___Chapter 18___

"How exactly do we go about this guys?" said Gohan as they sat in a clearing overlooking one of the villages. "They're sure to remember Vegeta, at least one of them, and how are we going to explain who YOU are, Oboe?"

Vegeta frowned and replied "I see your point. They won't be too eager to help me. And you can't go as one of there guys. For all we know, one of there elders might know every last person on this planet And be able to tell you're a fake, and there go our chances. You couldn't take any other disguise, you need to stay as a namek, but you can't be one from here. Who could you possib..."

He stopped in mid sentence, almost stuttering as he realized the only alternative.

Her eyes went wide in shock as she realized what Vegeta was talking about. "You.. can't be serious! Then how will we explain coming here for dragonballs?"

"We can say it was someone who died before, like Kakkarott."

"Vegeta, I don't think I can do this."

"You have to Oboe."

"I... I can't.... *clenches her fists* I just CAN'T! Do you have ANY idea what you're asking me to do!?!?"

"Yes."

"*low growling voice* Vegeta... it would hurt too much."

Vegeta gave her a weird look.

"No... I don't mean physically, I mean emotionally. Like sticking a dagger in a wound I'm trying to heal. I can't do it Vegeta."

Suddenly Gohan broke in cheerfully, saying "You can do it Oboe! It's alright! If that's what you gotta do, do it! Piccolo wouldn't mind you taking his form."

Oboe sighed. She'd lost the argument. She touched her hands to her earrings, went into her earlier form, and lingered like that for a second.

Suddenly she shot up an inch, and her features hardened tremendously. She looked far more imposing than she had before. She even managed to turn her blue gi a dark purple/black.

Gohan let out his second low whistle that day. "You know, I've said this more than once without thinking before, but I really mean it this time. You look just like Piccolo."

"Basically, I am him." Oboe said. She nearly fell over backwards when she heard his voice coming from herself.

Vegeta glanced over and said "That's something you'll have to get used to if you're going to come with us at all."

"Vegeta, you'd have to kill me to make me stay. I made a promise, and I'm not going to break it."

Gohan nodded. "I kinda know how you feel. He's a great guy once you get to know him. But I can't say I know exactly how you feel..."

"Why?"

Gohan was silent. The rest of the sentence was said quietly in his mind- {{...because he cared about you far more then he ever did me.}}

Noone said a word for another minute.

Then Oboe jumped down the slope to the village. Gohan jumped right after her, and Vegeta leapt down as he mumbled "Wonder what kind of havoc we'll wreak this time?"

---

The village was basically the same as any of those from before. They still grew the adjica, almost as if it was a tradition they just felt like keeping.

Noone looked twice when they saw a namekian jump to the ground from outside the village. Some of them smiled upon recognizing the older Gohan, and were about to go over when they saw Vegeta appear. Everyone remembered Vegeta. What made the situation even worse was the fact that some of these people had been killed by Vegeta before.

Oboe looked at the tension that had formed and buried her face in her hands as she mumbled sarcastically "Well, this has gotten off to a wonderful start."

Gohan was just thinking {{I wish we could of brought Dendea.}}. Then he got really concerned. Some of the warriors were charging up attacks. {{Oh shit! They're going to fight! We can't attack these guys! They're the good guys! I gotta do something rash if I'm going to do anything at all!}}

He ran quickly before the nameks could shoot, and jumped in front of Vegeta, yelling "Stop! He's a friend!"

But Gohan had not traveled as fast as he thought. Two ki blasts had broken out before the young sayian's message could. The energy was hurtling straight at his face when there was a sudden movement, and two beams ricocheted out and canceled the other two about three feet from Gohan's face.

"Yes. Vegeta is a friend now. You have to think before you shoot. Now will you listen to us?" said Oboe as she looked at the warriors who's blasts she had reflected.

Then the elder came out, utter confusion on his face, and the scared-to-hell child who had alerted him quivering behind him. "What's going on out here!" he yelled out "Why are you fighting!"

Then he saw Oboe, Gohan, and Vegeta on the far side of the field.

"Oh my..." he said softly.

One of the warriors who had almost shot Gohan walked up to the elder, saying "Sir! It's the sayian Vegeta! He's come back! I don't know who the boy is, and there's also some strange namek there too. Who are they?"

The elder looked at the three again, and said "Anch, those two with him are two of the ones who tried to save our old home over a decade ago."

There was silence.

"...Are...you certain of that, sir?" Anch stuttered.

"Yes." then looking toward the two, he said "Piccolo and Gohan, if I'm not mistaken on your names."

Gohan nodded. Oboe stood silently.

"Now, what happened here?"

Gohan spoke for their side, and Anch told the other.

The elder nodded after hearing them out, and said "Why have you come here, anyway?" Gohan and Vegeta were quiet. They had no clue what to say. Then Oboe pushed forward.

"Sadly, we're here for the dragonballs. Death has found it's way to us once again."

A voice called out from the crowd "I can trust you and the boy, but what about the sayian? Are you sure that's his motive?"

Needless to say, Vegeta got rather fired up by all this suspicion placed on him. He desperately wanted to go find the person who had said that and... But Gohan had seen the expression oh his face and sent him a look that said 'Don't blow it!'

Oboe was telling the elder as to why they needed the dragonballs. It was rather true to life, but in this variation, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and Piccolo were not at the scene of battle when it started. Everyone was hurt badly by the time Goku arrived. He tried to defend them while he waited for the others to come + help, but could not hold out long enough and was killed just as the three arrived. After a decently long battle, the enemy was finally killed. "But since it was our faults he was killed, we are the ones who have come to revive him."

The elder could just begin to sense something strange about this warrior speaking to him. So strange he could not ignore it. {{I must speak to the elders about this. To much is at stake to put into one person's hands.}} he thought to himself as he told the three travelers they would have to await a decision. The three went back to the far side of the field.