Chapter 81

Azusa almost breaks down the automatic door. In one hand he holds the unlit hilt to his sword. The guards stationed to protect this room stand motionless – to cross the emperor is something they will not do for their salary. Aggravated pants are blown into his beard, he ran as fast as he could to confront her on this. Azusa, the Emperor of Jurai, strides into the room, a face of thunder, and he ignites his blue sword.

"No matter your rank or relation, treason is treason. Misaki cried for weeks whilst you held a secret back door to dear Ayeka and Sasami! What have you to say on this?"Azusa bellows as he begins his royal inquisition. Anger fills him at this insubordination and betrayal. His sword hums in the air.

Seto looks up from the several computer screens in her office. Sat at her desk she does not seem surprised that she has been disturbed. Her place of work holds no windows and resides within a wing of the royal palace, it is luxuriously furnished and spacious enough to fit a dozen other people working comfortably. As is custom she rises from her chair and bows at the entrance of the Emperor of Jurai. She tidies her green hair over her shoulder and eyes the shimmering long blue blade. With a tap on her keyboard she sends a message to her guards outside the room to take a short break. The previous emperor to Azusa was far easier to handle, even without her daughter buying her a closer seat of power. She switches off her monitors and walks to the side of her desk. Seto has planned for this consequence so she begins speaking an already calculated conversation.

"My emperor, I cannot think what you are accusing me of. I did force Washu's hand in this, but I did so in defence of Jurai. That security breach is gone, or are you suggesting that when I remembered that it was in my possession-"

"Ignorance will not defend you in this! I know you, Seto, you don't idly forget such things. You must have had it years."

"Years, yes, but for the majority of that time Washu resided here, on Jurai, so there was no issue and hence it slipped my mind as it was of little use. Do you intend to use that sword against your own mother-in-law as you know such threats do not intimidate me. I did what was right legally, I see no treason. Though in how you worded your accusation it sounds as if the emperor was willing to have it exploited for personal reasons. I will bill you for the damage to my door." Seto corners Azusa, either he can argue for Misaki's sake in which case he walks a dangerous line legally, or he can argue for her having committed a crime which she can defend with ignorance and her having worked for Jurai's safety. Her voice is calm, and the smile on her face is artificial.

The claymore sized Juraian sword is deactivated. Azusa will not be so low as to resort to violence or threats, they are but wasted breath to Seto. She is still family, despite her apparent apathy towards the feelings of others. The emperor does not want to be fooled by her or walk down the path he knows she has constructed, traps lie everywhere so he must stay focused and not let her words hold sway over him. He sets his weapon down upon her meticulously clean and organised desk. Her eyes never leave him. This woman works best in the shadows, and shining light on her actions only serves to cast more shadows for her to work with. Operating in an open manner, purposefully instigating Washu's ire, has to be for some reason he is not seeing. Seto is not too pleasant a person yet even she would not hurt her daughter without sufficient reason, that Azusa shall find out.

"What is your plan?" He comes straight out and asks, subtlety is her forte not his. Azusa's stern voice rings out louder than Seto prefers with her door being open.

"My plan? You say you know me and you think asking me will get me to divulge, even if you do swing that oversized knife around I will say what I have already said. I acted in Jurai's interest, for its security." Seto blinks and repeats herself. She reaches out and tidies up the position of the hilt.

Azusa's hand comes down on top of hers. She will not escape from him. Her face betrays no emotion. If security is in her interest then she would not have taken a backdoor to Washu's laboratory in the first place, she does as she sees best for herself. His hand is hot and his grip is quite strong against her hand. She sighs to herself.

"Seto! To lie to the emperor is a crime. Explain your actions to me."

"Washu threatened she would tell Sasami, I was expecting my daughter to arrive not yourself. Where is Missy?" With disinterest she looks towards her broken door. She planned most for the promised Misaki to challenge her on this and Seto does want a chance to talk to her daughter about this and smooth things over as best as possible. She cannot lie to the emperor if she does not answer him and avoids his probing into her affairs.

"My wife was telling me of what she learnt about our favourite Saiyan from her impromptu trip, I was with her. I did not think you wanted to see the pain you caused your daughter, she could not believe that you would conceal a secret of this magnitude from her and to have allowed her pain when her children – your grandchildren – were missing. What have you done that was worth hurting them like this?"

Her hand is released, she takes it back and rubs at it. Hurting her family is something Seto shall try to avoid if possible, in this case it was not unless she tried to appease Washu yet that opened up a risk of Kaia being discovered before Washu shut down her secret entrance. Vegeta is the reason she has to do things like this, that and Kagato whose villainy originates from the killing of his people from a different generation of Vegeta. Seto crosses her arms and sits on her desk. Telling her husband about this will not be fun. A censored version is what she will provide Azusa.

" … Fine, since I do want to get on with my work I shall tell you. I did not approve of your lack lustre agents on the ground, and there is no point of any guard to be there against Saiyan might. Another appointed by myself has been sent. You had people stationed there for Ayeka to have allies, chaperones, and that she has now. Her friend will be there to keep her company." Seto smiles. Spilling the beans on what equates to smuggling a Juraian off-world is not the wisest thing to do but Azusa cannot act on it if it is in Ayeka's favour.

