War of Worlds

By B_Chan

Chapter9: Shattered Dreams, The Call to Arms

It’d been a long month, a long confusing month. Vegeta stuck his head through the doorway to Bulma lab and looked around. Chaos, that was the only word he could think of to describe what he saw. Techs and mechanics ran about like an ant farm, doing various things, while Bulma, the queen ant, barked out orders pointing and waving her arms to emphasize herself. He had no idea what was going on, but the whole Capsule corps compound had been like this for the past month.

It’d been two months since the last Lucifer incidence, the satellite hook up Bulma had designed was now operational and orbiting the planet. He couldn’t see why she was still creating and designing all those insane contraptions of hers when she’d all but made the earth inaccessible to aliens; at least 99.999 percent of them. A few out there were strong enough to break through, but he and the others would no doubt sense them long before they seceded.

Vegeta dodged to the side as a group of techs moved by talking excitable about something he didn’t understand. He was getting pretty annoyed at all the hustle and bustle lately. At least the work crew was no longer staring at him in an awed daze like he was some kind of living god. Well, they only gave quick wondering and admiring glances now- they’d quickly learning he wasn’t the social type. Good Dende what had ever possessed him to desire such fame and power in his youth, he’d give anything if the morons would forget they’d ever seen him. Life was so… difficult now. Not that he was the only one that was having problems. Trunks had all but walled himself up in his office he was hounded constantly. Rumors were flying around, things ranging from suspicions whether Trunks was a ‘golden warrior’ to what his favorite cereal was and who he was currently dating (everyone from britney Spears to Elizabeth Taler). It was all so crazy. Even Bra had had to retreat from the flock of fans that she normally encouraged. The photos taken of her in super saiyan mode standing by him and fighting the alien admiral had shocked the world almost as much as when he’d fought in public against Lucifer soldiers. She’d enjoyed it in the beginning agreeing to do a few more photos in that form, the most popular being her in high heels and leather holding a motorcycle up on her shoulder with a male biker model sitting on the seat. But, the fame had gotten to the point that she’d acquired dozens of stokers that were down right freaky. Even his perky daughter could only handle so much. And then there was Bulma…

Vegeta sighed out loud.

He didn’t have a clue about Bulma. He’d hardly seen her the last month besides when she was ordering her ant farm around, and the month before she’d been cooped up in her lab like a mad woman doing Kami knows what. He knew she was dabbing again in the new alien technology, she and several other employees of hers had made several more trips up into space to collect more of it. Surprisingly Juunanagou and Juuhachigou had been among those to accompany her; if anything the two seemed more determined to do their fair share of ‘ass kicking’. She’s starting to… freak me out thought Vegeta glancing back as his wife as she proclaimed herself a genius loudly enough for most around her to hear and tossed back her head to laugh in a maniacally way.

"I feel like she’s planning my demise or something," muttered Vegeta to himself, unable to stop a shiver from running down his spine. Whatever Bulma was currently cooking it was expensive and big, very, very, very big. He’d managed to take a peek at a few files and papers he’d seen laying around before some worker or Bulma scooped them up. Whatever she was doing she’d had to get legal permission from the empire of Japan as well as support and agreement of various kinds from other nations like the U.S, China, and a few European countries. She’d ordered tons of raw materials and hired experts in various fields all over the glob some he hadn’t the foggest idea why she’d want.

"If I didn’t know any better I’d thing she planned to take over the world," he said with a blank look on his face, watching as several workers dragged a giant ass cannon passed him.

Aren’t thing suppose to go back to normal by now? He thought in a desperate mental voice. Usually you fight, win, and things some how calm back down like nothing happened. Okay, next time someone tries to attack Earth, I say I’m super man or something and start wear glass to throw any annoying human off who might recognize me. It might work, humans did seem to be that dense at times. Of course, that was assuming he could get the whole stupid lot of them to forget he existed in the first place. Tricking them was one thing, getting them to forget was a whole other.

He felt like moping about the place, but saiyan princes’ don’t mope! They look regal and composed, always in control of the situation… Bullshit, he didn’t have control over anything at the moment and it frustrated him to no end.

He felt someone tapping on his shoulder and had to fight hard not to sigh. "Leave me alone," if it was another stupid person asking for his signature, autograph, of all things, he was going to have a mental break down. Not to mention that humans seemed unable to except the fact that he was just Vegeta, no first name, no last name, no middle, just ‘Vegeta’! The tapping continued and he felt the alluring called to kill something, go on a massive blood bath that would make the bravest soul scurry way from him in fear. A crazy look flashed in his eyes as he turned to start with his first victim only to pause, eyes widening, hand raised to strike. Before him stood one perky blue haired demi-saiyan who smiled sweetly at him completely ignoring the killing stance he was in.

"Papa, there you are I’ve been looking all over for you," said Bra taking his raised hand and pulling him away. He numbly went with her, at least she was dragging him away from this madness all around them. He only half listened to his daughter as she had a one sided conversation with him, talking about colors, inseams and logos, things that once again left question marks flashing about his head. Yee God she’s becoming as loony has her mom thought Vegeta with more then a small amount of concern. Soon the whole planet would be full of crazy mad people, whose only purpose in life was to make him miserable.

