| Conquest Chapter Two |
| Author: Lisa Starr Rating: NC-17 Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or the characters attributed to the series. |
| What had happened? It was the first thought that popped into his mind as he lurched awake, senses dull save that of raw, unyielding pain searing through his brain like a lightening bolt. Bardock squeezed his eyes shut in an effort to ease the ache but it persisted, vivid and angry, clamping down on his brain like a vise and rendering him near helpless. Dimly he felt a tingling sensation running up his left arm, like the prick of a thousand needles. The discomfort was growing with each passing second, so he attempted to move it, wincing at the pain that shot through his brain with his effort and becoming conscious that there was a heavy weight holding his arm motionless. With extreme effort Bardock forced his head up, grimacing yet again as pain lanced through his head. God, it was all right as long he didn't move. Still he had to see what the hell was pinning his arm down, it was beginning to become numb and painful. Clenching his teeth against the bolt of pain that he knew would come with his movement, he turned his head, becoming cognizant of something warm and solid lying motionless next to him. Memory crashed down upon him as he recalled the ship crashing and-and Bulma Bardock bolted upwards, nearly passing out as another bolt of pain slashed angrily through his brain. Looking over he saw her, draped across his arm, unconscious. Gritting his teeth against his throbbing head, he gently extricated his aching arm from under her, allowing her limp body to rest against the hard metal floor. Kneeling over her, he was horrified to see the vivid, bleeding gash that slashed across her pale forehead, staining the aqua blue of her hair a sickening red. "Oh God, Bulma." Bardock muttered, caressing her cheek and face gently, searching for any other signs of injury before slipping down to the base of her throat to feel for her pulse. He shut his eyes in relief when he felt it, weak and slightly thready, but present all the same. "Alright Bulma, let me get this bleeding stopped. " Bardock looked around, searching for something--anything he could press against her wound to halt the flow of blood. It was imperative. Sharp banging against the cockpit door turned his attention. Chi-Chi! In his panic over Bulma, he had nearly forgotten she was with them. "Bardock!" Chi-Chi's normally calm voice held the smallest hint of panic. "Bardock are you two alright in there?" "I'm alright, Chi-Chi, hang on!" Standing, Bardock maneuvered his way unsteadily towards the door, trying futilely to key it open. Damn Bulma and her security measures. She had installed the cockpit security scanners only recently, since Koola had begun terrorizing everything. "It's stuck!" Chi-Chi called through the metal of the door, her voice rising with each syllable she uttered. "The power to the ship is dead and there is someone banging on the outside entry door! What should I do?" Banging? God, he hoped that wasn't Koola or his men, though at this point he wasn't sure whom he dreaded meeting up with most: the natives of the planet Kannassa or Koola and his army. The Kannassans had reason to hate him and he didn't doubt their telepathic minds were extremely long when it came to memory and detail. ."Stand back," He barked sharply, forgetting the pain of his head for a minute. " I'm going to blast it!" Bardock lifted his right hand, forming a ki blast in his palm and releasing it against the jammed door. He was rewarded as the piece of metal blew outwards, leaving a gaping hole where a door had once been. Through the smoke he saw Chi-Chi, wide-eyed and frightened, her black hair long since fallen from its customary bun and hanging haphazardly around her face and shoulders, lending her an almost childlike appearance. "Are you alright?" Bardock gripped her upper arms, searching his daughter-in-law's face for any sign of injury. Her black eyes searched back--wide and full of concern and fear. He squelched the desire to comfort her, knowing that there was no time for such overwrought theatrics. "I think so, other than a slight jarring. The safety harness kept me in place, though I am a bit stiff." Chi-Chi smiled lightly, rotating a shoulder. "What about Bulma?" Bardock paled. "Oh God, Bulma!" Turning he raced back into the cockpit, booted feet clicking sharply as he ran. Sliding to a halt beside her prone form, he looked down at her pale face. "She took a hit in the head. I need to get the bleeding stopped, before we answer any doors. " Bardock looked down at the silky, navy blue dinner dress that clung to her body remnants of the night's ill-fated dinner meeting. Grabbing the bottom, he ripped it neatly, tearing along the hem in a straight line. "This should do nicely until I get her bandages. Here hold this against the wound for me while I go find a first aid kit." Chi-Chi bent over Bulma, placing long fingers gently on the silky material that Bardock had ripped from her dinner dress, holding it in place firmly over the gash, despite her shaking hands. "Hang on, Bulma, just hang on." She kept her voice calm, though her insides were quaking. Fear would