Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Errant Exile ❯ Party Favors ( Chapter 13 )

AN: This chapter is huge; in fact, its probably the biggest one I've ever written. I thought about splitting it but there wasn't a natural pause where I could do it and not lose the rhythm. At least I finished it in time for the weekend!

I really hope this chapter makes sense, especially the dialogue. It was written through a bad head cold!

Errant Exile

Chapter 12: "Party Favors"

The main complex of the famous - and sometimes infamous, according to neighbors -- Capsule Corporation served three important functions for its hosting city. It acted as the major employer for those who lived nearby, was a huge source of tax revenue, and was the city's number one direction-finder. Khri found out about the last part when she'd stopped for a small dinner and a stretch at a café just outside the city limits. "Look for the big white dome," the young waitress had told her when she asked for directions. "You can't miss it. If you do, just follow any strange noises you might hear. There's always something weird happening around that place."

The city streets had begun to fall into shadow by the time Khri reached her hotel. She'd specifically reserved a room with a balcony on the highest floor, knowing Piccolo would take advantage of the open invitation if he wanted to. He had brought her as far as the distant outskirts of the city before setting her down in a well-lit alley. Her first impulse had been to be polite, but the look on his face had discouraged her from inviting him to the hotel. I really don't want a repeat of the elevator situation either, she conceded as she watched him disappear into the sky. He'd also gotten a little too familiar in the handful of days since her arrival on Earth and she thought it best to have a bit of distance between them, at least until the party.

Khri spent the next morning and most of the afternoon exploring the city. As much as she hated shopping on Earth just as much as any other world, she wanted to replace her abused sweater. 'The party is casual, so wear what is comfortable,' Bulma had said. 'Comfortable' for Khri was hard to find by looking in store windows, but she did find a kindly manager who took pity on her. A handful of hours and several hundred zeni later she was in the possession of an outfit suitable for the party, as well as a new sweater and jacket. After she showered she re-taped the burn on her arm, noting with satisfaction it was healing nicely and probably wouldn't add to her collection of scars. Shrugging on the jacket she left the hotel, unencapsulated the motorcycle and made her way to Capsule Corporation.

The main dome was hard to miss. It towered over smaller buildings that had cropped up as the company had thrived and expanded. The security guard at the gate accepted her identification, grinned in approval of the Highlander and opened the gates for her. "Ms. Briefs is expecting you. Turn right when the road forks and follow it back. You can't miss the balloons."

The road to the main complex was quiet and Khri passed no other vehicles. It must be nice to have designated days off, she thought as she passed a huge clump of multicolored balloons. They'd been tied to a large sign that read "This Way!" and pointed around the side of the dome. Khri pulled into a small lot where a handful of catering vans were unloading under the direction of a slender, blue-haired woman. Encapsulating the bike and stashing it in a pocket, she walked toward what looked like a major dressing-down already in progress.

"No, I distinctly ordered yellowfin and salmon, not just the yellowfin!" the blue-haired woman barked at an overstuffed man in a white uniform. "With all the business I send your way, I expect this order to be right the first time, not the second or the third!"

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Briefs!" the caterer gushed. "We'll have this fixed right away! Just let me make a quick call . . . " He frantically whipped out a phone and punched the keypad with his sausage-thick fingers, freeing Bulma to turn her wrath elsewhere. "Has the dessert caterer arrived yet?" she barked at a tall, balding man in a waiter's uniform.

"Yes, Ms. Briefs! They're getting ready to unload right now."

Bulma sighed and brushed an unseen speck of lint from her vivid red dress. "At least something is going right today." Her big, blue eyes brightened the moment she saw her visitor. "Ah! You must be Khri! I've been expecting you! I'm so happy you decided to come!"

Khri was surprised at Bulma's generous welcome and willing sincerity. Most parties she had been required to attend had been extremely formal political affairs, with the host more often than not expressing open hostility at her presence. "I'd like to thank you for the invitation, Ms. Briefs," she said formally.