"A spy. What friend-"

"The blind one she met when she had that nasty bout of illness 14 years ago." She quick fires her answer as a smirk plays on her face. Giving away information she still retains the power in this conversation, the emperor shall follow the tune she plays.

"Blind? …" Azusa is confused now.

Sending a friend for Ayeka to have in lieu of Sasami's absence he can understand. However, this is Seto, and the odd detail of a disability is quite rare. He believes he can remember such a girl yet political circles are wide, he has to know a lot of people and currently Yosho and Haruna are clogging up his memory of names with guests and the like for their engagement.

"Yes, blind. Do you not know your own daughter's friends?" Seto reaffirms her superiority by holding over Azusa this information on his own daughter that she knows that he cannot recall. This puts into question his ability to parent her, his own decisions on leaving her there and his inadequate choosing of Mihoshi Kuramitsu and Kiyone Makibi as defenders of Ayeka.

A large and rough hand is raised and Azusa covers his eyes. He shakes his head in dismay. Kaia he does recall now. A cheerful and optimistic woman, well mannered and a friend who would jump at an opportunity to see Ayeka again. She is no stranger to hospitals so the cover story they have woven for Ayeka's absence could have been used and not deterred her. This is a bad situation. One of his people is now in the clutches of Vegeta. The trusting nature of Kaia was abused by Seto. The Devil Princess of Jurai has sent a blind woman to combat against a Super Saiyan. More people are now involved in their secret, another weight of stress and aggravation has been placed on Vegeta with an unannounced visitor and Azusa knows Seto has an endgame in this. He will not have any more Juraian blood spilt by Saiyans. His people are not the playthings of Seto.

"I do not want to hear that from you. Why would you send a defenceless blind girl to that place?" Azusa growls out these words, trying to keep his emotions in check. The sword calls to him to have Seto know her wrongs and for once bow to her emperor. She treats lives as expendable as Saiyans do and these are his people he has sworn to protect.

The handing over of a citizen against their will or knowledge to a leader of a faction they are still legally at war with is a treasonous offence he can convict Seto of. Saiyans have no mercy, they cut down the old, the young, the weak and the feeble with even greater ferocity. Kaia's life is in danger. Neither of them trust Vegeta. Seto's continual smile and self assurance grates against him to no end. Kaia will be scared and afraid and all that will do is put added stress on his daughter and on Vegeta. He picks up the hilt of his sword and reluctantly sheathes it on his belt. Seto checks the doorway before continuing.

"For the reason that she is a 'defenceless blind girl'. What better way to test a Saiyan than to see how he handles the frail and disabled. And, she is one of Ayeka's closest friends in case that detail escaped you, furthermore if you must know one of my informants so she can be trusted in these private affairs." Seto gives blasé reasons that Azusa already knows, yet reasons they remain. Vegeta can strike down the poor girl and their empire will be saved a Saiyan as Ayeka realises his true nature, or if benevolence triumphs then their fears can abate.

"You sent a Juraian citizen to what equates to a political war-zone where her life is possibly in grave danger without her knowledge. Taking advantage of the goodwill of Ayeka's friend, using her disability against her, stranding her unprepared in an alien world in a household that Kagato is actively targetting… with morals that allow for that you are not fit to hold this office."

"I understand your opinion on this. However, I will use the same defence that guards Washu's misdemeanours: I am the best at doing this job, you cannot be rid of me for there is no replacement to take my stead. If you want to have me arrested then you will have to publicly tell the authorities of Earth and of Prince Vegeta."

Both herself and Washu have gotten away with crimes thanks to their prestige and great use. She is well aware that Azusa would prefer a servant who actually serves him and does not do dealings behind his back but if so he can try and face Kagato and Vegeta without her aid. Having worked for millennia she knows the place she holds and the power she wields. The complaints of the emperor are factors she has accounted for: threats to Kaia's life are where the great Dr. Hakubi can play her role. Azusa sees the lack of regret or guilt over her actions, his eyes hold a detest for this woman his empire can not do without. He shakes his head in disgust at her.

"Every day I am thankful that my wife turned out nothing like her Mitsu of a mother. When Missy finds out about this-"

Misaki flings the remains of the automatic door against a far wall. In one hand she holds a communication device broadcasting the conversation her husband is transmitting. The guards are long gone from this wing of the palace. Furious pants are blown into the blue strands of her ponytail that have come loose, she can run far quicker than her husband. Misaki, the Queen of Jurai, stands menacingly in the doorway, and she ignites a partial blue shield beneath her feet.

She springs off her weak ki construct to spare the flooring of the palace. Misaki barrels into Seto and with one hand lifts her from the floor by the front of her pristine robes. Her mother has gone too far and in her official capabilities as guard to the royal family she apprehends her. All this time her mother knew how to get to her children, she knew how to contact them and instead of a long flight a short walk is all it would have taken for her to have been reunited with them. She tightens her grip. Rage burns hot in her bosom.

"What have you done to Kaia? She is so ill, she could die from the change in atmosphere! You send an innocent girl to a strange world whilst you are the only one here too cowardly to visit Earth yourself. Answer me, mother!"