do her little good now. They had been shot down on a strange planet, Bulma was hurt and by the looks of it, badly and someone was banging down the door to the ship. She smoothed a stray lock of Bulma's hair back from her ashen face, concern for her friend flooding through her. Leaning down she whispered softly, "Stay strong, Bulma, for Trunks and Vegeta. Bardock is going to be right back and then we'll get this all taken care of. I promise." **************** He had come back in time far too early. How had they managed to miscalculate the jump? He and his mother had set the coordinates for the time that they returned from the Saiya-jin council in space, and he had apparently missed that considering he had caught the artificial humans thieving in his mother's office. He sneered in disgust. They had been thieving for the radar that his mother had invented, the one that Kakkarot used to find the dragonballs. He had to stop them from getting it; they could not find the dragonballs, not for Gero. Wrathfully, Trunks arced his sword downward, unmindful of the wicked glint the sun beamed off the polished metal. His goal was Juuhachigou and to that end he was determined that this time he would kill her or die trying. He felt a moment's regret that he might not live to see his beloved mother again--she had already been forced to live through the death of her husband and all her friends--but he knew that if he could prevent the same horror from occurring in this time, if he could keep his father and Kakkarot alive and well, then his sacrifice would be well worth it and Gohan would look after his mother, he knew that. Juuhachigou's terror and that of her brother's would not go forth in this timeline, not the way it had in his...and if she was dead by the time his parents in this timeline got back from space, then his father couldn't die at Juuhachi and Juunanagou's hands, now could he? "You're dead!!" He roared as his sword came down. He gaped in shock as she effortlessly blocked the sharpened edge of the sword with a finger, causing the metal to crack and break apart as if it were the made of the cheapest material. Shocked, he drew back, eyes widening as she smiled. "Is that the best you can do, kid?" Juuhachigou scoffed in derision. "I thought you might actually be a challenge, but I can see that I was wrong. I don't think I am going to need any help here, Juunanagou." Launching herself towards the shocked boy she came at him, mercilessly, in a flurry of flying fists and kicks. Sheathing the busted sword, he raised his arms in an effort to block her brutal punches. Grabbing her fist he swung her upwards away from himself in an effort to put as much distance between them as he could. Hopefully if he could do that then he could come up with a good counter defense. He had not anticipated on the strength of these two artificial humans here in this timeline. They were incredibly strong, stronger than they were in his own rather bleak future. Racing upwards in a haze of golden flame, he paid little attention to the red-scarfed artificial human who hovered in midair watching him with barely concealed interest. Juunanagou watched the boy speed upwards away from him and his sister. A glance behind him showed his sister approaching at breakneck speed. He snorted in irritation and flipped his long black hair behind his back. She might be able to easily deal with the boy, but what fun was it if he got no part of the action? He shot upwards, chasing after the boy, smiling wickedly. He knew exactly how he could slow the kid down. He raised his hand, forming a ki blast, one that would disable the kid enough so that they could easily deal with him and maybe have a little fun in the process. There was nothing like making people suffer. Peripherally, he caught sight of a low shadow streaking in his direction, but dismissed it as a bird, turning to concentrate on his prey directly in front of him with his sister, who was directly behind him. Releasing the ki blast he was unprepared to see it batted back at him by a dark-haired boy who had flashed in before him in the blink of an eye. Juuhachigou came to a halt beside her brother, watching the dark-haired boy who hovered directly in her and her brother's path, black eyes flashing fire. "Move it kid, unless you want a one way ticket to hell." Carelessly, she swept a strand of blonde hair behind her ear, scowling her displeasure at the boy. Where had this brat come from? "Damn you Juunanagou, you and your sister will not kill Trunks too." The black haired boy roared in fury, powering up and erupting into Super Saiya-jin, firing a blast at the two hovering artificial humans. "Kamehameha!" The beam of light shot forth from his cupped hands, painting the sky in shades of white and yellow. He watched as the beam, shot at such close range, caught the two monsters by surprise and sent them careening backwards away from him and Trunks. That would buy them a bit of time. "Gohan!" Trunks screamed at the golden-hued warrior. "Gohan, what are you doing here?!" He rocketed back down to join his friend. "Gohan, what are you doing here?" He repeated, frantic that his friend was before him instead of protecting the mother that he loved so dearly. "You are