Bulma winked at her. "Dear, only my staff and employees call me 'Ms. Briefs.' Please just call me Bulma. I'm afraid Vegeta refuses to tell me anything about you, so if I ask you a lot of questions, that's why." She glanced at her watch. "We've got just enough time for a quick tour of the facility! I think the caterers can handle the rest of this on their own, at least I hope so. I'll just call Trunks and let him know you're here."

One quick call and a few moments later Trunks arrived, whipping a large, hovering golf cart around the corner. He broke into a grin and waved as he pulled up. "Hi, Khri, its great to see you again! Looks like you've already met Mom."

"I have," Khri said, returning the smile. "And I can definitely see the family resemblance!"

Bulma gestured for her to climb into the padded back seat. "Beauty is more than skin deep in the Briefs family," she said, sliding into the seat next to Khri and tucking a strand of her soft, blue hair behind her ear. "Trunks is well on his way to being a fine scientist and has made more than his share of contributions to the company."

Trunks blushed, but he smiled with pride. "I've had a few successes."

"You'd have even more if your father would quit interfering!" Bulma snapped. "You'd think he was training to defend the Earth all over again. Not that it's a bad thing but he wants Trunks to train too, and that takes time away from his classes."

"Mom, I'm doing just fine. Besides, sparring with Dad is a great way to relieve stress." He grinned back at his passengers as he pulled out of the lot, leaving the catering chaos behind. "I just pretend he's my advanced quantum mechanics professor."

The tour of Capsule was more entertaining and informative than Khri had expected. Trunks and Bulma enthusiastically showed her the labs where their latest products were under development, the testing area and, to her delight, the studio where Trunks had first sketched the bike that came to be the Highlander. Their playful banter back and forth had Khri laughing softly herself as she felt more at ease. Before the end of the tour she cautiously inquired about a contract for capsule technology, but Bulma had shaken her head. "I'd like to keep all our discoveries and products for civilian use only," she said. "Its bad enough we've got all these super-powered fighters running around, bashing each other's brains out, without giving the military any ideas."

"I've been curious about that," Khri said, leaning forward in the seat as Trunks steered the cart back towards the main dome. "Earth hasn't had any significant trouble for several years now. I know for a fact that one of the hardest things for a seasoned warrior to deal with is peacetime. How are the fighters coping with all this boredom?"

Bulma smiled again, giving her earring a tug. "Well, you already know this, but Goku is busy training Uub and Vegeta pounds himself into pulp in the gravity room on a daily basis. Kuririn is more of a family man these days and has mostly retired from fighting. Now and then his wife, Eighteen, will enter a tournament for the prize money. Tien, Chaozu and Yamcha all still train but I don't hear from them too often. I'm glad to say most of the kids are pursuing successful careers. Gohan teaches at Satan University, where his younger brother Goten is a student."

"What about Piccolo?" Khri prodded as Trunks pulled into the parking lot and brought the cart to a stop.

"Oh, he still spars with the boys on occasion but he pretty much keeps to himself." Bulma finger-combed her hair and stepped out, holding the door for Khri. "ChiChi says he visits Gohan from time to time, but with Gohan's busy schedule it can't be that often."

Khri digested this bit of information as she followed the Briefs through a set of double doors into a small lobby. Nameks weren't known to be solitary; in fact they were quite the opposite. They had their squabbles on occasion, just as any other species did, but Nameks were some of the most socially well-adjusted creatures she'd ever met. An almost forgotten spike of guilt poked her. I guess Earth was a difficult place for a little Namek to grow up on his own, she thought sadly. Under the circumstances he's probably done very well. She decided not to pry any further but found herself wondering, if Piccolo is such a loner, watching out for me might be very inconvenient for him. Maybe I should forcibly cut him free...

"Hey, why the sad face?" Trunks had dropped back to walk beside her. Bulma had rushed back inside, no doubt to make sure the caterers were earning their pay. "Cheer up! Mom's parties are almost as popular as her scientific achievements! Come on," he said, offering her his arm. "I'll get you something to drink and make all the introductions." He led her through the double doors and smiled at her surprised gasp.

