Alright, I had not realized how many months it has been since the last chapter. Personal stuff happened that I won't get into here. This chapter is really short, but I am easing my way back into it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z

Chapter 54

When 18 opened her eyes, she didn't recognize her environment. She couldn't remember the last time she had been knocked out, so this new experience was making her head spin. She lay on what seemed to be a hospital bed in a room with chrome walls. When she remembered what had happened to put her in this state, she sat bolt upright and threw the blanket to the side.

"Easy!" A female voice sounded surprised by her sudden movement.

18 turned to see a short, blue girl with purple dreadlocks holding a clipboard.

"Where am I? What happened? Where are Goten and Trunks!?"

"Who?" the blue nurse just looked confused, and this only served to anger 18. She jumped out of bed and grabbed the nurse by her shirt.

"The two little boys who were with me! One has lavender hair and the other one looks like a palm tree! Trunks and Goten! Where are they!?"

"I-"

"18!" the door to the medical bay flew open and the last people that 18 expected to see ran to her aid.

"Z-Zangya? Gohan?"

"What did you do to 18!" Zangya wrested the other blue girl from her friend and pinned her against the wall. "If you hurt her, I swear I'll…"

"18, are you ok?" Gohan asked the cyborg. "How did you get all the way out here? Did Cooler kidnap you?"

"Lord Cooler would never do something like that!" The dreadlock girl sounded indignant, despite her precarious situation. "How dare you accuse us after Lord Salza went out of his way to rescue her! We haven't done anything to her other than run a physical."

"We'll see about that… Macki." Zangya paused to read her name tag. "Check the chart, Gohan."

Gohan snatched the clipboard from the girl and started to flip through the pages. 18 looked bewildered, still surprised to see Zangya and Gohan out in space. "Wait, she's not lying. I was saved by this blue cyborg guy."

"That's right! Lord Salza pulled you from the clutches of those slugs, so be sure to thank him properly. He likes flowers." She said the last sentence with a dreamy voice. "Now would you put me down already!?" Macki demanded and Zangya complied, though she kept a suspicious eye on her.

"What are you two doing here?" 18 asked.

"It's kind of a long story." Zangya shrugged. "Koti and his friends needed some help, then it turned into a big thing. But why are you out here on the Spaghetti star?"

"The Spaghetti… Star?" 18 shook her head and chose to ignore the weird name. There were more important things to worry about just now. She still needed to know where Goten and Trunks were.

"I was trying to get to Namek. But that doesn't matter right now. Where-"

"Oh, I get it." Zangya said with a sly look in her eyes. "Couldn't wait another three months for a little 'Kriller time', huh? You know if you had just asked, we would have helped you. A double date sounds pretty fun."

"There's more to it than that. But just listen to me-"

"Uh, Zangya…" Gohan cut in while staring wide eyed at her chart. "I think it was more important than wanting a date. Unless this is someone else's chart."

"Why, what's it say? What did they do to her!?" Zangya was ready to kill.

Gohan looked at the cyborg. "18… Can you get… Are you, you know…"

18 met the teen's gaze with reluctant eyes. She let out a sigh, knowing exactly what Gohan was trying to ask. Finally, she nodded. "Yeah. If it's about that, then the chart's right."

Gohan's eyes widened and his mouth hung open. The shock may have lasted for much longer, but Zangya was losing her patience.

"Alright, that does it!" She snatched the clipboard out of Gohan's hands and scanned the sheet rapidly. "What's with you two anyway? It can't be anything too crazy or shocking. It's not like… She's…" The clipboard clattered on the ground.

"Pregnant?"

Break

"Oh, come on! That's gotta be a lie!" Alex shouted across the table.

"No, honestly, I really don't have any." Cheelai held one hand up defensively.

"Then why did you ask if I had any 7s two turns ago, huh?"

The green girl shrugged with a cocky smile. "It's really a simple strategy. Asking for what I don't have makes you think I have what I don't while letting me know you have what you do by elimination, then you ask for what you think that I have, but you won't get it."

"…Huh?"

"She means she was bluffing, sis." Pearl explained.

"I know that, Pearl! Like I've never played a card game before. But she can't just cheat like that."

"Show me in the go fish rule book where it says you can't ask for something that you don't have."

Alex just growled.

"See? Anyway, it's my turn now. Let me think…" Cheelai put a finger to her chin. "Well, through the careful process of elimination, I know you have a jack." She held out her hand and Alex reluctantly gave her the card. "An 8." Alex gave her the card. "3, and a 5. Oh, and a 7, but I don't need that right now. You got a king."

"You said you didn't have that two turns ago!"