supposed to be with my mother!" Trunks hovered beside his friend, eyes wide and searching as they swept over Gohan's face for the reasons behind his impromptu trip back into the past. The look of anguish he saw shadowed within the green depths of his friend's eyes told him a truth he was unprepared for. "No." Trunks moaned in anguish. "No, not my mother." "I'm sorry, Trunks." Gohan choked back the sob that had bubbled up his throat. "I was--was out gathering some supplies she needed and when I got back I had just missed the artificial humans... they had targeted Capsule Corp, and she was alone and I---" Gohan broke off as the sob tore free and shuddered through him. "She was still alive when I found her and she told me she had made a mistake, that she had sent you back too soon. She wanted me to come back in time and help you; she told me about this second machine she had made and that I should use it to help you... change--things" Gohan looked away from the piercing blue gaze of his dearest friend, unable to meet the pain and heartbreak he saw in his best friend's eyes. Didn't he understand? Bulma had been like his mother as well, since the artificial humans had killed his own. Anger flowed through him and off of him in thick, black waves at the thought of so much death at the hands of these two monsters. All the faces he had been forced to see dead, all the eyes, full of hope and light, that he had seen the life extinguished from. No more, his future was ruined, but in this timeline his younger self could grow up in peace and prosperity, things could still be salvaged in this timeline. That was what Bulma had seen and she had been right. She had wanted things differently here and by all that was holy he would ensure that things would be. His father would survive and so would Trunks' father and their mothers would not be left to face the horror alone. Trunks watched in steely silence as Gohan's energy increased to levels that not even he could reach, let alone fathom. His mother was dead. She was dead at the hands of these two monsters. She had been all that he had left, all that was good in his life and now she was gone. We won’t let it happen in this timeline, Trunks. She's alive and well in this timeline and she can stay that way. Here things could be so much different. Tipping his head back he roared his anguish to the sky, powering up, he found all the energy that he could within himself, aiming a deadly blast at the artificial humans that were just now getting themselves back in control from Gohan's Kamehameha wave. "This time you will die!" Releasing the blast he hung limply in the sky and watched as it streaked like lightning towards Juunanagou and Juuhachigou. Gohan watched as Trunks released all his anger and pain into the blast that was now streaking towards the two demons that hung in the sky. Trunks had offered up all he had to destroy them, he might as well offer up his own attempt towards their destruction as well. "KA..." He brought his hands back, cupping them together as his father had taught him before his death. "ME..." This one is for you, Dad. The thought swirled in his mind as he felt the energy coursing through him and gathering in the palm of his hand. "HA..." Please let this be enough. Gohan watched as the two artificial humans absorbed Trunks blast. "ME..." Shit! That had been Trunks strongest attack and they had effortlessly absorbed it with no more then a grin. In his hand he felt the pulsating ball of power continuing to grow. "HAAAAA!!!" Gohan released the massive ball of energy towards the two artificial humans, watching in triumph at the wide-eyed expressions of horror that replaced the normal detached expressions that both the devils wore as their commonplace expression. Good, let this be a wake-up call to them. It wasn't nearly enough to destroy them, but it might be enough to allow he and Trunks to escape. "Trunks!" Gohan yelled. "Let's go! We can't defeat them alone. Lets go find our parents and tell them what we came to tell them. We'll be killed if we try to settle the score here." Trunks nodded, zooming downwards towards the hanger that his mother kept her ships in. Amazingly the corporation had not changed at all. It looked the same now as it did in the future, the only difference being that this version had not been put through the destruction that its future counterpart had gone through. If he recalled her words carefully, she had told him that at this particular time they had been in space around the planet Kannassa. Hadn't she been in a shipwreck, on Kannassa? He could recall her telling him that she and Bardock and Chi-Chi had been on their way to his grandfather's planet--Trunks had never even gotten to see it. He shook his head at the pain that welled within him at the thought of his mother, of all that she had lost, including her life. It was too high a price to pay, to lose as much as she had. She had deserved a better life than the one that she had, which was why he had to make things different here. First he needed to get them off of Chikyuu, then they could figure things out, but he knew one thing with surety: he would ensure that the Bulma in this timeline stayed very much alive as well as his father... Prince