'm trying and failing to hide. It's not Trunks' fault truly. He doesn't know the truth.
I don't need to tell him that I got what he needed from Zackros, he can see it on face. "Thank you" he says gently and I nod silently.
"Never again Trunks." I whisper
"Never, you have my word Pan. I-" He starts to say something but stops. I give him time, letting him gather his thoughts. "I didn't ask you to do this lightly Pan and it will all make sense when you come home. I will explain everything. I want to do that in person. It kills me that I sent you out there again. That I put you in danger, that once again I failed to protect you. I won't ask for your forgiveness for this Pan, but just wait a little while longer. Please. Everything will make sense when you come home."
I manage a weak smile, feeling partly guilty. He has no inkling of the actual turmoil I had gone through to receive this package, and I am determined to keep it that way. And truly, I know that was important. He wouldn't have asked me otherwise.
As I end the call with Trunks, I feel a strange mix of emotions. Relief that I did what I had come here to do, but also a lingering sense of bitterness and resentment towards the world in general for its unfairness. I know that I will carry these emotions with me for a long time, and for the first time ever, I can't help but wonder if I had done the right thing by keeping what happened all those years ago a secret from Trunks.
But for now, I push those thoughts aside and focus on the road ahead. Life is full of twists and turns, and sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the people we care about. For me this sacrifice is for Trunks. I had done my duty, and now I can only hope that time would eventually heal the wounds of the past, or at least, allow me to bury them deep enough to continue on with my life again.
A/N: Hello everyone. Thank you for reading. please like and comment. I'd like to know what you think of it thus far and if there are any scenarios you would like to see in future.