"And I didn't two turns ago. Got any… Aces?"

"HA! Go fish!"

Cheelai drew a card. "Well, well, I got what I wish." She set her last pair on the table with a taunting smile.

"GRAH! That's it! I quit!" The angry warrior threw her 7 on the floor and flipped the table.

The green girl showed no surprise at this reaction. "Oh goody. Looks like I win."

"Hey, wait a minute." Esmerelda said while reading from a tiny book. "It says here that 'the player who is "fishing" must have at least one card of the rank that was asked for in their hand."

Everyone looked at Cheelai with accusing expressions. Alex was seething with a fiery aura.

"Oh, really?" The green girl smiled innocently and rubbed the back of her head. "What do you know? Sorry about that Alex. But seeing as you already gave up, it's still my win, right?"

"Grrrr-Not on your life, ya floozy! We're having a rematch!"

"Alright, alright." Cheelai held out her hands in a placating gesture. "Anyone else wanna play though?"

"Sure, I'll play." Pearl sat down.

"Count me in." Turk joined the table too.

"I think I'll just watch." Esmerelda sidled up next to Turk.

Adamantia stayed silent, leaning against the wall, while Granolah sulked in a corner.

"What about you, fluffy? You in?" Cheelai looked at Broly.

The Saiyan looked left and right, thinking that she was talking to someone else. When he saw no one, he replied. "Um… My name's Broly, not Fluffy."

"Really? Cuz you look like a fluffy. Especially with that hair."

"Hey! How dare you mock him!" Turk shouted as he slammed a fist on the table. "Don't you know who this is!"

"Yeah, messing with my dumb sister is one thing, but calling the fiercest warrior in the galaxy 'fluffy' is going to far." Pearl said heatedly.

"That's right!" Alex added angrily. "He's the Legendary super Saiyan. He could destroy you with a breath, so watch your mouth!"

Cheelai was surprised by the amount of pushback she got. She took another look at Broly and tried to size him up. He was big, and he looked pretty strong, but fierce? A picture popped into her head of the man wearing oven mitts and an apron. "Pft! Oh, sorry, sorry. I didn't mean any disrespect."

The twins and Turk continued to glare at her as she softly giggled. "Look, hehe. Fl… Broly. You should join us. You look like you wanna play."

"Tch. Are you stupid or something?" Alex said haughtily. "Broly doesn't play games. He's never even attended the honor guard game night."

"Well, maybe you just never asked him properly." This comment effectively silenced the trio as, in truth, nobody had ever invited Broly to the game night at all. Cheelai shrugged. "What do ya say, mister 'legendary super Saiyan?"

"I… I love go fish." The Saiyan admitted. "I play it with the Son family all the time."

"Then pull up a chair and let's get started." The green girl patted the space next to her, which Broly gratefully took. Cheelai let her gaze linger on the giant man for a moment. 'Fierce?' She reached up and patted his fluffy hair. "I bet you wouldn't hurt a fly."

The sudden contact with his head, along with the comment, made the Legendary super Saiyan's cheeks go a light shade of red. The image of a blushing Broly stunned his fellow warriors, and Cheelai won every game after that.

Break

Neither woman had moved for several minutes. One stared at the other in disbelief and shock, while the other was refusing to show the awkwardness she felt. Zangya had to speak first. She had to hear it from 18 herself. "You… you're really pregnant?"

18 nodded.

Zangya nodded too, more from a reflex than a form of comprehension. "So… Who's the dad?"

18's face went red. "Who do you think, you bimbo!? It's Krillin!"

"How should I know that!" Zangya retorted with anger. "Krillin's been dead for three months!"

"And what do you know? I'm three months pregnant! See how that works?" Came the sarcastic shout.

"Well, you don't look it, so don't act like I'm the one being dumb. Wait… You've been pregnant for three months and you didn't even tell me!?" This fact shocked Zangya almost as much as the news that she was pregnant. Not to mention made her way angrier. "Why the hell not!?"

"It was none of your business!?"

"I'm your best friend! You being pregnant with a dead boyfriend is absolutely my business!"

"Well, maybe not everything is about you! I just didn't want to talk about it with a lovesick moron! You think I wanted to sit and watch you flirt with your boyfriend while I'm dealing with this! I'm three months pregnant and the father wanted to train rather than be with me!"

"All the more reason to talk to someone about it! If not me, then Chichi. I mean, she had to go through exactly what you are now, right? And Krillin wouldn't have stayed in otherworld if he knew. If you had said something, we would have dragged his bald ass back from the dead in a second! Why didn't you just say something!?"