He didn’t protests as Bra, wielding a measuring tape, processed to record and measure every square inch of him, still chatting, more so to herself, about clothes and how to make them fit perfectly on someone. How they had be to cut just right to make someone do a double take and think ‘damn she/he is fine’.

Someone had to be going crazy, him, Bulma, Bra, everyone, something was defiantly not right decided Vegeta as she finished and thanked him before going off on her merry way, wide grin on her lips.

"Someone tell me what’s going on!!" screamed the saiyan at his rope’s end. Several people who’d been milling about where he currently was stopped what they were doing to stare at him. Unfortunately none stepped foreword to enlighten him.

"Gravity room…." muttered Vegeta to himself. "Training… I should be training… I’m not really walking about seeing all this weird stuff… I’m… dreaming… or drunk… whatever I’m doing it’s not walking past a bunch of techs and machines designed to do who knows what. Watching my mate planning world conquest… maybe I’ve some how given myself brain damage…. That’s it… I hit my head and become as stupid as Kakarot. Everything makes perfect sense now," said Veget to himself as he walked past everyone heading towards the gravity room, telling himself it was all his imagination. Let’s just say Vegeta’s ‘very’ confused right now.

* * * * * * * * * * *

A month later.

Pan was walking down the streets of Satan City, it was a relatively boring day today. It’d been boring lately. Trunks was once again super glued to his desk or too afraid to venture far away from it for fear he’d be maimed. Really he was a super saiyan, he could defend himself if he had too! Okay so Trunks was too modest and polite to threat even a mob of screaming fans- they were she supposed for the most part harmless- but for Kami sake he didn’t have to let them box him in like a fish in a bowl! Well she’d grown use to Trunks always being too busy, but strangely he wasn’t the only one unavailable at the moment. Bra had been cooped up at home and had been doing something important that was taking up all her time. The blue haired demi-saiyan had been so busy that she couldn't even spar a few minutes to chat on the phone. The whole Briefs family seemed to be busy lately she couldn’t even get near the Capsule Corps building without showing some ID, the place had become a fortress.

Other strange things had been happening too, for some unknown reason Krillin had closed his dojo! She couldn’t believe it! Why would he do that?! Marron wasn’t even sure what had happened, her parents seemed to mysteriously disappear for most of the day and sometimes the night too. Marron was starting to thing they’d been adducted by pod people or something. She hadn’t been able to drag what they were doing out of them, but apparently they weren’t suffering financially for it, it any thing Marron claimed they were somehow richer- her father had bought her a brand new car!

Pan kicked at the side walk wishing her dad would buy her a new car, it’d be nice not to have to catch a ride with someone else or have to fly everywhere by her own power all the time. Of course, she knew cars didn’t grow on trees, but still it wasn’t fair! "Bra’s got her own car, Marron, Trunks, Goten, I’ll bet even Base has one stashed away somewhere," she muttered. She pictured the tall namek cruising around in a shiny new sports car, shades over his eyes, and wind whipping his green antennas around.

Pan sweat dropped. "Nahhh!" she said out loud waving her hand in front of her to dismiss the thought. Nameks didn’t seem to value material possession for some reason.

She hadn’t seen the others much lately, not that she saw Uub or Base much, but she hadn’t heard from Almuerzo or Goten either. All so odd.

Pan frowned she’d had nothing to do besides schoolwork. BORING! Senior at Orange Star College with nothing to do but eat, sleep, go to school, come home, and do her homework. Her shoulders slumped as she let out a sigh. "Some times I wonder if I’m even learning anything new," muttered Pan under her breath. She got straight As’ with Gohan, a college professor, for a dad she had too. Her dad was so smart that the knowledge was partially oozing off him, she had to pick some of it up living with him and all. She was surprised about how much she knew, her classes all seemed too easy because of what she’d picked up from him and the home studies he and her mother had put her through. She could fall asleep during class and not have to worry if she wanted, she knew it all already. It seemed like such a waste of time really.

"Waist of money too," said Pan putting her nose up in the air. "I’ll bet dad could easily buy me a shiny new car too with all the money he’s spent for classes I don’t really need." Of course, she needed a degree to prove she was smart and hopefully get a good job in the future. Of course, even with the degree that wasn’t a guarantee that she won’t end up flipping burgers for all she knew. She made a face at the mental picture that conjured up in her head with that thought.

"Sometimes I just wish I was young again and going out with Trunks and grandpa to find the dragon balls," said Pan fondly. The real world put on hold, she was free to venture the universe see all the amazing things out there, get into trouble, fight and save the day, be a hero and not have to come home and do her homework. She missed those times.

Head still swimming with thoughts of adventure and danger, Pan turned the corner. She walked five steps and paused in the middle of the sixth. Walking backwards two steps she turned towards the wall and looked at the poster she’d passed, her eyes widening as she did.

Before her was a picture of Bra in a slender, figure fixing red uniform, trimmed in black with a wide black belt wrapping her waist and lots of silver buckles and buttons. The suit consisting of a long tailed coat, a dark tight undershirt with a zipper up the front, a knee length skirt, and ankle high boots. Bra had on a military looking hat on, which her slender fingertips were touching in a kind of solute. She smiled brightly, blue eyes dancing with a kind of excitement. Above her in bold print were the words "We Want You!" Underneath was written "Join the Capsule Corps Army and help protected our beloved earth. Sign-ups will be held at the Capsule corps compounds…." It gave the address, dates, and required information and requirement for applicants. Pan stared at the poster looking like her eyeballs were going to roll out of their sockets.