"Misaki I-"

"She has never been off-world before. She needs medication. You abandoned one of your own agents where you half want her to be killed!" Misaki roars at her mother. Her arm shakes her aloft parent. Seto has willingly put a kind girl she knows very well into harm's way, Misaki shall not allow this.

The eyes of Seto show no fear at her daughter's violent outburst. Her daughter has for a long time wielded great strength for a Juraian and never was the best at restraining her emotions. Seto holds her daughter's hand that is keeping her in the air. She glances to the side. Azusa is allowing his wife to act in this manner, his wife was his plan for confronting her. The minor throttling is quite painful, she would like to be released. Misaki's shaking and brute force makes it hard to speak. The Queen is trying her damnedest to be the best mother she possibly can be in this impossible situation with Ayeka and her own mother is stabbing her in the back as soon as she gets home.

"I don't see how me sending her there is 'abandoning' her, you just arrived from that location. She can be reached and picked up and escorted home within a time-frame suitable for her medication. Did you not want a reason to go back to Ayeka?" Seto speaks as best she can in this position with her feet dangling as she highlights the lack of any real threat to Kaia. An escape route does exist for her if need be. She smiles down at her daughter. Any danger that befalls her will now be partially their responsibility for not acting on rescuing Kaia from Earth.

The Emperor takes a step around the desk and looks at the screens. They are locked and blank. He shall allow his wife to act as she deems fit. Stopping her when she is like this is far beyond his power. Misaki is snarling. She drops her mother hard onto the ground and stoops over her prone form. The choice to not form a fist is not an easy one. Those dangerous words of her mother have provoked her wroth. Ayeka is not a tool to be levered against her. She fails, a fist jams into the wooden flooring beside her mother's head.

"You- … You dare to play off of my love for my children! I will not follow your lead in this, mother. What, would you stowaway if I did go to rescue Kaia? Do you want my presence to start driving a wedge between Ayeka and Vegeta? Do you want my presence gone from Jurai? As your Queen I demand you to answer me!" Spit flies onto Seto's face as Misaki screams.

"To be truthful, yes, I would like a chance to visit Earth and to have my daughter's protection once there. Washu reports of a brief visit to the afterlife through teleportation, this you did not speak of, I would quite like to see what fate has in store for me. I will contest them insulting my daughter, though right this second you are proving yourself to be my own personal 'Counteractor'." Violence does not deter her, threats and shouting are commonplace in her line of work; Seto replies to Misaki's questions.

Misaki pauses. That name is not who she is. Her momentum is lost by this blind-side from Seto. She has not told her husband about her trip to Otherworld yet, and he is standing close by. Her mother is expressing a want to defend her honour, in stark contrast to her actions of traitorously keeping her children from her. Misaki does not know what to roar next at her mother.

"I-I – that-"

"However, for the rulers of Jurai you two are not taking the free will and independence of your own people to heart and seem to be treating Kaia Jhun as some inferior citizen needing constant care – realising of course my own standpoint in this. How about getting in touch with her to see what her decision is: if she wants to stay with Ayeka for a while or return home? Us returning to Earth at the sensitive time that Vegeta is grieving for his deceased wife would be lacking in the delicacy I strive for. … The more unexpected surprises I throw into the mix, the more our foe Kagato has to alter his plans and improvise, and with one mistake on his part he shall be crushed."

The training is not going as Goku had planned. Piccolo has usurped the simulation of Cell. He has trained with this Namekian for many years so continuing on that tradition in this new environment seemed a good idea. Goten will not be getting a round with Cell anytime soon however with Piccolo testing his might against this foe. As a Super Saiyan 3 he blocks the attacks of his Super Saiyan son as they both utilise their transformation to get accustomed to the energy and stamina drain. Using his new tail against his son he completely overpowers lets him experiment in new tactics.

"Hey Piccolo, looks like you could do with fusing a few more times. My son's going to take care of Cell without fusion though." Goku taunts his green rival as both Cell and Piccolo regenerate lost arms. Goten is quite happy with his father's confidence in him, but looking across at Cell gives him his doubts.

A loud knocking comes from the door.

"Try fusing and even still you'd lose a battle with her." Piccolo quips back as he sees Goku's wife waiting by the training room door. Cell in his perfect state is proving quite challenging.

Goten immediately descends to his base form and Goku casually walks up to the training room door with his shoulders slouched. He opens the metal bulkhead for his now younger wife and does not hold high hopes. She tells him to come with him to talk. Goku replies that this is the 5th time so far his training has been interrupted today. Chichi stands adamant and grabs at the hand of this Super Saiyan 3. He multi-forms, she glances to her son and he innocently sits down watching Piccolo – not training or fighting. The multiform of Goku still complains that ever since visiting Washu she has not left him alone for any stretch of time to train. She says that this is important. Back in their home the Ox King holds the same resigned look as Goku.

"Finances, Goku, we need to think what we're going to do with this money from Gohan's job. Where're we gonna save it, invest it, Dad had the brilliant idea of burying it in a treasure chest or building a castle again – which we're not – so what're your ideas?" Chichi puts her hands on her hips as she questions her Saiyan husband on ideas for their new massive source of income.