Vegeta. He would not lose them twice. He had never even gotten the chance to know his father. Only Kakkarot had remained for a time, strong and alive to fight the artificial humans until Gero had claimed his life with that damned virus. Kakkarot would live on as well. He lifted his hand to blast the doors off the hanger. He cringed at the explosion and the damage that it caused. Sorry, Mom, there's just not enough time for anything else. Gohan zoomed down behind his friend towards the hanger where the ships were. They needed only time enough to start one up. That was the beauty of Bulma's designs. There was no extensive warm-up period, no convoluted countdown system... merely sleek, fast response. Watching Trunks blow the doors off the hanger, he smiled confidently. Bulma hadn't changed a thing in the Corporation's layout. Everything appeared to be the exact same, almost as if he had not left his time and traveled backwards to the past. They would be off world in a matter of moments. Then they could get their parents and they could on with the business at hand. The thought of seeing his father again, of being able to hear his calm, confident voice telling him that everything would be okay, sent a wave of pleasure coursing through him. Trunks landed beside the first decapsulated ship he saw, an ST3000. A cruiser and just right for what they would need. What were the chances? "Gohan," he yelled, "go over to the rack there and grab a handful of capsules. We may need more than one ship on this trip." Turning back to the ship he quickly opened up the door and slipped in, racing to the cockpit. Juunanagou had barely dodged the last blast, had only been able to watch in shocked horror as it had scorched a blazing trail by him, singing his hair in the process and leaving him very much aware of exactly how close a call that had been. Just below he could see his sister hovering, her expression mirroring his own. He clenched his fists in anger. Those damn brats had nearly damaged him--they would pay! Looking around he saw them as they streaked downwards towards a hanger bay. He smiled coldly. They thought they were going somewhere. He'd show them. "Juuhachi!" He pointed towards the bay. "There they are! Let's go get the little bastards!" Juunanagou streaked after them, determined to catch them. Behind him he felt his sister's presence as she followed closely behind him. Gohan grabbed a handful of capsules that he hoped were ships and pocketed them. He didn't have the time to properly look and see what was what, so he would pray for the best. The Bulma in his timeline kept everything carefully labeled, but apparently had not yet started the practice herein the past. He glanced up as Trunks brought the ship to life, seeing two small figures streaking towards them faster than lightening. Shit! Juuhachigou and Juunanagou! He raced back towards the ship, hurling himself into the door and quickly closing it. "I'm in, Trunks! Let's go!!" Gohan struggled towards the cockpit in an effort to strap himself into a seat even as the thrusters began to propel them forward. Trunks maneuvered the ship out of the hanger, mindful of Juuhachigou and Juunanagou as they streaked towards him, ready to do battle. Beside him, Gohan managed to stagger into a chair as Trunks increased the throttle and the ship shot forward. "Look out, Trunks!" Gohan shouted in warning as Juunanagou raised his hands and shot a red beam of light towards the escaping ship. "Don't worry, Gohan. My mom's taught me well." Trunks smirked as rapidly juked the ship to the right, narrowly avoiding the blast. "Seems she had a lot of practice at avoiding blasts." The ship shot forward entering the atmosphere and leaving the two artificial humans behind. Gohan exhaled shakily, unaware that he had been holding his breath. "Trunks, that was too close." He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes heavily. He was barely seventeen, yet he felt more like forty, what with all the events that had gone to shaping his life. He needed a nap. "Do we even know where we are going?" "Kannassa. If I am right, my mother and yours crashed there after being hit by a regiment of Koola's men. She only mentioned it in passing and never talked about it or her time in space. I'm not sure that it held many pleasant memories for her and I know your mom and grandfather are with her. She mentioned Bardock." "What about our fathers?" Gohan turned his head and studied Trunks curiously. "Where are they?" "Rescuing us. We crashed on another planet. Didn't your father or mother ever tell you anything?" "Not really," Gohan sighed, "after mom died...well, Dad was just never quite the same after that and he never really discussed the past... only the future." "Well if we find our mothers, that will lead us straight to our fathers." Trunks mused. "Mom never really said much...other than that Koola had captured them and that..." He broke off recalling the haunted look in her eyes as she had mentioned that. It had been a subject she had loathed talking about, though he had pressed her for details at every turn. "I can't let Koola take her again. Something horrible happened to them on that ship and I refuse to let it happen to her again. I may