"What?!" she shouted ripping the poster off the wall to look more closely at it. Glancing down the street she saw more posters plastered about and many young people standing in front of them looking and reading. A low buzz had filled the air, people whispered to one another words like ‘Protect’ ‘Earth’ ‘Fight Back’ ‘Join’ were heard among the chatter.

Pan just couldn’t believe what she was seeing and hearing, it was crazy, it was impossible, it was trilling and amazing all at once. With the poster in hand the quarter saiyan ran down the street towards Capsule Corps. People were already crowding around the compound, even though sign-ups weren’t for another couple of days, some chatting ‘Capsule Corps’ ‘fight’ shouting that they’d follow Vegeta and drive away the alien forces. Pan gapped at the scene, everyone wore determined faces, everyone had a righteous air about them. Something ‘big’ had just been set into motion.

Pan finally noticed the police and security guards that were trying to get the crowd to go home, yelling for them to come back later, that till the building opened for sign-ups it was private property. It was obvious to Pan that she wasn’t going to be able to get in through the front door so she levitated up and flew over crowd and fence not even caring about the awed sounds the people made seeing her. Nor did she pay them any mind as they explode with cheer and greater eagerness to join with her display. Pan flew around the circular structure, barely noticing the new buildings and equipment now surrounding it. She didn’t stop till she came to one large glass window, Pan drew back her hand and tapped rapidly on it.

The blinds went up and a lavender haired man looked out at her. Blinking his eyes as if shocked he pushed open the window and let her in.

"Pan, what are you doing here?" asked Trunks as she landed lightly.

"What is ‘this’," she said shoving the poster in his face.

Trunks leaned back, bumping into his desk. He blinked at the picture inches from his eyes then pushed her hand down and looked at her. "Aid campaign."

"I can see that! When did this happen?!" shouted Pan. "My God, Trunks! You’re building an army!"

Trunks sighed and sat down on his desk. "Not me, my mom. This is her project."

"H-how?" asked Pan.

"Well what did you expect Pan," said Trunks folding his hands in his lap. "We’re up against an army, we’re going to need one to fight back. Not even the Z fighters can charge head first into this battle without support."

"But- what- we’ll- how are you planning to do this?" asked Pan.

"My mother has already gotten legal permission, a good many of the earth’s military forces suffered greatly with the first world wide attack; they still haven’t fully recovered from it. We’ve also been studying the alien’s technology, you’d be amazed at the kind of things we’ve salvaged and come up with from it. Even a mere human can be trained and equipped to hold off invading forces. They’re not stupid Pan, they’ll be back and this time it might not be just small attacks, if they have one powerful warrior among them a whole army could get through the barrier, we might be up against hundreds, thousands, millions, we don’t know. Hell, what if they send two ships, three, a whole palatino? Pan this is war, we’re in serious trouble here if we don’t get our act together."

Pan inhaled a deep breath. "So we don’t have a choice?"

Trunks gave her a supportive smile. "There’s always a choice, Pan-chan. And no one is going to make any of us fight if we don’t want to. In fact, I have to register myself if I want to fight. My mom’s being very thrall about all this."

"You don’t have to fight," said Pan, it was a bit of a relief to hear that. Hell none of them had to fight, they could leave it up to Bulma and her newly trained troops. Of course, they or at least a few of them would probably be needed to take care of any powerful enemies, but it was still a relief being given a choice. "Are you going to fight?"

Trunks sighed again. "Considering who my parents are I think it’s expected of me. Hell even Bra’s going to fight, my whole family is neck deep in all this, I have to Pan."

Pan bit her lower lip. Trunks was going to join, he’d be in the middle of all the action, he could be hurt, he could be killed…. She shivered at the very thought. "So… you’d just put on a uniform and wait around to see when they show?"

"Not… exactly," said Trunks looking a little uncomfortable.

"What?" asked Pan.

"You know that ship 17 and 18 hit?"

"Yah."

"My mom fixed it."

"She fixed it!" said Pan in shock.

Trunks nodded his head. "Mom practically had to rebuild and design the whole engine and control system but it’s running. We’ll be training troops on the earth to begin with, but at least some of them will be moved up to the ship after a time. Plus we’ve got plans to set up a base on the moon in the future. You might… not see me for a while."

Oh no, now this wasn’t good. She might be able to get use to the idea of Trunks always being on the frontline. Maybe come to terms with the fact that there was a real possibility that he’d be hurt or worst, but she would ‘not’ except him being off world while she was stuck on earth with no way of getting to him. "I don’t see you enough as it is," she muttered more to herself then Trunks.

"I know you don’t like it Pan, but it really is necessary. I won’t be off world all the time, maybe I’ll be stationed here for all we know-"

Trunks cut off as Pan lifted a hand and held it before his face. She had a very thoughtful look on her face. She glanced down at the poster still held in her other hand.