"Chichi, don't ask me about money." Goku simply shrugs. His wife should know by now that this is the only reasonable response he can make,

"We are married, we have joint bank accounts. I cannot make decisions on your behalf, we're supposed to talk and discuss these important things and both make a decision." She tuts and wags a finger at his lack of co-operation, Chichi will have his opinion on this or at the very least have him hear hers. This is what normal married couples talk about and if her husband has no clue about money then it is about time he started listening and learning.

"And I'll just agree with your decision, could just put a load in with Goten's savings for when he's older."

"Too much money for Goten and he'll start acting spoilt." Immediately Chichi dismisses his first idea. Spoiling a child with great wealth will have her son acting even more like his friend Trunks than he already does, her child will learn the value of money and the accomplishment of hard work.

"Ha, you were hardly the cheapest child to raise yourself. We know something's up Chichi, tell us why you're bothering us all the time now you're all young and pretty again." In the background sat on the sofa, the Ox King repays his daughter for her disparaging comment on his great idea of investing the money in real estate; a castle.

Helmets mounted with lasers and detachable blades do not come cheap and when she was a teen and training to meet Goku in the world tournament expenses started increasing. Both him and Goku can tell something is up with Chichi. Her aberrant behaviour is obvious and whether it is a side effect of becoming younger or not he has to ask about it.

"I don't think you two are taking this seriously."

The raven haired woman harrumphs and marches off out of the room in a huff, not having her father and husband ganging up against her and not helping her in this discussion. They hear her grumbling under her breath. They also heard no response on why she is acting out for attention so much. Both men who love her look to each other and know there will be repercussions.

"Hey, pops, I'm thinking if this keeps up then we finally use one of our plans." Goku sidles up to his colossal father-in-law and whispers. Fun can be had with this and it might just stop the constant nagging of his wife.

"Definitely. That's some good thinking. 'N' you haven't even heard the half of it, that marriage of Yamcha is all she's been going on about with clothes and stuff to buy." Ox King nods in agreement, Goku can escape by training but he has had no such opportunity.

"Operation Super Plan 4." The Saiyan decides which plan he and his co-conspirator shall enact later on this day.

Him and the Ox King knowingly grin at the other. They will hear hell for doing this yet the risks with Chichi are always great. Hearing them laughing together, probably at her expense, Chichi walks back into the room looking thoroughly unimpressed. Her husband waves at her and tries edging towards the door to escape back to training. Chichi's stare stops him in his tracks. His Saiyan might means little in comparison to the power she holds.

"Fancy being adults for a change and talking about this household's future and its money? If not I'm still gonna need ya to sign the paper work Goku." She walks up and grabs her husband's hand again. He is not disappearing off and since he can multi-form now he has little complaint as he is still training at this moment in time.

Kaia, Kiyone and Mihoshi stand wondering if their current decision is wise. Washu stated that her intentions were for sleep and beyond that she will be heavily occupied with the hunt for Kagato, as will Gohan. Kaia is not settled. She is still highly nervous and anxious in these foreign surroundings despite their company and best efforts to reassure her that she is under no danger. Contacting her home is her priority now. She wants to speak to her family. Her gloves detect nothing abnormal about this doorway that led her to this far distant planet. Kiyone explains that finding what they want within Washu's laboratory could take a while within the labyrinth. Kaia says that being blind she is used to counting her steps to retain her direction, and Mihoshi replies that Washu's lab is a constantly changing landscape yet she seems to always be able to navigate it successfully.

The blonde cop opens the door and steps through, guiding the way, as Kaia follows through at a slower walking pace with one hand facing forwards at Mihoshi and the other behind at her other police escort. Kiyone does not think it appropriate to say and Mihoshi makes the joke anyway that she is jealous that Kaia despite being blind can see all around her unlike them. The nervous Juraian smiles. She does not take offence at it. Already this place does not sense at all like it did when she was traversing from Jurai and unintentionally smuggling herself off Jurai. Her head is beginning to hurt. She asks if the others ever feel weird when walking in here or start hurting. Immediately Mihoshi and Kiyone stop.

"Washu's all lovey-dovey with Yamcha so she told me she's made this place like Earth, it feels no different in here than back out in Vegeta's house. Where is it hurting? Are you gonna be OK?" Mihoshi stands close to Kaia out of concern she might topple as she did in the kitchen. If the conditions of Earth are aggravating her poor health then it is a priority they contact someone to get her back home.

Kaia nods and says it is just a mild headache at the moment and she felt it when walking in here last time but it stopped when she exited and found herself on Earth. This puzzles the two policewomen. Kaia then asks about this relationship Washu is in. Only having been walking for a few minutes they ask if she wants to take a rest, Kaia declines saying she is fine with carrying on for now. They take her word for it and progress deeper into the laboratory. Kaia stops moments later and frowns. Her hands swish to her side before her head turns. Both Kiyone and Mihoshi stop and look at the gloom she is pointing towards. Kaia reaches out to her side and grabs towards Kiyone, the cop reaches out and holds her hand. There is nothing there that their functioning eyes can see.

A burst of white light screams through the air above the machinery and computers. He drops down to where the sensors told him to go – some part of Washu's education she gave him allowing him to find his way through her laboratory – and he drops down to the ground. Gohan saw the video feeds alerting him to people in his workplace, and a stranger amongst them. The last he knew Washu ran away following Seto then a couple of minutes later she retired to bed. Kiyone and Mihoshi he knows. This third woman he does not. She is trembling and clutching at her head.