not be able to help her now in our timeline, but I will be damned, Gohan, if I sit back and let the same thing happen now." Trunks drew in a shaky breath, fighting back the tears and grief that threatened to break through the dam he had so carefully erected over the pain losing her had caused him. He couldn't break down now, not when he could help her in this time. Perhaps it would make up for his not being there when she had really needed him, when Juunanagou and Juuhachigou had murdered her in cold-blood. "Trunks..." Gohan reached out a comforting hand to his friend, letting it rest lightly on Trunks shoulder. "We will make things different here, I know we will. Our parents will survive and we will not have to grow up without them, not here." "I hope you're right, Gohan." Trunks closed his eyes heavily and leaned back, weariness settling into every bone in his body. "I hope you're right." ******************** Vegeta shut his eyes to the swell of pain that flooded his brain. Dammit what had that been? Was it Bulma? Another dull ache rolled through, causing him to groan. Reaching out through their bond he attempted to locate her again and came up completely empty. The sharp, jagged pain had lessened some to a dull ache but it was still there and he was certain it was his mate. What had happened to them? Pushing down a small burst of fear, he stood and staggered to the cockpit, noticing the planet that was rapidly growing in size before him. "Contact Bardock... something has happened." He growled hoarsely to Toma. Kakkarot looked up in alarm. "What do you mean, something has happened?" "Something is wrong. Perhaps if you paid attention to the bond you have with your own woman you might have noticed the same thing." Vegeta snapped, holding his throbbing head in his hands. What had happened to his woman? What could have caused her this amount of pain? This time he was unable to squelch the small trickle of fear that shot through his spine. If anything had happened to her... he attempted to gather himself. No, she was alive. Pain was a sign of life. If she was in pain than she was alive. That at least was a positive sign. Kakkarot closed his eyes, concentrating on the faint flicker of his mate's ki. He and Chi-Chi could not communicate on the same level that Bulma and Vegeta could... a fact that Vegeta loved to throw in his face. Yet if he reached out he could always sense her feelings. It was so faint that he almost missed it; catching it as it trickled through his mind, fear--stark, cold fear. He glanced up, black brows knit in worry. "Fear. Chi-Chi is scared... very badly." Kakkarot glanced over to Toma who was attempting to raise Bardock, his own brows knit together in concern. "Have you gotten them yet?" "Nothing... I can't get a damn thing." Toma glanced upwards, taking in the planet that loomed before them. "We can hop into an orbit around the planet. If Koola's men are here they must be around the other side. The orbit could give us enough time to contact Bardock. This might turn into a dual rescue mission." Vegeta growled, black eyebrows drawing down in anger. What fate was acting against him, first his son... now his mate. Dammit, she would have been safer with him. He had known that and ignored it. "Fine," he snapped angrily, "put us into orbit and locate them. Kakkarot and I will see if we can pinpoint where the brat's ki are. The sooner we get them, the sooner we can go and get our mates." He refused to let either Toma or Kakkarot see how worried he really was. He had failed to protect his mate and now something was seriously wrong. If anything happened to her, he would never be able to live with himself. "Woman..." He growled in his mind. "You had better be alright." ******************** Koola brought his hover chair to a halt in front of the massive view screen that graced the cockpit of his ship and stared at the green planet that filled the screen. Namek... what should he do about the planet Namek? "Are all the prisoners secured within the hold, Jeiyce?" He asked smoothly, eyes cold and calculating. "Yes, Lord Koola. Those that were not killed on Namek have been rounded up and collected. The last of the survivors have arrived along with all seven of the dragonballs. We found a little boy a short while ago and he held the last one." Jeiyce smiled in anticipation of the words of approval he would soon receive from his Lord and master. "Ahh, good job, Jeiyce. You've done well for me. My brother's faith in you was well placed. Tell me, do we know how to use these balls yet?" Koola swiveled the hover chair around to face the red-skinned man. "No, the old Namek refuses to tell us and no amount of beating seems to weaken his resolve." Jeiyce frowned in irritation. Damn the old fucking Namekkian anyway. "So it takes a special password then?" Koola frowned in irritation. "And you cannot persuade the old Namek to spill this password out? Have you tried everything?" Why must everything be so damn difficult for these imbeciles? Was he the only one who thought like a villain? He spoke again softly, quietly--as if speaking to a young child, carefully mapping out his directions so that there would be no misunderstanding. "Tell me, Jeiyce, have you used this child