Trunks’ eyes widened. "Pan! You don’t have to! Really, you don’t have to join, you’re still young, you’re not even out of college yet I mean -"

She cut him off again. "Do you really think I’m the type that will sit back and let other people get killed while I sit safe and sound writing papers and reading books? I’m part saiyan, Trunks, I’m strong, I can really make a difference."

Trunks scooted towards her a bit and took her hands. "You are young Pan, its your choice, but maybe you should thing about what you’d be giving up if you do, do this?" he asked softly.

Pan closed her eyes, Trunks was right, this would interfere with all her future plans, it might destroy them all together. Don’t finish school no degree, no degree no fancy job, no fancy job no big house… the list went on and on. Gee she’d particularly had her entire life planned out already. She paused a moment to think about it and found it all seemed so stereotypical and well… boring. Trunks was also a big part of that future plan, hell the big house and other luxuries were pretty much a package deal with him, but… if he left, went into space, was killed… her future looked bleak indeed.

"It is my choice, Trunks," she said softly opening her eyes and looking at him. The concern showing in his blue depths made her pause, feel uncomfortable. He wants what’s best for me, he wants to keep me safe she thought. This is an important decision but… I want to keep him safe too…. "I will… think about it," promised Pan.

Trunks smiled and nodded his head. "That’s all I ask," he said leaning up to give her a light peck on the cheek. "Think about it Pan, think about it hard and whatever you decide I’ll support you in."

Pan made a small ‘hn’ sound and reached up to pet his long hair. "I should have been the one saying that when the thought of joining first popped into your silly head," she said thumping him lightly on the noggin. "I’ll bet you don’t think at all, you never even considered me did you? Hn, men you’re all the same you see some action and the first thing to come to mind is ‘me man, me kill’."

"But-" started to protest Trunks, he stopped and winced as Pan’s gentle petting turned into her fisting her fingers in his hair and pulling not at all gentle.

"I swear you’re all still cavemen at heart," continued Pan. "I’m surprised you don’t go around with clubs in furs puffing out your chests trying to be macho. If it weren’t for us women I bet you all would be too, no one to cook or sew or make you act civilized."

"You can’t cook!" protested Trunks, he regretted that greatly as it earned him another hard pull.

Pan continued as if she hadn’t heard him. "You’d all run around like the thoughtless brutes you are, not caring at all what your women really think or want, thinking we’d just quietly go with whatever you decided…."

Trunks winced again as Pan pulled his head up to look her in the eyes. He blinked his eyes in confusion as he was now nose to nose with her.

"Well guess what Trunks… I’m woman, hear me roar," she purred in a sexy tone before pressing her lips to his in a sensual kiss that sent chills and thrills all up and down his spine. He was slightly dazed when she released him and leaned back. "And don’t you forget it," smiled Pan tucking the poster under her arm and strolling out of the room. Trunks watched her go with wide eyes.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Gohan sorted the stack of papers he held and looked out at his class; it was a lot smaller today then it was usually. Not only were several people absent, but everyone seemed to be talking, something he didn’t allow in his class. It was early and school hadn’t really started yet, but it was still strange for so many of them to be up and out of their seats visiting.

The bell rang and a few students hurried back over to their places as he started calling out roll. Once that was done with he glanced down at today’s schedule: currents events.

"Well now, let’s start with some current event subjects, does anyone have one they’d like to share?" To Gohan’s surprise almost every hand shot up into the air, some waved excitedly. Overcoming his shock Gohan calmly picked one male student sitting near the back that normally didn’t like to participate.

"I want to talk about the CC army," stated the student. Some student groaned, no doubt that had been their topic too and now they’d have to think up a new one.

"CC army?" repeated Gohan raising an eyebrow.

"You don’t know Mr. Son?" asked one girl in front excitedly.

"Yah, it’s the Capsule Corps Army, it was just announced on the TV and radio this morning, they’re recruiting soon."

The students broke out in an excited rumble everyone talking all at once throwing around opinions, rumors, starting new rumors.

"Hold it, hold it!" called out Gohan. The Capsule Corps Army?! This was news to him. "Kimberly would you please explain all this too me," asked Gohan picking one of his brightest and up to date students. The girl adjusted her glasses and began.

"This morning about 7:30 a.m. Capsule Corps daughter billionaire Mrs. Briefs went on air and publicly announced that she was setting up a new army force to combat the resent alien invasion forces that had been threatening earth. Recruiting will begin in four days for any that wish to join. This is the reason for the lack of students attending class today, several have already chosen to join and are spending the next few days getting ready or partying," finished the girl pushing her glasses up her nose.

Gohan looked at her in disbelief while the class once again broke out in chatter.

"Yah, Vegeta-san will waste those assholes, I’m going to join so I can get a front seat and watch him do it!" shouted one male student.

"Baka! You’ll get yourself killed you’re not a ‘Golden Warrior’," shouted one girl up at him.

"Yah, but with one on our side how can we lose? You saw how easily he trashed those alien scum," shouted another student.

"Hey, isn’t Vegeta’s daughter, Bra Briefs, one too?" asked one girl.

"Yah, she is," answered her girlfriend. "She kicks serious ass, I didn’t think a girl could be that strong."