Kaia's red brows are frowned in discomfort. This is not a pleasant sensation. It is too much. She pulls closer to Kiyone. It is hard for her to concentrate and focus on the sensory input from her glove. This thing appeared and seems man-sized and shaped but it hurts her to be near. Gohan sometimes frightens the odd person with his strength as the Great Saiyaman but this woman seems greatly shaken by him flying up unannounced, that or she is very bad with strangers. He apologises for scaring her and says he is not going to hurt her, he is just here checking up on them when he noticed they had come into Washu's realm. Mihoshi goes up to Kaia as well and tells her that Gohan is not dangerous and is a cool Superhero in his spare time and a new assistant working for Washu. Kiyone is thinking on how Kaia knew to turn to Gohan when he was over the horizon. Those gloves will not tell her of a person's position if they are beyond miles of robotics, and even if she has good hearing the background noise in here should have droned it out.

"Is he not making your heads hurt?" Kaia's voice is timid as she questions the police whilst pointing to Gohan. It is strange the pain was greater when he was approaching yet now it has lessened slightly. Kaia is confused.

"Gohan, I don't know much about ki and the like but can you power down as much as possible?" Kiyone hears things like this from Vegeta, Trunks and Ryoko, hiding their power and raising it invisibly without shining auras. Neither her nor Mihoshi sense any pain from Gohan. Nor could they tell that he was approaching them unlike Kaia.

Gohan is already at a very low level of power, having only raised it to the minimum for flight, though with this red haired woman seemingly in pain from his presence he nods. He lowers his ki the minimum he can and replies that he has done so. Kaia's hand moves about in the air. She nods her head and says it hurts less now. Kiyone sees now that Kaia is in for a very rough time.

"You detect my ki? Wow, you must be incredibly attune and sensitive to it, sorry if my power was too much. I'm Gohan, like Mihoshi said, you must be the one Dr Washu ran off to meet after Lady Seto came in. … Oh no!"

"Yep, my thoughts exactly Mr. Saiyaman."

Gohan has pieced together the same conclusion as Kiyone. This is bad news. Her reaction to him flying was quite severe.

"S-Saiyan?" Even with the pain having diminished Kaia's fear is still great. She holds tightly onto Kiyone. Her weak legs are shaking like leaves in a breeze. Terror is building within her. A Saiyan hurt her without touching her. She is face to face with a Saiyan. She is in danger. She wants to back-away but her only place of retreat available is the home of a Saiyan.

Kaia's face hides behind Kiyone, leaving one hand poking out to make sure he does not advance on her though there is little she could do to defend herself. Her only line of defence are these people claiming to be police officers that led her directly to this Saiyan. Kiyone promptly turns around. She places a hand either side of Kaia's face. This she quickly realises is not helpful as this tactic is done to focus the sight of a panicking person and so Kaia will only feel a restrictive touch She rests her head-banded head against Kaia's forehead and makes shushing noises to the panicking Juraian.

"No, no, no. It's not that, Lady Kaia. Come on now, it's OK. Trust me, and trust Gohan. There is no danger here. He is only half Saiyan, raised on this planet and he will not hurt you or attack you. He's a good person. Don't be scared now, it's fine. He powered down to stop accidentally hurting you. Mihoshi said he's a hero, remember?" Kiyone hushes away the fears of Kaia, speaking clearly and in a soothing manner. She was careless with her words in divulging Gohan's species.

Kiyone feels a soft nuzzle back.

"Mr. Gohan is-is-is this true? You won't kill me because of my blindness?" Kaia speaks hesitantly into Kiyone as her face is still in front of her own. These two have been speaking a lot to tell her death will not come for her on this planet and she desperately wants to believe that is the case.

She is trusting by nature. In this she shall also place as much trust as she can muster as she feels this policewoman against her. Mihoshi pats her on the back. Gohan is a bit taken aback by all this commotion and fear directed straight at him. He takes a step back away from Kaia so she will feel less threatened by his presence.

"I only fight to defend those I care for, no way would I attack someone without just cause. You won't find Saiyans like that any longer. I was raised on this planet, with a human mother, and she'd kill me herself if she found out I attacked some woman I just met." Protecting those who cannot protect themselves is the purpose of his strength. Gohan explains to Kaia that the age of murderous Saiyans is long gone and he has not inherited any of those beliefs.

"So can you -can you assure me that your father will also not attack me?" She can accept those words. He has not done anything so far to cause her to distrust him. However, he is half-Saiyan and she needs to know about the one who gave him his Saiyan blood.

"My dad? Not in his nature to attack you unless you challenge him to a fight he's no killer-"

"Prince Vegeta is a killer, you are lying to me!" Kaia's trust in him falls through. She yells out at Gohan, which is quite loud for Kiyone.

The blind woman goes to pull back but Kiyone does not let go, her struggles are very weak. They have failed to mention a few details to Kaia. She knows of Vegeta, she knows that Gohan is the son of Saiyan, and they have not yet said anything of Goku.