The dome didn't house offices, labs or even an auditorium. The entire structure enclosed a small park complete with trees, flowers, fountains and a thick lawn made of real grass. The inside surface of dome itself simulated the rich blue of the afternoon sky. Hidden fans stirred a faint breeze that carryied the delicious smells coming from a huge grill. An expansive patio tiled in white marble had been framed by unlit torches and lanterns. Tables had been lined up along one side and were in the process of being piled high with food. Smaller tables and padded chairs dotted both the patio and the lawn, where a few of the first arrivals had gathered.

A young man who was the spitting image of Goku waved. "Hey, Trunks! Is that your new friend? Bring her over here before you get her a drink!"

Khri didn't bother to hold back a smile as Trunks led her over to the little group. It had been a long time since she'd been to a party, and never to one where her reputation didn't arrive first. She felt totally out of place and it was wonderful. She wouldn't have to read the potential politics into every single phrase or compliment. It might be possible to actually enjoy herself for a change!

One by one she was introduced to unfamiliar faces with familiar names. First there was Goten who's awkward grin was infectious as he shook her hand. Khri had to fight not to blink in alarm when Trunks introduced her to a tall fighter named Tenshinhan. I remember that name! He was a contestant at the tournament where I met Junior! Could any of the fighters here have seen me there, and would they remember me after all this time? Tenshinan, or 'Tien' as he called himself, bowed slightly, took her hand and kissed the back of it. This time she fought against the urge to bristle at the physical contact and won.

The tiny man floating next to Tien was Chaozu. He greeted her warmly with a bow which Khri returned, Leonid style. "This is Yamcha and Puar," Trunks said, indicating another fighter who had just been ushered into the dome. His face was scarred and led Khri to believe the man had spent most of his life fighting on the streets rather than in an arena. Like Tien, he kissed the back of her hand while trying to hold her eyes. I hope they don't make a practice of this, she squirmed internally, hoping her smile didn't look too forced. The cat was content to simply say a friendly "hello" and grin as only felines can.

Khri was granted a reprieve from all the introductions thanks to Trunks. He led her to the large bar that had been set up across from the patio. "It looks like your mother is preparing for a large crowd," she said as the bartender filled her request for iced tea.

"Yep, and she couldn't be happier." Trunks waved another hello in the direction of the doors at the latest arrivals. "Thanks to you, everyone she contacted showed up."

She swallowed her mouthful of tea in a gulp. "Me?"

"ChiChi told Mom about the night you showed up on her doorstep, including what Goku told her about your...er...landing. She tried to prod Dad into filling in the details but he wouldn't budge. Mom then got on the phone to everyone she'd sent an invitation to and let them know you were going to be here. Oh, here's Gohan and Videl!"

Before Khri could decide whether or not she liked being used as bait, Trunks was leading her by the elbow over to a young couple that had just been ushered in by ChiChi. A little girl, no doubt their daughter, looked around distractedly as she held her father's hand. "Gohan and Videl, I'd like you to meet Khri."

Dark brown eyes sparkled as Gohan shook her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said warmly. "We've been told a little bit about you, and I hope you don't mind that we wanted to meet you in person."

"Of course I don't mind," she replied as graciously as she could. Time for some quick thinking. This is Piccolo's friend and knows our history, but how much of it did Gohan tell his wife? This party is turning out more political than I thought! "It's an honor to meet you," she said formally. "If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them as best I can."

Videl winked one blue eye at Khri. "Gohan, I'm going to see if Bulma and ChiChi need a second pair of hands in the kitchen. It was nice meeting you, Khri. I'm sure we'll talk later," she added, giving her arm a quick squeeze before she headed for the kitchens.

"I need to start circulating, and I especially need to keep an eye out for Master Roshi," Trunks said, sharing a meaningful glance at Gohan. "I'll catch up with you two later." He gave them a parting smile and headed back towards the doors.

Khri made a quick check to make sure the other guests were out of earshot, then turned and smiled at Gohan. "I'm glad we've got a moment to speak," she said softly, setting her glass down on a nearby table. "I want to thank you for prompting Piccolo to talk to me quickly after I arrived. He was acting so erratically when we met that I couldn't help but be suspicious. After that it was just a matter of time before I figured out who he was. I think your intervention saved us both from a lot of grief and embarrassment."