"Girls kick ass too," shouted one girl and several others in the room agreed with her, voicing their opinion with loud cheers.

"I wonder if her hunk of a brother is a ‘Golden Warrior’ too?" voiced one girl.

"He’s got to be, he’d build like a dream," sighed one girl.

"He’s a paper pusher," shouted one boy. "I’ll bet I could beat him up!"

"Yah right!" shouted several girls all at once.

"I think he is one," said a boy off to the side. "I went back and watched the Cell Game footage after the first fight, and they show several people there that had golden hair. I’m positive one of them was Vegeta and I could almost swear that one of them looks just like Trunks."

"No way, he’d have to have been a little kid back then," said one student.

"I’m telling you the guy looked just like him," protested the student.

"Hey, what about that boy who was doing well against Cell, the one before Mr. Satan stepped in, he had golden hair too."

Gohan made a small grunt wondering how the conversation had gotten to that of all things.

"Baka!" shouted one student. "Mr. Satan was a fraud, one of the "Golden Warriors’ was the one to actually defeat Cell."

"You think it was that boy?"

A sweat drop ran down the side of Gohan’s head.

"Maybe it was, we can’t be sure. The news always covers everything up," grumbled on student.

"That’s way you’ve got to join and see the action for yourself," shouted the first student who’s picked the topic.

"This is war not a walk through the woods," shouted back another student. "People died in war."

The talking switched back to the CC army and the upcoming fighting. Gohan breathed a sigh of relief, they stumbled across the truth and just as quickly the subject had switched again. That was the good thing about one thing leading to another you never stopped long enough to really think about it. Not that he was afraid they’d recognize him, the chances of that happening were slim to none. Few of the students in his class were old enough to even have been around when the Cell Game happened and fewer knew what he looked like as a young boy let along as a super saiyan. Still that was too close for his comfort.

He didn’t want people to know that is was in fact him that had defeated Cell. He didn’t want to go through the same trouble that Vegeta was currently having. For all he cared Vegeta could take the credit for that as well, he had no intention of getting involved in this new fighting. All this youth he'd fought and what had it gotten him? Nothing, nothing good at least, a dead father, a lonely mother, a little brother who hadn’t known his own father till he was seven. Father, thought Gohan, even now he still missed him, missed him and Piccolo-san who’d been like another father to him. Both had been taken away because of senseless fighting, his sensei dead, killed when Earth had blown up from the dark dragon balls (end of the first series of GT), such a waste. His father, who’d always been stuck at the center of all the actions, never home, never with his family always gone- dead or training- he was still alive today, Gohan had to believe that, but he didn’t know where he was. What Gohan wouldn’t do, wouldn’t give, just to have him back, him and Piccolo-san, to live as they had for a few short years, together like a normal family. No evil force there to tear them apart, no threat hanging over their shoulders darkening their day to day lives, just family and friends getting together because they chose to; to laugh and rejoice in the very act of living, in peace.

Peace that was what he wanted, just peace. He didn’t want to live in the chaos any more, he didn’t want it threatening him and his loved one again. They’d done their fair share, why was it back, why were the shadows of evil and chaos once again looming over him.

"I don’t want to fight any more," he spoke softly out loud.

"Mr. Son?" called one concerned student. Gohan looked up at her. "Are you okay?"

The class quieted all eyes suddenly on him.

"Hai, I’m fine," smiled Gohan thought the smile never reached his eyes.

"You said you don’t want to fight any more," said one student with a puzzled look on his face. "I didn’t know you were a fighter, Mr. Son." The class was suddenly very interested in him.

Gohan licked his lower lip nervously. "Yes, I use to be a fighter," he admitted, he winced slightly at the awed light that suddenly shone in his students eyes. Don’t look at me like that, it’s not as glorious as you think it is thought Gohan sadly. "My father, my brother, even my mother and grandfathers were all great fighters," there was some pride in his voice when he said that, he had to admit that to himself.

"Really," said one student leaning foreword in his chair.

"I thought so!" shouted another. "Mr. Son you’re father is Son Goku isn’t he, the one that won the Ultimate Martial Arts tournaments several years back."

The awed looks suddenly grew in intensely.

"Hai, he was my father, Son Goku a great warrior and fighter, but he’d gone now…"

The students blinked confused eyes at him not understanding.

"Gone, Mr. Son?" asked one girl.

"Gone," said Gohan nodding his head, he didn’t elaborate and the students took this to mean he was dead. "After the last fight he was just gone," said Gohan unable to keep some of the pain from his voice. "Fighting is not all glory and excitement, in fact I’d say there is very little of that in actual battle. Fear, anger, hatred, pain, guilt these are the feelings that come out on top, not the sense of satisfaction nor a feeling of triumph, many battles have been fought where the winners didn’t feel like celebrating once the fighting was over." That’s not completely true spoke a part of his mind, when you fight you feel so alive, you’re saiyan blood sings, you can’t deny that. Gohan pushed down that part of him, he wanted to get through to these young people. He wanted them to understand. "People die, friends, loved ones, fate is not picky about who it will take. When you are cut you bleed, you feel the pain, after the battles are over the pain is still there it won’t stop till it is healed. Some men need to justify their existence with pain, men like my father, Vegeta-san, they can’t live without it they were raised in the very heart of it. They don’t know peace; they don’t know what it feels like to truly be content. Battle is conflict, both on an outer and inner field. You are young it appeals to you now because you don’t know… you just don’t know what it really is."