"I'm … Just hold a minute, you're misunderstanding. I'm half Saiyan. My father is Saiyan. Vegeta is not him. … Neither is Nappa, Raditz is my uncle but those two are both dead so no threat there. Anyway Vegeta's made promises now not to kill." He clears up that mistake on Kaia's part of assuming with her limited information who his father is, and lists off the other Saiyans she might know of as being deceased. Gohan then takes a deep breath. "The, uh, issue might be your headaches. Quite big an issue. Y'see I'm the strongest hybrid Saiyan, but Vegeta and my dad far outclass me in terms of power … and I was using less than 1% of mine then to fly."

"Oh Tsunami no."

She collapses forward into Kiyone. It was a major discomfort when Gohan appeared. Having to go through intense versions of that constantly will be hellish. Kaia moans and sobs loudly. She did not want for this to happen to her. Even if the Saiyans do not want to attack her they will mercilessly assault her mind by their sheer presence. Kaia does not know what ki is, she cannot comprehend the frightening power of Saiyans beyond their capacity to detonate entire worlds. Kaia is frightened beyond reproach. She came into this laboratory seeking comfort and it has eluded her. Mind destroying pain has been promised to her for a week.

"Hey Kaia, it's OK, Washu can help so no need to cry." Mihoshi chimes in as a solution must exist for Kaia's problem.

A hand hits close to her and the blonde cop backs off.

"I cannot cry, I have no tear ducts you brain-dead simpleton!" Red hair whips about wildly as she raises her voice in anger at her situation and tries to lash out at it.

She wheezes. Kaia's sobs double her over and her breaths heave. Her fingers claw at Kiyone's back as she struggles to inhale properly. Kiyone starts slouching down and rests Kaia sat up on the floor. Her and Mihoshi time and say when she should inhale and exhale to regulate her hindered breathing and try and calm her down. Kaia is trying to listen but her body is craving more oxygen than her one lung is currently providing: she is panicking, she is scared, she is struggling. The policewomen give calming and repetitive statements and keep a firm touch on Kaia so she is aware of their constant presence by her side.

Weak gasps gradually become tired pants as Kaia gets a hold on her respiratory problems and calms herself enough that she can breathe properly. She gives a quiet word of thanks to the police. They sit themselves down at her side now that her episode has cleared up. She moves her left hand about to glance about the room and takes another deep breath. Getting worked up over this is in no means helping her, Kaia shall try and keep a cool head.

"Kaia, back out there were you also in great pain?" Gohan kneels down so he is at her level as he questions her. The best way he can help her is by diagnosing the issue with more details.

Kaia pauses. She reaches out her right hand to the Saiyan. He lightly puts his hand against the back of hers so that her glove can still function. She nods. Gohan warmly smiles at her.

"One brief spike really hurt me and I almost fell down save for these two caring for me. Would this be the power of the Saiyans, of your father?"

"Not for a spike, no. When my dad, or Vegeta, trains they keep at a high level during the whole training session – pushing the limits of their power – so for some moment of power it must've been something else. There are more beings of power here than just us Saiyans, all allies though. I'm just asking as right now my dad will be training, and he will be at full power. And you weren't in pain sensing him." This is curious to him. He gives her some more information as he ponders on why Goku's energy was not affecting her.

Kiyone stands up after running a gentle hand through Kaia's hair to neaten it up. She looks for the nearest console and heads towards it to answer her own questions. Mihoshi told her that Kaia knew where Ayeka's ship was and this makes sense now, and it clears up one worry over her near collapse that it is not her condition worsening. Kaia is quite the mystery, and Kiyone doubts that Seto realised her abilities given how no Juraian she knows is familiar with ki or detecting it.

"That does sound mysterious, if I were a tad more optimistic about all this I would go so far as to call it good news. I do not know what ki is. I do not know how this works or any of this we are discussing, so making heads or tails of it is something momentarily beyond me." Kaia halts his enquiry with one of her own. This half-Saiyan has said she can sense ki but she wants to know what this means, it is all well and good for him to know yet she is the one suffering for it all.

"In simple terms, ki is the spirit energy of living beings. Use it to fly, boost your power, attack, defend. All life has it, and all Saiyans now can sense it. I do not feel pain sensing it, however when on Earth I can always tell where my dad and the others are. Your ability appears far more concentrated though in a much shorter range, if that is the case then distance is the solution to your problem." That theory sounds right to him as he talks Kaia through the rudimentary of ki. When he learnt to sense ki he never had to deal with such phenomenally high powers, just a few hundred to a few thousand as a scouter would say, yet even against Buu no pain came from that unimaginable power.

Kaia clears her throat. She shuffles on the cold tiles to get more comfortable. One of her fingers begins lightly sensing about and touching Gohan's hand, exploring it and its texture. She shakes her head.

"... But, I came here to see my friend Princess Ayeka, not hide on the other side of the planet from her and any other powerful person." She will reject that solution for now. This is an alien world, a familiar face will help her and if she is to believe the few words of Seto then she can also be of help to Ayeka. Hiding from her problems has never solved them before. If she starts hurting then she can reconsider this.

"Then I can train you in sensing, that's about all that I can offer. Washu could have some invention somewhere, but for safety I would not try anything here without her around."

"This would not involve training beyond that large metal door Prince Vegeta has? As you witnessed I am quite delicate and frail. My health is not in the best shape so any rough training might as well equate to me sensing a Saiyan."