"I'm glad you were able to talk things over. I still can't believe you knew Piccolo when he was a child," Gohan said in undisguised awe, gesturing to a small path that led away from the patio. "He confessed he wasn't on his best behavior when you met and you were threatening to...ah..."

She looked at him in surprise. "He told you that?"

"Uh huh. He also told me he bit you and was proud of it at the time." Gohan smiled ruefully. "He feels pretty badly about it now."

Khri took a deep breath and let it out slowly as they walked. "Gohan, I never would have hit him. He was just a child! It's true, he was a rotten little nuisance, but I never wanted anything but the best for him. When I was ordered back to Earth, I planned on making it a priority to find out what happened to him. I...I couldn't let it go." Khri shook her head and wondered, how can I still feel so guilty about this?

Gohan shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. "Khri, I'll be honest with you. I don't know a lot about Piccolo's childhood because he won't discuss it, but he's dropped hints that it was rough. He and my father were the worst of enemies for years but that all changed when a Saiyan - my father's brother, Raditz - came to Earth. It was when Dad and Piccolo teamed up to defeat him that everything changed, especially Piccolo himself. You'll probably hear stories about some of the things he did before that time..."

"If you're trying to warn me that Piccolo wasn't the model of perfection you don't have to worry, Gohan." When he looked at her curiously she added, "I've done some pretty horrific things myself. The fact that I did them to end a war or save lives doesn't make them any less terrible or my reasons any more noble." She realized she'd clasped her hands behind her back out of habit, so she crossed her arms instead. "There are thousands of stories about noble people that fall to corruption. The fact that he was able to turn around gives me hope."

Khri walked silently beside Gohan as the path led past a small flowerbed. Platter-sized flowers in varying shades of blue fluttered in the gentle breeze, releasing a delicate perfume. "Has Piccolo told you how we became friends?" he asked.

"We never got that far in our conversations, but I'd like to know." She smiled wryly at the change in subject. "Since he's not exactly the outgoing type, the circumstances must have been extreme."

Gohan laughed. "That's an understatement! I was just four years old, not much younger than my daughter, Pan. I'd been knocked out by Raditz during the battle and Piccolo threw me in a lake to wake me up. When I stopped sputtering and saw what I thought to be a tall, green-skinned, fanged monster snarling down at me I totally panicked."

Khri had stopped walking and stared at the Gohan. There was no shadow of remembered fear on his face; in fact it was quite the opposite. "What happened then?"

"That's when my training began." He grinned. "Piccolo insisted I had power, but it wasn't until he threw me into the side of a mountain that I believed him. When I got mad and blew it up before I smashed into it, I was convinced."

She blinked a few times and shook her head. "Unorthodox training, to say the least. But it looks like you survived it."

"It came in handy many times over the years. I trained with both Dad and Piccolo until I finished college." He shrugged, and Khri could hear the regret in his voice. "Things are peaceful now and life is good, but there are times I miss the old days. I'll spar with Piccolo on occasion but its mostly for old times' sake. I haven't taken it seriously in a long time. I'm afraid its become little more than an excuse to see him and let him know he hasn't been forgotten."

The urge to ask more questions gnawed at Khri, making her feel torn between wanting to know more about Piccolo and respecting his privacy. She'd been the victim of prying herself once too often. Opinions were made prematurely because of it or, worse yet, it spawned dangerous rumors. There was, however, a bit of information she could share that would give Gohan another reason to respect his friend. "Piccolo has been acting as a silent bodyguard for me since our talk," she said, leaving out her suspicions of Sai's involvement. "There's been more than one instance in which he's been a big help. He's been as respectful as possible when it comes to my privacy but I worry that I'm taking up too much of his time. He had a life before I came to Earth and I certainly don't want to disrupt it."

Gohan arched one brow in surprise. "Are you kidding? Khri, Piccolo hasn't had much to do for several years other than meditate, train and perform an occasional act of heroism when its needed. Honestly, I think he's bored. There's nobody he can really spar with other than Dad, but he's gone most of the time and Piccolo and Vegeta hate each other. There's always the tournaments, but the ones with any real competition are few and far between. Playing bodyguard might just be giving him a purpose."

