___Chapter 23___

As Oboe was pacing, she thought about what was going on. She had been found out, and had so endangered their chances. Coming along in the first place was bad enough, but now... the whole thing was blown out of the water.

{{I gave my word. Nothing can make me back down on it now.}} the voice in the back of her head whispered. "I know, I know." she mumbled aloud in namekian, sighing loudly as she cursed in her native tongue.

Vegeta's eyes opened. It had been one hour since he had considered stealing the dragonball. And he intended to keep to what he had said. Vegeta pushed off the wall, and was just about to slam a ki blast into the door when it opened.

"This is convenient...." Vegeta smirked, and he was about to walk through the door when he saw Muuri standing there. With the dragonball.

"I have decided that you may have this. I am sorry to have kept you so long." he said as he handed the seven-star to a stunned Vegeta. Oboe stopped in her tracks, and smiled gently. Gohan grinned so feverishly it appeared as if his face would disappear behind his teeth. They were finally on their way.

The three were about to leave when Muuri asked them to stop.

"WHAT? What do you mean, stop?" growled Vegeta, suddenly suspicious.

"I wish to ask you one more thing. Of Oboe."

She turned around, confused.

"Do you remember when you were young?" he said, quietly.

"Yes.... why?"

"Do not feel obligated to tell me, but... what happened to you? The last anyone ever saw of you was when Sanchiro decided to send Damaiou off to earth. There was never another trace of you. He thought that you had surely been killed like the rest of his children when the weather went bad. But now you're alive. And on earth."

Oboe looked at him, not saying a word, sapphire eyes quietly sullen. Her one hand went to the back of her neck as her eyes half-closed "I do owe you an answer, don't I. And you," she said, looking at Gohan and Vegeta, "would probably like to hear about where I came from."

Speaking to Muuri, she said "I've only ever told this to two people, Yen and Piccolo. But I believe that I can tell it again." Oboe sat down, and asked "But first, can someone get my son? He should hear this. And I want my ring. I feel strange without it. *rubs her right arm* "

Gohan volunteered, and flew off to the ship.

---

Lute stretched slightly, and yawned as he woke up. He sat up a few seconds later, a silly smile on his young face as he laughed out "Now that's good stuff. A real bed again.... *grumbles* better that that box I've had as a pillow for the last week."

He laughed aloud, somersaulted off the bed, and did fifty pushups before he realized what he was doing. His father had basically drilled him into a training routine, and the pushups once he woke up were part of it. Lute slapped himself in the head and said "Damnit dad, you've got me training subconsciously now." The little namek boy grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, and sat on the ledge beside the main port window as he watched the sunshine filter through the leaves of the little tree.

"Wonder what Shina and Chan are doing?" he said to himself, "And Goten and Dendea and Trunks?"

Then he smiled. The first of his questions was answered, as the two namekian boys landed in front of the ship. They saw him, and waved from outside the glass. Lute did the same, and ran to the door to let his friends in.

"Hey! Hi Lute!" Chan said happily, a smile on his face.

The three talked for a while, and were sitting under the tree, laughing at something Lute had said. And Lute (naturally) had no clue what was so funny. Gohan floated about a quarter mile above the three.

The sayian boy smiled as he watched them. He hated to separate them, but remembered what Oboe had asked him, and sighed "Ah, hell." as he dropped to the ground.

Lute's ears perked up as someone touched down about 20 feet away. Upon recognizing the person, he stood up and called out "Hey!! Gohan!!! What are you doing here? Did you get the dragonballs ALLREADY?"

Shina and Chan looked up, confused. "Long story." Lute said quietly.

"But what do you need the dragonballs for?" Shina spoke up.

Lute closed his eyes, and looked away. "My dad." came the whisper as he walked over to Gohan. Gohan explained the situation.

"Ok, I'll be coming in a second!" Lute said as he ran back to his friends.

Chan and Shina were quiet. "How come you didn't tell us about... you know.."

Lute said it straight out. "I don't really like to talk about it."

They understood. Lute then said "I've gotta go. You two should probably go back home."

"Why?"

Lute smiled as he walked next to Gohan, and said "My mom wants me."

The two could only look over in utter confusion. Lute laughed, and shouted "I'll explain when I see you tomorrow!" as he and Gohan leapt off into the sky, and disappeared over the horizon in a flurry of ki.

---

Oboe opened her eyes when Gohan and Lute entered. It was time. And she hoped she could do this.

"Mom? Why aren't you transformed anymore?" Lute said, his little voice echoing through the silent chamber.

"Long story, little one." she whispered as she picked up Lute, "And I have a longer one to tell you." Oboe glanced at the others, and added "You do understand this is going to take awhile, right?"

"Of course!!" Vegeta barked out roughly, "But is this really my business? Why should Gohan and I be here?"

Oboe put Lute down, slipped her ring on her right arm, and answered "You were his closest friends, right? By understanding me, you may come to understand him better, for our pasts are intertwined. Piccolo would want it that way. I guess I'll go up to where Yen and I first saw you guys. I might as well start now..."