The classes was deadly silent with Gohan’s heart felt speech they all looked at him with wide eyes, some of the girls look a bit teary eyed as if they felt his pain. The young men tried not to look him in the eyes, seeming uncomfortable with the emotions hanging in the air. The conflict still hung around them all, they were young and they did not know… they could not know till they tasted it themselves, till they bled and felt the pain through their own senses.

"Mr. Son," spoke one girl, almost in a whisper. "Someone has to fight…." she said softly. "We can’t just roll over and die, my brother is going to join and I believe in him… I believe he’d doing the right thing… I believe," she whispered softly.

Gohan looked a long time at her and his eyes softened. "Yes, we can’t just roll over and die, but I wish…." He closed his eyes. "I wish we could settle this without fighting." He reopened his eyes and smiled at his class. "Words are stronger then fists and less costly, remember that. Violence should always be a last resort, that is something my father taught me and it made him an even greater man then his fists ever could, you remember that well." You loved to fight father, but you loved life too, you always tried to save those you fought against, Yamacha, Krillin, Tein, Choazu, Piccolo, Vegeta, all once your enemies then your friends and ails. That I think is what I admire the most about your father, it is something I will always admire.

"Hai sensei," chorused the class.

Gohan gave them another proud smile. "Now then let’s discuss the political and global importance this is going to have on the economy," said Gohan causing a collective groan to run through the room. Gohan turned back to them with a grin, "you can’t run an army on willpower alone, it’s expensive." He then went on to list several stock areas that would no doubt increase because of the new need for materials and the effects this would hold on Capsule Corps’ other actions and products. The class was soon engrossed in the not so glorious backbone of war, Gohan was pleased that some students were taking an interest in the area, they would be the one who pieces the world back together after fighting had put cracks in it. Defending the planet was noble, but someone still had to run it.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Pan pushed in the front door to her home and announced her arrival. She saw her mother, who’d just gotten home shoving a frozen lasagna into the oven. The raven-haired woman smiled and turned to greet her, wiping her hands on a towel.

"Welcome home honey. How was your day?"

"Fine mom, I went and saw Trunks-kun today," replied Pan, she shifted the folded poster under her arm. She’d been thinking about what Trunks had said the whole way back home and now that she was staring one of her parents in the face, the carefully planned words and actions she’d been planning to use vanished from her head.

"Oh you’re not trying to drag him away from his job again are you?" asked Videl turning around to set the timer.

"Mom," protested Pan, they’d had this conversation one too many times for her liking.

"Well you know he’s a very busy man, he runs an important company, well he did before Bulma took over again, but he’s still Vice president. You can’t expect a man like that to take you out on the town and to movies."

"Mom, Trunks is ‘my’ guy," growled Pan, not in the mood to talk about this again. "Yes, he’s over ten years older than me, yes he’s got lots of responsibilities that take up his time, but he’s ‘my’ guy. Not just that, but there’s saiyan stuff mixed in it, I’m not going to dump him just because you think I’m going too fast."

Videl sighed. "I’m not saying for you to dump him Pan, you should just broaden your horizons, he’s the first serious boyfriend you’ve ever had, how do you know he’s really the one. You haven’t shopped around at all."

"He’s the one," stated Pan in a flat voice leaving no room for argument.

"You’re only nineteen Pan."

"You were younger when you met dad and started dating."

"I don’t call running around as super heroes dating," stated Videl. "We were friends first then it branched and turned into much more when we were older and more mature."

"I am mature," growled Pan crossing her arms over her chest. Videl gave her a look that made Pan squirm suddenly very aware of the pouty stance she was in, but she didn’t back down, she wanted to make her point.

"Look Pan I’m just saying you have plenty of time to figure things out, you don’t need to set everything in stone yet. I like Trunks and I do hope he is the one, but the future is so uncertain, especially at your age. You might get a job that will take up all your time like Trunks and then where will you be? You don’t see each other much as it is, working around two busy schedules is tough on a relationship. Just don’t set your heart on him too much Pan, he’s a fine catch if you can keep him, but you’ve got your whole life ahead of you."

Kami did her mother have some kind of secret agency following her around, sneaking into her head to find just the right kind of worries to make her confidence on her decisions waver. What she had with Trunks was perhaps the best thing she had going in her life at the moment how dare she try and shake her devotion at a time like this, a time when she really wanted and needed her parents support. Okay so seeing Trunks was a problem at times, but that could be solved. Her hold on the poster tightened crumpling the edge of the glossy paper. If I fight for earth… I fight with Trunks, we fight together, we’ll be together. You don’t see it is just like you and dad, we may not be the new Great Saiyamen, but it’s the same mom. I care about him as a friend, company, lover. It means a lot to me, it means everything to me.

Of course, Pan just couldn’t explain to her mother these feels, she couldn’t say them to her as clearly as she could herself so it always came out sounding wrong. The true motivation and meaning behind her words not making the same clarity to her parental units. Of course, it didn’t help that she was feeling pushed already and that her father chose that moment to return home.