against the old Namekkian? Perhaps a threat to someone more helpless would loosen his tongue. I've learned that people abhor violence against children; the elderly Namekkian could be no different. " Koola stared speculatively at Jeiyce. "Of course, Lord Koola." Jeiyce clamped his mouth shut in irritation; angered that Koola showed him such little respect. He had been a member of the Ginyu force after all and that warranted respect. He had destroyed more planets and ruined more people's lives than most of the idiots on board the ship, with the exception of his fellow ex-Ginyu members. He whirled around, ivory hair flying out as he did so, turning to go back towards the prison cells of the ship. "I'll begin right away." Koola watched the red-skinned man stalk away and smiled. The ex-Ginyu was angered. What absolute idiots Frieza had surrounded himself with. Thank the Gods that had created him that he had reliable men that surrounded and served him. Without them he would be dead, a casualty of the attack on that nameless planet of Frieza's. Toma, yes, it had been the Saiya-jin Toma, and some other stupid upstart that had fired the shot that had brought his ship down; they had believed him dead, never once landing to check and see if the ship had actually been destroyed or whether there had been survivors. He had survived, however, as had most of his crew. The pilots that he had employed from Correnia had more then done their job, the job that they were renowned for throughout the entire universe--piloting. They had guided his ship down and they had done so well. He had been injured, though amazingly not badly and it had cost him time in the regeneration tank, but once he had emerged he had been rejuvenated, both in mind and in spirit, only to learn that his brother had been killed on Chikyuu and that the empire he had built had began to crumble. Koola clenched his hand in a tight fist and smiled. This was his opportunity to do what his brother had been unable to--control the universe completely and for all eternity. Oh certainly, Frieza had made an excellent attempt at it, keeping a goodly part of it under his control for several years, but he had not maintained it and he had been a poor ruler, allowing his obsession with that stupid Saiya-jin Prince overrule any logical thought. Koola wasn't certain whether he should thank Vegeta or kill him. Frieza's death had certainly opened up many a door for his own personal gain and that was something that he just couldn't turn his back on. Still, there was family honor, a concept that his father had beat into him from an early age. Frieza had not held to it as strictly, but to Koola, it had come to mean everything and that life lesson told him that he owed his father and brother the vengeance that was rightfully theirs. Any and all who had crossed the Cold's path would soon come to regret it. "I do this for you, Poppa, and when I am done, the entire universe shall tremble yet again at the sound of the Cold's name, just as you wanted it all those years ago." "Lord Koola," Sauzaa’s deep burr broke into the visions his mind was conjuring up. "What is your command, Lord Koola?" Koola turned to face his right hand man, his eyes sweeping over the purple bodysuit that encased the blue skinned, muscled warrior. Ahh, where would he be without Sauzaa? "I think I will destroy it, Sauzaa. Isn't that what my dear brother would have done? The planet has no natural resources; the slaves have been harvested. It's hardly worth my time and effort." Koola smiled, turning his hover chair to exit out of the ship. "Open up the bay doors and prepare the ship for travel to Kannassa. There is something there that I think might just aid me with the Namekkian." "Yes, Lord Koola. How long will you be?" Koola smiled, " Only long enough to make some wonderful fireworks, Sauzza. Be sure to watch." Sauzza bit back a grin and nodded. "Yes, Lord Koola, I’ll be sure to." "Oh and Sauzza, communicate with that Babidi creature for me will you? I want you to find out if he is still interested in a partnership. I could use a wizard in my employ. " "But, Lord Koola, aren’t you afraid that he might use his magic against you?" Sauzza looked at his boss with some concern. "Hardly, Sauzza… my mind is far too strong to be swayed by the magic of such an inferior creature. However there are others who do not share the same strengths." Koola chuckled, maneavering out the door. It was time for his show. ******************** Bardock struggled to locate the first aid kit, despite the distraction of the loud clanging and muffled shouts that were being leveled against the outer door. "Damn the Kannassans." He muttered irritably. "They always were impatient." He cursed his bad luck for wrecking his ship on the same damn planet that he had wreaked havoc and destruction on some twenty years ago under Frieza's orders. If they recognized him, things would probably get very ugly, very fast. Finding the first aid kit, he shot a glance at the door that was under serious assault from the Kannassan warriors. There wouldn't be much time to do this before they broke through and more than likely arrested them all. Bardock could only hope that he would be able to get Bulma's head fixed