Khri stared at Gohan in confusion. His answer wasn't the one she had expected. She started to ask if he was absolutely certain, but if anyone had a chance of knowing Piccolo it had to be Gohan. If Sai persuaded Piccolo to watch out for me even though they can't stand each other, it might be a good idea to keep the Namek around. They're both in a position to hear and see things I can't. "Just don't ask me to act like a maiden in distress," she finally said as they headed back to the patio. "He's seen me fight already and I could never pull it off. I'm not the damsel type."

The half-Saiyan's eyes twinkled as he grinned back at her. "I don't think the 'damsel' part is what snagged his attention."

Puzzled, she was about to ask what he meant when Gohan suddenly waved. "Hey! Kuririn and Eighteen, over here!"

Khri found herself falling back on old political skills as she was introduced to the newest guests. Kuririn's smile was genuine when he shook her hand, and she met Eighteen's cool but polite greeting with locked eyes. She seems like an outsider who's managed to fit in. If I'm going to be on Earth for a while, she may be someone I should get to know better. Their daughter, Marron, gave her a quick hello before rushing off in search of friends. When Khri turned to greet the next arrival she had to lock a smile on her face. Earth is more...diverse...than I ever realized, she marveled, shaking the mittened hand of a big pink blob with a persistent smile. "Oooh, new pretty lady!" it cooed at her with the sing-song voice of a child.

An older man Gohan introduced as his father-in-law came to her rescue. "Buu really likes you!" Mr. Satan chuckled as he turned the creature in the direction of the food tables. "We'll have a good talk later, I promise! I've got some great stories I'm sure you'll want to hear!" he shouted, keeping a firm hold on Buu's elbow and nearly being dragged away in the process.

Gohan flashed her a sympathetic grin. "I have to warn you, don't get yourself trapped in a conversation with Videl's dad. Oh, he's safe enough and he means well, but the stories he tells have very little to do with reality."

"Thanks for the warning," she said. "I'm curious about Buu, though. I'm fairly well traveled, Gohan, but I've never seen anything like him!"

Gohan laughed, but Khri could hear a subtle undertone of faded bitterness. "Let's just say he's not from Earth, either. Everyone here knows the whole story but a lot of them don't like to talk about it. Piccolo would be a good one to ask about it when you've got a lot of time to kill. Ah, here's Piccolo and Dende now!"

Dende's smile was broad as Trunks happily greeted him at the doors. Piccolo's was polite but restrained. He looked around warily until he caught sight of Gohan and Khri standing together and visibly relaxed. He nudged Dende to get his attention. The younger Namek's smile grew even wider as he waved. Khri's own expression brightened as she waited for them to walk the short distance down the little path.

Both Nameks came to an abrupt stop, their expressions of welcome recognition melting into sheer mortification. Dende's eyes rounded and Piccolo suddenly clenched his fists. "Khri, look behind you...!"

"Roshi, stop!" several voices shouted at once.

The feeling of two hands gripping her backside threw Khri's brain into a state of shock, but not her reflexes. "Who dares...?" she hissed as she snapped around. Her fist buried itself the brightly-colored shirt of the short, old man behind her and effortlessly jerked him into the air. She got a brief glimpse of his shocked expression before her kick slammed into his chest and rocketed him backward. He hit the wall between the dome and the kitchen, went completely through it and disappeared in a cloud of broken plaster and dust.

Gohan, Kuririn, Eighteen and several other party guests hurried over to look through the hole as Khri lowered her fists and backed away. Her rage evaporated as she realized the man was not only small, but he bore all the signs of great physical age. "I...I just attacked an Elder!" she gasped. "I'm sorry! I didn't realize...!"

Bits and pieces of the wall clattered on the patio tile as Eighteen straightened and looked at Khri. "You got him through two walls," she said, honest respect in her cool eyes. "I'm impressed!"

"I told him to behave himself before we got here," Kuririn said irritably. "I guess I should have kept a better eye on him. Let me through," he sighed as he climbed through the hole. "I'll check on him..."