"I didn't feel like being told to wait or be patient!" 18 yelled in frustration. "I didn't need to be consoled, I just needed Krillin back! I needed the father of my child!"

"And like I said, we wouldn't have waited if we had known the situation! But no, cool miss 18 decided that she didn't need to rely on her friends. Instead, she decided that she was going to endanger not only her life, but the life of her unborn child because she was too STUPID TO ASK FOR HELP!"

This last comment caused the cyborg to reel back as if Zangya had slapped her. She clenched her teeth and looked down at her feet. She knew that Zangya was right. She hadn't been thinking straight between grieving for Krillin, and the pregnancy hormones, but that didn't matter. She put the life of her child in danger all because she wanted to handle things on her own. As if that wasn't bad enough, She still had no idea were the boys were. This conversation had sidetracked her long enough.

"You're right Zangya." The blonde whispered, and the admission served to slightly diffuse the Hera's anger. "I was stupid not to talk to someone. But none of that matters right now. We have to find Goten and Trunks."

A confused look appeared on Zangya and Gohan's faces. Zangya looked at the blonde in annoyance for trying to change the subject. "What do you mean? They should just be at Bulma's."

Gohan on the other hand, saw the look of desperation on 18's face and his eyes narrowed dangerously. "What happened to Goten and Trunks?"

18 took a deep breath before telling them everything. About how she had seen Goten and Trunks on the ship she was planning to take to Namek. How they tricked her into taking off, and how she called Bulma and asked permission to take the kids. She told them how they had crashed on a planet and recounted the battle against the slug soldiers, and finally, she reached the point where she fell unconscious. Gohan had listened silently, his face looking graver as the narrative progressed.

"I woke up and they weren't here, so I asked her." She pointed to Macki, who held her hands up defensively.

"Look, you're the only one who was brought here. I was just assigned to you because I'm familiar with your species' biology. I don't know who, or where these kids are. Maybe Lord Salza rescued them too."

"They aren't on the station." Gohan said while clenching his fists.

"How could you possibly know that?" Macki asked.

"I've been trying to sense their energy, but I can't feel them." Gohan suddenly slammed his fist against a wall, shaking the entire station. "I can't feel them anywhere!"

"Then…" 18 grabbed her head in frustration. She had held out hope that the cyborg who rescued her had saved the boys too, but that clearly wasn't the case. "Then I really let them get taken. This is all my fault."

"You lost Goten?" Zangya whispered, but even that made 18 flinch. "How could you lose them?"

"Zangya I'm sorry. I tried to protect them. I'll get them back I-"

"They never should have been in danger in the first place!" Zangya bellowed and her aura started to flare up. "They're just kids! What were you thinking bringing them with you!?"

"I didn't think-" She started backing away, but Zangya advanced on her.

"You didn't think space was dangerous!? Are you kidding me!? Remember Bojack, Jade, and Babidi! Where do you think they all came from!? You didn't think there were more like them out there!? Or maybe you just didn't think their lives mattered! Why would you? You didn't even think about the safety of your own unborn child!"

"It isn't like that." 18 said while trying to choke back a sob. Being berated by Zangya hurt more than she thought it would.

"I don't care what it's like! Goten and Trunks are missing all because you couldn't be bothered to ask for help, or even just turn the ship around! MY LITTE BROTHER MIGHT BE DEAD!"

18 and Gohan looked at her. "Your little brother?" the blonde asked despite herself.

Zangya paused before shaking her head.c"You know what I meant. Gohan's little brother and his friend are missing, and we have no idea where to even start looking."

"Um… I have an idea." The three earth warriors turned to the purple haired nurse who was raising her hand.

Zangya marched toward her and once again grabbed her by the shirt to lift her up. "Start talking."

Macki knew this chick could destroy her. She knew that, but that didn't mean she had to let herself get bossed around. She didn't know who these people thought they were, but nobody came onto lord Cooler's territory and made demands of his top servants. "Maybe if you stop manhandling me, and ask nicely, I'll tell you what I know."

Something in Zangya snapped and her hand flew toward the other blue girl with killing intent. The fist was barely a millimeter from her face when it stopped, with Gohan's hand firmly around her wrist. The teen placed another hand on his girlfriend's shoulder.

"I'll handle this."

The Hera nodded and dropped the girl before retreating to let Gohan do his thing. Macki dusted herself off and looked up at the man who had saved her. After looking at him closely, she realized that he was actually really cute. Not as pretty as lord Salza, but he did have a rugged handsomeness that was just as good in its own way. It could be fun to flirt with this guy a bit.