up. Racing back through the cockpit door, he knelt beside his worried daughter-in-law, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We haven't much time, woman, before they break through that door. The Kannassans are nothing if not persistent. Let me fix her head; I want you on that radio." He nodded at the transmitter. "See if you can raise Toma, or Vegeta or Kakkarot. We've crashed on Kannassa with no other means off the planet." "Alright!" Chi-Chi lept to her feet and moved quickly to switch on the transmitter. "With the power out in the ship, will this even work?" She queried, moving her long fingers to flip the switch on, praying that it would work and thanking God when the small transmitter lit up and came to life. "Bulma had installed a separate backup power source for all communications on any of her ships, including the computer. It was done specifically at Toma's request in case any fighters crashed while attacking Frieza's strongholds. That transmitter is running off a battery now and can be lifted completely out of the console if needed. It should allow us at least the opportunity for a few transmissions before they get to us. " Bardock turned back to the first aid kit, fumbling for a bandage and some ammonia to bring her around. He needed to get her to come around and keep her conscious, then he would clean the wound and bandage it and hope that it held for however long they were stuck on this Godforsaken planet. With a little luck, the Kannassans would concentrate on him and leave the two women alone. "Their channel number is listed in the logs of the computer. It should be right at the beginning since I just loaded it in a few hours ago." "Alright, I'll see if I can find it." Chi-Chi pulled up the logs on the ships computer, finding what she sought immediately and keying in the proper channel into the transmitter. "Toma, Kakkarot, Vegeta, are any of you there?" She spoke urgently, shutting her eyes in hopes that she might sense her mate through their bond. The chief benefit of marriage to a Saiya-jin, though there were others. She repeated their names again urgently, trying to convey the sharp edge of desperation that was slicing through every part of her body. The banging on the outer door had stopped, leaving an ominous silence hanging heavily in the air. Chi-Chi could only imagine what that silence meant. She somehow doubted that they had just given up and gone home. What had Bardock called them... Kannassans? "Chi-Chi?" Kakkarot's frantic, worry-filled voice broke through the air. "Chi-Chi, where are you, what's happened?!" Through the air of the line she could pick up the muted sounds of what seemed to be an intense conversation. "Kakkarot, we've been shot down." Chi-Chi cried. "Bardock says we're on Kannassa." "Kannassa!" Toma's voice broke through. "Shit, Bardock and I were sent there by Frieza several years back to bring them under control... no to mention they had some kind of telepathic power that interested Frieza to no end. They have no love for Saiya-jin, have they found you yet?" "Where is Bulma?" Vegeta's deep voice filled the air next, deep and sizzling with intensity. It never ceased to amaze Chi-Chi at how Vegeta could be a million miles away and still command a room with the mere power of his voice, a rather sexy voice at that. She shivered, before guiltily dismissing the thought. "The Kannassans have been banging on the door for awhile now, though they've stopped." "They've gone to get something to open up the door, you can be assured of that." Bardock turned to look at them, raising his voice so that they might hear him. "Regiments of Koola’s men were orbiting near this planet's atmosphere. They managed to get a lucky shot. Bulma got the ship down, but she's been hurt and badly--a head wound. I can't get her to come around, though I have gotten the wound dressed." "Fuck." Vegeta cursed into the transmitter, his voice harsh with concern. "Do the Kannassans have a medical facility, someplace you can get her to a regeneration tank...damn weak human." Chi-Chi snorted, wondering whom Vegeta was trying to fool. Despite his harsh words it was painfully obvious that he was worried sick. He did a damn good job of disguising it. Any who didn't know him would believe that he really could have cared less about his mate. Chi-Chi knew better. "Probably, if they don't throw us in their prisons first. I'm hoping that they will concentrate on me and leave the women alone, though Bulma and Chi-Chi might be found guilty by simple association." "I will kill you and yours, Bardock, if you let harm come to her." Vegeta's voice was deathly calm, leaving little doubt that he would follow through on his threat if Bulma met an untimely end. "We will gather the brats and be there as soon as possible. Do not let her die." "It shouldn't take us that long to find them. We pinpointed Gohan and Trunks' ki a short while ago." Kakkarot spoke up, "Kannassa is barely a days hop from here. Can you hold against the Kannassans for two days, Father?" "I'll do what I can by myself." Bardock replied shortly. "Can you go Oozaru, Bardock?" Toma asked. "The last time we were there, the moon shone full and bright, not to mention that damn invention of yours." "I'll