"I am so sorry," Khri whispered to nobody in particular, horrified at what she'd done. "I can't believe I just assaulted an Elder! I'll...I'll go see if he's all right..." She turned and was headed for the kitchen when Bulma suddenly appeared and stopped her.

"Don't you dare apologize to that old pervert!" she said sharply, hands on her hips. A small army of women flanked her on either side. ChiChi clutched a long metal spoon in one hand, holding it like a sword. Videl and Eighteen had taken up positions on either side of Bulma, and all the women wore identical expressions of anger and disgust. "Master Roshi may be a brilliant martial arts teacher, but he's also a dirty-minded old man who can't keep his hands to himself!"

Confused, Khri looked at each woman in turn. "Are you telling me he's...touched...all of you?"

"On a regular basis." ChiChi's grip on the spoon tightened.

"And you let this continue?"

"Certainly not!" Videl exclaimed. "Over the years its almost become a game. Roshi tries to cop a feel, we flatten him and wait for it to happen again. Sometimes it takes a while but he always comes back for more." She looked at Eighteen. "I remember Bulma telling me you once almost threw him out the side of her airship. He left you alone for nearly a year after that, right?"

"Right." Eighteen's smile was sly. "I thought leaving a Roshi-shaped pocket in the sheet metal would have knocked some sense into the old man, but it was short lived."

Bulma shook her finger at Khri. "See? If you go and apologize you'll give the old lecher the delusion that we all should apologize when we whack him!"

Khri couldn't keep her eyes from widening. "And your husbands don't object?"

"To us beating Roshi?" ChiChi laughed. "They think its funny and know we can take care of ourselves. It's a game to them, too."

More shards of the shattered wall fell on the patio as Kuririn hauled their aged instructor back out the hole. Roshi's sunglasses dangled from one ear, both sleeves were ripped and a large lump was forming on the back of his head. "I guess Bulma...and the rest of you girls...got to her already!" he wheezed, huffing dust out of his thick moustache.

What kind of crazy planet is this, where Elders act like adolescent boys? Khri pulled the shreds of her dignity together, ignored the blood running to her face, clenched her fists and glared down at the little man. He straightened his sunglasses and grinned up at her. Well, I can't kill him, and the horny little bastard obviously isn't intimidated by women...I seem to be low on choices!

Putting on her most frosty smile, Khri leaned over to stand nose-to-nose with Roshi. Her left hand reached inside her jacket. Behind his scuffed glasses she could see his eyes dropping to her chest which, thankfully, was well protected by her sweater. "I'd like to show you something, little master," she said softly. Ignoring the chorus of gasps around her she powered up her diacha right under his nose, shaping the blade into a long, straight dagger. Roshi squeaked but didn't step back. "If you'd like to keep your head, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself." She quenched the blade, returned her diacha to the inside of her jacket and calmly walked away. I can't believe I just threatened an Elder for the second time in a day...I hope Eldest never hears about this or he'll...

"Khri, wait up."

Eighteen ran the few steps that separated them. "I just wanted to say congratulations on surviving Roshi's grope. You're one of us now." She gestured to the old man who was now surrounded by three very angry wives. His ears were turning red and the handle of ChiChi's spoon was bent.

"How long do you think it will be?" Khri asked the shorter blonde.

"Hmmm...I'd say you just bought yourself six months."

"That's all?"

"I'm afraid so. He's persistent." Eighteen looked up and smiled softly. "I'll see you later. Right now there's somebody waiting to talk to you."

Khri watched the small blonde walk away, then turned to greet Piccolo and Dende. "Thanks for trying to warn me about Roshi," she said, feeling the blood burn in her cheeks.

"I'm just sorry we were too late. It looks like you handled him well, though." Dende's eyes widened a bit and his face grew serious. "Khri, Piccolo was telling me about what happened on your way here. Are you sure it's a good idea to be traveling alone?"