"I’m home," called Gohan reaching up to loosen his tie. He glanced at the two sensing the tension in the air. "What’s going on?"

"What going on is that I’ve decided I’m going to fight, I’m joining the CC army," said Pan slapping the poster down on the table for them to see.

Videl and Gohan’s eyes snapped wide. Videl was totally blown away unable to see the connection between Pan’s feelings for Trunks and a decision to join an arms force.

"No you’re not!" shouted Videl. "What’s gotten into you?! What brought this on all of a sudden?! Is this a form or rebellion or something?" asked the totally confused woman. Her little girl couldn’t want to drop everything and fight could see? She had so many plans and goals, such a great future set up for her.

"Pan what’s the meaning of this?" asked Gohan glancing at the poster.

"I’ve thought it over dad. I’m going to join, Trunks and everyone need me, I can really help a lot of people doing this."

Videl suddenly saw the connection between their first conversation and this new one, but instead of putting it gently and thinking it out she was just as blunt as her daughter. "You’re doing this just to be with Trunks aren’t you! That’s it, that’s why you’re tossing everything aside."

"No, that’s not it, well it’s part of it, but that’s not the whole reason I want to join," protested Pan.

"Pan, you can’t just give up everything for him! He’s asking too much of you."

"He didn’t ask me to give up anything, this is my decision!" shouted back Pan.

"Pan-!" Videl stopped as Gohan put a hand on her shoulder. Her father had a serious look on his face that was far more unnerving then her mother’s frustrated and overly concerned one.

"Pan, what about school? You’re not planning to drop out are you?"

Pan felt tears stinging the backs of her eyes, this hurt, the almost disappointed look in her father’s eyes. He cared about her education it meant more to him then her. He had to know that she knew all that stuff already, he had to understand that it was a waste of her time, waste of her powers and skill to continue just for the degree, a simple piece of paper. She could do so much!

"Papa I-"

The look in her father’s eyes stopped her dead, the breaking of a cherished thought a wonderful dream; she watched it all fall to pieces in his eyes. Those sad, understanding, yet so sad eyes.

"Gomenasai I…"

"You do what you feel you must Pan," spoke her father softly. "You’re mother and I can’t keep telling you what to do, as much as I hate to say it you’re not my little girl any more, you’re a intelligent grown woman."

The tears spilled, flowing down her cheeks. But, I want you to tell me to go dad, I want your approval, please don’t look at me like that… oh Kami please don’t she through with an inner wail. "Dad…"

"You don’t need to explain Pan," he gave her a small smile, not a pleased smile, a sad kind of smile. He reached up a hand and brushed the tears from one of her cheeks, "you were always so much like your grandpa you… you don’t need to explain."

He understood, but he didn’t like it realized Pan. The knowledge only dulled the painful ache in her heart, but it was her decision and she was going to go through with it. I’ll make you proud of me father, I swear I will she silently promised reaching up on tiptoes to give her dad a kiss on the cheek before hurrying out of the room to hide the new tears threatening to flow.

"Gohan," started Videl concern for both father and daughter now showing in her blue eyes.

"Let her go Videl. We can’t tell her what to do any more…"

"Will you be okay?" she asked softly leaning against his arm in a supportive gesture.

"There’s so much I wanted to spare her Videl, the pain, the violence, the meaninglessness of it all. I wanted to teach her it all so she’d never have to feel it herself, but that was wrong. She’s young… she needs to make her own mistakes to learn from them, she can’t learn them through me, but I just wish… I just wish I could continue to protect her Videl. Why can’t I protect her any more?"

"You’ve already answered your own question Gohan, she’s old enough, you taught her well."

Gohan lifted his head and looked in the direction his daughter had gone. "I hope so, Videl, I hope so."

* * * * * * * * * * *

"WOMAN!!!" rang a loud roar throughout the whole of Capsule Corps. Several techs and works turned their heads and watched as a pissed saiyan stormed by, some kind of package tucked under his arm. For once they didn’t look at him with awe, but with the fear and terror Vegeta preferred to their wonder. You just didn’t get close to a man, no matter who he was, when he looked ready to kill at the drop of a hat.

The techs that had been talking to Bulma, before the roar filled the air, pale and stepped back from the blue haired woman as her husband stalked right up to her, tail cutting the air violently behind him.

"Vegeta," said Bulma calmly still looking down at the chart she held, she hadn’t even glanced up with the thundering roar. "Something I can do for you?" she asked finally looking up at him.

"What is the meaning of ‘this’!" he growled ripping the package open and letting its contents tumble to the ground. A handsome black folded uniform wrapped in clear plastic landed on the floor.

"What?" she asked raising an eyebrow? "You don’t like it? You haven’t even tried it on yet don’t be so picky. Bra designed them, she said they won’t hinder your movements while fighting-"

"That’s not why I’m here woman!" snapped the saiyan cutting her off. "What is ‘this’!!" he all but screamed at her.

Bulma’s brows turned down and she frowned crossing her arms under her breasts. "It’s your uniform of course," stated Bulma in a tight voice.