"Meditation and ki training should work for your circumstances so no need for the training room. Though, your reaction might just be this sense not being used to high power levels and if so it could adjust over time so that you can sense without pain. It will definitely aid your disability if you can see all life around you with ki sensing."

"See. … See? This ki sensing … it can allow me to see?" Kaia sits more upright. Her voice is hushed and reverent. It is dawning on her that this pain is an actual sense. Washu offered her a medical solution and now it appears that Tsunami has blessed her with another way of combating her blindness.

"I'm sorry, not in that way. It will allow you to perceive the people around you. Distance, shapes, bodies, emotions, intents, strength, even identifying people from their unique ki signature." Gohan shakes his head at that poor choice of words that gave Kaia some false hope.

Kaia smiles nonetheless. Physical touch, whether through her hands or the gloves on her hands has been the only way she can perceive shapes. If with time and effort she can gain and master a way to sense people through ki, to tell the basics of what they look like and even go so far as to judge a person's inner emotions then Kaia shall pay the price of some pain. She rotates her hand around and shakes Gohan's hand. This is a deal she can accept. A new world could be opened to her even if colour and light are things she still cannot experience. Mihoshi is smiling along with Kaia, Gohan is a good superhero.

"I like that. That would make me happy. I take it that I would still need my gloves for sensing the non-living world around me but-but you say I can make out a person's figure?"

"Depending on their level of ki, how it is flowing through them, then yeah it shouldn't be beyond you to visualise a person with ki sensing. The rare times I fight I rely on ki sensing to know my opponent's position and movements, so with your acute sense I see no reason why you shouldn't. Though, I have another question, Queen Misaki is the strongest Juraian – did she ever provoke a reaction from yourself?" As she is being extremely cooperative he asks her more to try and define her limits and set a baseline for her sensing and pain. He lets go of her hand and looks over to Kiyone typing away.

"Queen Missy? I- I never felt pain from her. But, that is not ki. That is the power of the Juraian Royal Family, so I would not anyway." Kaia's frown of confusion is partially hidden by her blindfold. She does not see what the Queen has to do with this.

"No, it's ki. I've met her and sensed her. Whatever your culture calls it, that's ki." Gohan clarifies that ki and Juraian power are one and the same, something Vegeta had to do a month ago for Ayeka,

"Oh. Well, excuse my mistake. That does make this easier for me to comprehend then. I did always feel 'warm' and 'comforted' around her, I attributed this to her personality however if sensing her Juraian Royal Family power and her emotions through that I see how that could have added to it. … She is our most powerful fighter, and her power I did not know I was barely registering … how strong are you Saiyans for your weak ki of flight to discomfort me so?" She wonders aloud this great difference she has sensed herself. Misaki is an undisputed champion among Jurai and Gohan was putting no effort in when she felt pain in his strength. Kaia is no longer frightened of Gohan particularly yet the power of Saiyans does hold some potential menace to it.

"We've got transformations, Super Saiyan, that multiply our power. Even without these my dad and Vegeta are pushing the limits of Frieza's power, and they can go Super Saiyan 3. A lot of power is what I'm saying. It grows every day – that's what they do."

Showing her the extent of his power would be a cruel act, and Washu could get annoyed if any of the machines here are as sensitive to ki as Kaia is. He watches as Kaia internalises this information. Their power is far beyond her comprehension and even giving Frieza as a base line he knows that she is not aware of his many transformations and true strength. He will omit Gotenks as the most powerful, explaining fusion would take a while and only serve to confuse her further. Kaia nods to herself. Apprehension stays her, their power is beyond what she thought and so the possible pain is higher than she can understand. Gohan stands and looks off to the side. Kaia may be able to sense ki to a very partial degree yet his ability is honed and he can feel another within Washu's lab. There is a glow of red in the distance. He shall take Kaia's lack of reaction into account as someone unexpected teleports into the scene.

"Yoohoo~ -guy-who-owes-his-job-to-me, I need a favour. … Ooh, who's this little cutie, we all having fun sitting on the floor? Are the cops bringing home strays when Vegey's out to play?" Ryoko pops into the middle of the group with two orbs of red ki illuminating the gloom and her feline eyes spy a new person. With what this person is wearing she can guess that not all the superfluous Juraians went back home yesterday. She hovers down in front of this red haired woman and wonders why she is pointing her palm towards her.

"Excuse me, I did not hear you approach. My name is Lady Kaia Jhun and-"

"And no-one thought to tell ya your headband slipped down, goes to show why you can't trust the police." She reaches out, dirt under her fingernails, and lifts Kaia's blindfold. Ryoko then pauses. Eyeless sockets are not what she expected. Ryoko makes a confused sound, this new person is more interesting than she first thought. "... Juraians were fucking arseholes to me for having big ears, you must've gone through some right shit. OK, gonna put this back before I get too tempted to poke."

The white headband is lowered back in place and Kaia reaches up and adjusts it. Kaia shies away from this new person who revealed her and made a weird jest about touching a place most people can never have touched. From her glove she can determine truth that this newcomer that spontaneously appeared does have larger ears than most. A quick apology comes from Ryoko and then she turns and looks to Gohan. She grins. Ryoko holds out a hand and asks for him to give her some of the gems that absorb people's energy. Gohan makes no move to retrieve that item for her, it could be a trap against him for all he knows, and behind Ryoko Kaia listens. This new person has voiced another solution to her sensitivity to ki. Mihoshi stands up and calls Ryoko rude for barging in here and bullying Kaia and making demands of Gohan when he is busy working. Golden eyes shine in the dim light.