do what I can with Bulma and Chi-Chi around. Perhaps I can bribe them to let me have access to their regeneration tank." Bardock paused as an explosion rocked the ship. "Speaking of which I think there back and it sounds like they are getting in this time. Not even Bulma's security measure can withstand explosives. Hurry, I can imagine that the ships that shot us down will be after us, as well. Koola’s men aren’t' t here without reason. " "Take care, Father, and Chi-Chi, I love you, take care of yourself. I'm going to get our son and I'll be there as soon as I can." Kakkarot's voice was heavy with regret and emotion. "Stay alive." "I will. You just get our son back." Chi-Chi whispered, black eyes brimming with love and concern and more than a slight hint of longing. "We'll talk about the reason I'm on this ship when I see you again." "I will Chi-Chi and I--Uh..." Kakkarot paused, unsure how to address the last statement, finally whispering, "It was Vegeta's idea." Bardock stood, lifting Bulma's limp body into his arms, motioning Chi-Chi to cut the power to the transmitter. "Ready yourself." He muttered as another, stronger explosion rocked through the ship. "They'll be in here in a minute." "Are these creatures vicious, Bardock?" Chi-Chi did as he asked, moving to stand beside him as the outer door blew apart with a low rumble, followed by the dull roar of voices as the Kannassans flooded the ship. "Not by nature, but they have no love of Saiya-jin, especially this Saiya-jin. If they recognize me, things will get ugly. Don't call me by name and keep your distance. They must never know that you are my daughter." Bardock glanced over at her fondly and smiled. "I will not hide my relationship to you, Bardock." Chi-Chi responded hotly, her eyes searing through him. "It would be shameful to hide while they mistreat you..." "Think of that brat you have and the one that is in your belly." Bardock snapped, losing his patience. "You might not like it, but it is what will keep you and your child alive. You do want to live to see Kakkarot again, don't you?" Bardock emphasized his son's name, making sure she understood exactly what was at stake. Chi-Chi gasped. How had he known about the baby she carried? She hadn't even told Kakkarot yet. "How..." "Any Saiya-jin male could sense it within you. That my brat can't..." Bardock shook his head in disgust. "He has grown too soft on Chikyuu. Perhaps this excursion will be good for him--remind him of who and what he is. Now are you going to do what I say?" He watched through slitted eyes as the first Kannassan squeezed through the cockpit entry. "Alright." Chi-Chi gasped as two large reptilian-faced creatures entered the cockpit, weapons pointed. "We mean you no harm." Bardock called out. "We have merely had the misfortune of crashing our ship on your planet. I ask that our pilot be given medical treatment." He settled Bulma's body closer against his chest, hoping that he could pass her off as a simple pilot that had been hired to give him passage. "Who are you to demand things from us, Saiya-jin?" The Kannassan nodded pointedly at the tail that was wrapped around Bardock's waist. "You have violated Kannassan airspace. You are lucky to still be alive." The Kannassan stepped aside as the other stepped forward. "You will come with us and offer no resistance. That is the only way that the girl gets any help." Bardock frowned, but nodded, accepting the terms the Kannassan gave him. He had few options until he got Bulma fixed. After that, he might be able to get something accomplished, go Oozaru perhaps and finish what he started so many years ago. He grimaced at the thought of needless slaughter, but what choice did he have? If given the choice between Bulma, Chi-Chi, and his grandchild... well the choice was clear, they were his family and he would protect them with his life. But first he had to get Bulma taken care of. "Fine, just get her some help." He growled menacingly as the first Kannassan stepped forward but relinquished his hold on Bulma, staggering back as the second Kannassan snapped metal bands around his wrist. "You'll find these impossible to break free. They are made with energy absorbers. We learned our lesson when your kind last visited our world. Your coming has been foreseen and this time we were able to prepare for it. You will not achieve your true state while you are on this planet." The larger Kannassan reached over, grabbing Chi-Chi and shoving her after the other Kannassan who held Bulma, earning himself another growl from Bardock. "Let's go. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can get this one into prison. I trust no Saiya-jin." Grabbing hold of Bardock, he shoved him forward, reaching down to painfully squeeze the tail that Bardock had wrapped around his waist illiciting a sharp gasp of pain from the Saiya-jin. Bardock turned, lunging at the Kannassan despite his shackled wrists and depleted energy. The Kannassan sidestepped the blow, delivering a brutal chop to the back of Bardock's neck, watching impassively as the Saiya-jin fell to the ground unconscious. "Not so tough without your energy, are you Saiya-jin scum?" He bent, picking up the fallen Saiya-jin,slinging him over his sh |