Vegeta growled and moved closer yet to his mate, getting right up in her face till they were nose to nose, his foot, intentionally or not it was hard to say, stepped right on the black suit. "I don’t wear uniforms any more woman," he hissed in a deadly tone.

"Well that’s too bad, you’ll have too if you’re going to run this army with me," hissed back Bulma.

"I never agreed to do any such thing with you," replied Vegeta, his voice had dropped the deadly tone, to go unnervingly soft and serious.

Bulma pulled back and blinked her blue eyes at him. "What."

"I am my own fighter woman, I follow no ones orders, not even yours," stated the saiyan still in that soft serious voice.

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Oh come on Vegeta, I’m not asking you to fetch or anything. You like fighting, I don’t see why you can’t-"

"No," said Vegeta cutting her off.

"What?!"

"I said no," his tone was so blankly serious Bulma didn’t know what to think of it.

"What do you mean no?! Are you saying you won’t fight?!" asked Bulma in disbelief.

"I didn’t say anything about not fighting, woman. But, when I fight, I fight for only myself. If you’re little army should happen to fight the enemy at the same time I am, so be it, but I will not be a part of this."

"Vegeta, people are expecting you to be a part of this. People think they’ll be following you not me! You’re a symbol whether you like it or not and I need that!"

"You need a nice little thrall bred dog to prance for you," sneered Vegeta, voice dripping with distain. "I’m not a mascot, woman."

"I’m not asking you to be! You’re a warrior prince if your race hadn’t been destroyed you’d be doing the same job I’m asking you to perform right now! Why are you being so stubborn, I thought you’d enjoy it!" She glanced up at him and held her breath as the look on his face.

Hard eyes no longer so hard, almost sad but not quite, just a look of loses dulled with time, a destroyed dream that had crumpled before his eyes many of years ago. "You’re right Bulma."

She winced, Vegeta hardly ever used her name and whenever he did she had the feeling they were two complete strangers that knew nothing about each other. Strange to become so comfortable being addressed as ‘woman’.

"I was bred and raised, tutored endlessly on the workings of war, I would have been the commander of a race that is an army. It’s in my blood, was my very reason to exist till my race was butchered," he spoke as if he were speaking of someone else. "You know nothing about war, woman," the affection in that word was back along with the harsh tone that most mistook for other colder emotions.

"Then teach me, I need you in this," she said softly reaching up a hand to brush her fingers over his cheek.

Vegeta closed his eyes. Bulma knew him well enough to tell that there was more to this then merely wearing a uniform. It had some kind of meaning to Vegeta, something she didn’t understand, represented something he didn’t want to expect. So many mysteries, it had been one of the factors that had first drawn her to this man. Still so many mysteries, even after all this time she still knew so little about him, his motives, his past all a mystery. If only she knew, if only he’d tell her things about himself she was sure she’d understand why he wouldn’t don a simple black suit.

"I will help you…." he said softly opening his eyes to look into hers. "But, I won’t wear it," he stated stepping back from her and turning around to walk away, leaving no room for farther discussion.

Bulma knelt down and picked up the wrapped uniform, she gently brushed off the boot print left on the clear plastic. Her eyes stared after his retreating form.

"A strange man," commented one of her assists, one in the group she’d been talking to before Vegeta’s arrival.

"I don’t understand," said another, this one was a young woman who looked in her early thirties. "I think he would have looked so handsome in a uniform." Her eyes glanced up as she, no doubt, was picturing the dark alien prince in the form shaping black suit.

Bulma’s eyes glanced up to as she too pictured it herself. Broad shouldered and a deep chest made square by the suit’s cut, slim waist wrapped in a thick leather belt, the neat cut edges of the coat falling over powerful hips, curving over a fine muscled rear, thick thighs and muscular calves clad in black slacks, the whole suit trimmed in white made all that much more brighter by the solid black of the fabric, a sexy little smirk curving the corner of his mouth… Damn! Why was she such a sucker for a man in a uniform! She silently mourned the lose of not getting to see him in it and stood up fingers still idly stocking the plastic covered suit. She frowned and a determined light entered her eyes. I’m going to figure out all those little secrets you won’t tell, Vegeta. I’m going to figure you out and then figure out how to stuff you into this thing she vowed to herself.

Her mind began to whirl as she began plotting ways to do just that. "Hmm…" shock therapy? I dump enough sleeping pills into his next meal to knock out an elephant, sew a bunch of wires into the thing, get him in it, then make it so they zap him every time he try to take it off. "Hehehehe…" There’s some flaws in that idea, mainly that he can’t wear it every second of every day, he’d still have to pee and stuff, plus drugs don’t seem to work well on him. "Hmm…"

"Mrs. Briefs?" called one of her workers.

"Huh?" uttered Bulma snapping out her thought and realizing everyone had been staring at her, or the evil little grins and giggle she’d been making. Bulma coughed into her hand. "Back to work, I’m not paying you to stand around."

When they just stood there blinking their eyes at her she turned to them with her own roar. "BACK TO WORK!!!!"

They scattered.

"Ah! Now I know why those two are a couple!" cried one worker running away with her hands over her ears.

"They’re the only ones that aren’t scared of each other?" asked another worker running with her.

"No, they’re both loud!"

*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 8 / Bulma’s Hideout / Chapter 9