"Not in the mood for this. I'm here to stop a particularly blondie and it ain't you. I didn't bully her, you're the one with the horrified look over her no eyes – very rude and hurtful. Gohan, need the energy stealing things, it's for Vegey. He's at Bulma's and he went Kaioken already, he can't grieve properly with all his energy and I don't want him killing himself doing Kaioken again. Give. Now." Ryoko motions with her hand again to Gohan. This is a fairly urgent matter and she has wasted enough time on her own in the crater after Vegeta left. She will help him, and she needs this for Vegeta to be able to let out his emotions without rampant destruction.

Mihoshi quietly stands at the side. She tried defending Kaia against Ryoko's impulsive actions and was swiftly shot down for her own surprise at what she saw. Over her shoulder she glances to Kiyone who has taken quite the back seat in this conversation. Kaia does not react to the news of Mihoshi's reaction, she has experienced it all before many times – hence why she wears a covering. The cop puts a hand out to help her to her feet and Kaia declines. She might be blind but she knows where the ground is and how to stand up.

"Fine, but first Kaia here can sense ki – it's complicated and my strength hurts her – can you raise your power to see how she reacts?"

The attention of Ryoko falls onto Kaia again. Another interesting fact has come to light. There are a lot of questions she wants to ask around this stranger in their midst, Vegeta takes priority. Ryoko says a confident apology concerning if her power causes Kaia pain. The blind Juraian stands there facing this woman. She moves a hand to the side to check on Mihoshi and then back to Ryoko. A slouch enters Ryoko's posture and her gloves detect Gohan nodding. She asks when they are going to start and Ryoko grumbles that she already did it, and that her power was not enough. Gohan swipes and a holo-top appears, he accesses the inventory system and 2 energy absorption gems appear in the air to be swiftly swiped by the rogue.

Ryoko is careful in handling these devices as she pockets them. If they so much as touch her wrong then she will be unable to deliver them to Vegeta. She waves at Gohan and turns in the air. She has her spheres of illuminating ki fly around in circles, orbiting Kaia, and again there is no reaction from her level of ki. Kaia is not a name she has heard. This stranger seems to have the support of the police, or at least Mihoshi as Kiyone has not said a word, and her random appearance is not what she wanted to happen today. She flies herself around Kaia. Ryoko watches as signs of confusion appear on the Juraian's face. The ears of the Juraian attentively listen however for some reason she can hear no footsteps or sounds of movement. Ryoko moves a finger towards her, to poke the forehead of Kaia. A hand intercepts. This blind woman is still wary from Ryoko's jest.

"You must be here for Ayeka, right? It'd be best if I didn't tell her and Vegey 'bout you right this second – not come at the best time. You can explain it to all of us when we get back. Ryoko's the name by the way." Neither Ayeka nor Vegeta are in the right mindset to deal with Kaia's sudden arrival so for now Ryoko shall keep it a secret. She pulls back her finger and goes to prod again. Gohan puts a hand on her shoulder for her to stop and she harshly kicks back behind her and he releases her.

"Excuse me, before you depart, could- could you confirm a matter for me? You live with Prince Vegeta here, correct?" Kaia nervously asks this strange woman. Mihoshi and Kiyone mentioned a Ryoko as the other criminal here. She keeps both gloves warily watching this known pirate.

"Live with him, shacked up with him, oh-so happily engaged to him, yeah that's me. What's it matter to you?" She gives a blasé response back, Kaia could have asked Mihoshi that for all Ryoko cares. Her own personal life should be of no interest or concern to this stranger. Ryoko has gotten accustomed to what Vegeta's open palm means, a threat, so she is discomfited by Kaia's gesture.

"... I have only heard positive talk of Saiyans since my arrival, so any distrust towards them I apologise for any offence caused, would-w-would Prince Vegeta mean me harm for my blindness?"

"Vegey's a dick. He's sadistic, he's cruel, he was a killer, and he's put me through the ringer a helluva lot. So there's your answer. No. Nah I don't think he would. Nursed Ayeka when she was sick and feeble and … and he tried his best to look after me when I was weak. Though, you say something outta line, when he's all emotional from his dead wife, you're gonna know about it. I'm gonna play with you later, though can you stop talking in that goddamn strict and formal Juraian manner, really annoys me that does." Violence from Vegeta is always a possibility and Ryoko knows the horrors of that, and has recently made him angry. As to attacking this Kaia, Ryoko is confident that due to Ayeka's presence Vegeta's hand will be stayed from exacting any Saiyan justice. The way she talks reminds her of her rival Ayeka and Ryoko would rather there were not 2 Ayeka's annoying her, the less interference from Juraians the better. Ryoko gives a high five to one of Kaia's gloves. "And by the way, those gloves won't work on me. I've bypassed security that uses that tech before. So for when we next meet, surprise."

Ryoko teleports away. She drops the gems into Trunks' hand.