"Like I said, you have to ask nicely." She put a hand to her cheek and offered him her hand in a dainty fashion. 'That's right. You want the info, show me your charms.'

Gohan's dimly glowing eyes stared at the blue hand in contemplation. Finally, he grabbed it gently.

'That's right, just like-'Macki's thoughts suddenly ceased. Her whole body froze up and she fell to her knees. She felt as if she was being crushed by some unknown force. The pain was more than she could bear, yet she was unable to cry out. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't even think. The only thing in this black world of pain that she could comprehend outside of her suffering was a pair of glowing red eyes looking down on her. Then, just as suddenly as it had buried her, the darkness disappeared. Her pain was gone, and she was surprised to find that she was still on the infirmary floor. She stayed there, trying to catch her breath while checking her shaking body to make sure she was indeed still living. Finally, she looked up, to see the same terrifying eyes burning into her soul.

"Let me make one thing clear." Gohan said, barely above a whisper. "My little brother and his friend are in danger. If anyone has brought harm to them, I will ensure that the most excruciating pain imaginable is inflicted upon them, followed by the grizzliest death I can think of. Those who stand in my way," he narrowed his eyes on the girl. "Will get the same treatment. Now, will you please tell me what you know?"

Macki opened her mouth to respond, but her throat was too dry to speak. Gohan went to a sink and filled a cup with water before placing it to the girl's quivering lips and helping her drink it down.

"S-s-slug." She croaked out. "The girl was attacked by his forces."

Gohan looked at 18, who nodded. "That's what I heard when they were talking."

The Saiyan turned back to the female on the floor. "Do you know where to find them?"

She shook her head.

"Are Slug and his men a part of the Elysia Crispate?"

Macki nodded fearfully. "Ye-yes. He's one of the l-leaders."

"So, if his men came across two Saiyan children, what would they do?"

"I… They would t-take them as c-captives. P-probably try to recruit them."

"That's right!" 18 finally remember what the goons she fought were saying. "They thought that Goten was their boss's son or something. It didn't sound like they wanted to kill them."

Gohan wasn't sure why they would think Goten was related to their leader, but it didn't matter. "So, to get them back, I'll have to find their headquarters." Gohan said, more to himself than anyone else.

"Oh, we'll get them back!" Zangya snarled, ready to lay waste to the scum who attacked her new family.

"I want to help." 18 said. "It's my fault they're in danger." Zangya looked away from her friend with a 'tch', while Gohan looked thoughtful with his eyes down. "Please Gohan." The cyborg begged. "I'll do whatever it takes to make this right. I need to know that they are ok."

Gohan finally looked up with a faint red glow in his eyes. "They will be. If they're not," he turned his back on the women and thought of the enemy he would soon face. "then there'll be the devil to pay." With that final remark, he headed out the door followed by Zangya and 18.

Macki stared after the odd trio until they were long gone. Her limbs were still weak from whatever the man had done to her. That was the most intense feeling she had ever experienced, and he did it with barely a touch. "Holy heat coils." She whispered. 'Am I a masochist?'

Break

At the other end of the galaxy, a tall warrior in battle armor sauntered through a palatial building. Under his arms he carried two small, unconscious figures. At the end of a long hallway, he came to face a grand double door. With a swift kick, he forced the door open and continued into a gold and silver room.

"Alright brats." Daiz dropped his captives on the floor of the giant room. "Wakey wakey. Time to meet your new boss."

Trunks was the first to stir after some prodding and Goten was soon to follow.

"Wh-what happened?" Goten asked. "Where are we?"

"You're right where you belong, my young friends. You're home." The boys scrambled to their feet as they looked around, ready for a fight. Fortunately, it didn't take them long to find the source of the voice that greeted them. Sitting on a large throne, surrounded by four beautiful woman, was a man with a palm tree hairstyle and a wicked smile on his face.

"Welcome, my little Saiyan brothers, to the new home of our race. Planet Turles."

End Chapter

Like I said, it's a short chapter. The next one will be longer. I had a hard time with 18 being pregnant and making sure that Zangya's and Gohan's reactions to that were realistic. I rewrote the scene a couple of times, so I hope it came out well.

You don't have to read past this if you don't want to hear my excuses, but if you are interested, two things kept me from writing these past few months. One of them is too personal to share in this format, but the one I will share is still, in my opinion, a pretty good excuse. I got into a car wreck. It was my fault and, luckily, nobody but me got hurt. In my defense, that light looked green, and that truck was probably going faster than it should have been. I had to do my school work with one hand, but that is super annoying and I didn't really feel like writing fanfiction that way. Even though I healed up a few weeks ago, its been hard to get back into the swing of things.