"I wasn't alone, Dende." I'm going to have to word this carefully. I don't want to give Piccolo the impression I'm resentful of him. "It seems I have a guardian who's confident enough in my skills that he's willing to let situations get a little hot before getting involved." She glanced up at Piccolo out of the corner of her eye and was gratified to see his mouth curl in a small smile. "Please don't worry about it, Dende. I'm not dismissing the threat, but they're being damned sloppy and aren't taking me seriously." Her jaw tightened. There was another possibility, but it wasn't one she was going to give voice to just yet. If the Tigradi are spread thin because they're shuffling troops and resources, they might not have the fighters on hand to really deal with me...

"Khri?"

"It's all right, Piccolo. Just...thinking." She noticed her answer didn't ease his concerned scowl.

"I never thought I'd say this about a female," Piccolo growled, "but you think too much and don't talk enough."

Khri couldn't help but smile at him. "I'll take that as a compliment." Her grin faded as she remembered her last conversation with Earth's guardian. "Dende, did you get a chance to talk to Muri about Eudori?"

"I did, right after you left. Its not much, but Muri did remember Guru mentioning it once." Dende's antennae wilted in sadness. "It was many years ago during a particularly dry season. The young plants were dying from drought in spite of every effort to keep them alive. One day three of my older brothers were out looking for seedlings that might have survived and were caught in a rockslide. After their burial Guru was very depressed. Muri remembers him saying, 'of all my regrets, I wish we'd never alienated the Eudori. We could use the help now'."

Khri gasped. "Dende, are you absolutely certain that's what Guru said?"

"I'm positive. Muri remembered it because he wanted to ask what Guru meant. He waited because he didn't want to upset Guru even more. Eventually he forgot about it and once Guru died, he lost the opportunity."

Khri fought the urge to give the young Namek a hug. "Dende, I've never heard the term used that way before. If Guru's statement is exactly how Muri remembers it to be, then it sounds like he's referring to a people. This is the first new lead I've had in years! Thank you, Dende, and be sure to thank Muri for me!"

"Hey, Dende!" Gohan was waving from a grassy spot where Kuririn and a battered Roshi were setting up a card table. "We need another hand for poker. Do you want to play?"

"Sure, Gohan, I'll be right there!" Dende called back. "Khri and Piccolo, do you mind if we talk later? I don't get to play that often anymore, and..."

"Go!" Piccolo waved him off. "Win back that senzu from Roshi while you're at it. The next batch won't be ready for at least two weeks."

As Dende headed towards the card table, Khri could almost feel Piccolo's tension. "I...see you talked with Gohan," he said quietly.

"I did, and you can relax. We didn't discuss anything you hadn't already told him." Khri watched his face carefully and decided to be generous. "He's very fond of you, you know."

The hint of a blush crossed Piccolo's cheeks, but there was also a hint of pride. "He was a good kid. He might be an adult now and I'm glad to have him as a friend, but its hard not to look at him sometimes and remember a whiny, snot-nosed little brat who would rather stick his nose in a book than develop his real talent."

"I can understand that." Khri watched as Gohan took a seat opposite of Dende, leaving Kuririn to deal with Roshi. "When the memory of a certain child burns itself into your mind and heart, its hard to see the adult they've become and not remember the child." Khri looked up into his hardened features and let the fondness of her own memory leak into her smile. "And be proud," she added.

Piccolo's face was impassive but his eyes were focused on hers. Uh oh, I may have pushed that too far, Khri thought. She began to scramble for words, any words, that would reassure him she didn't think of him as a child when a warning itch flared on the back of her neck. She focused on the far side of the patio where a lone figure was leaning against the wall, strangulating the neck of a beer bottle as he glared at her. "If you want everyone but Gohan to think we don't know each other, I should step away," she said softly, noticing that Piccolo's dark eyes had also spotted the problem. "You know where to find me if you want to talk later." Khri turned away.

"On the open road, putting innocents in harm's way because you're too damn proud to accept help?" he growled.

Khri's eyes narrowed as she glared back at him over her shoulder. "I may have deserved that," she said calmly, "but we'll have to discuss it later, if you wish. Right now I need to give Vegeta an opportunity to yell at me before he blows up."

Letting herself slip back into her Battle Commander personae, Khri expected Piccolo to grab her arm or try and stop her but it didn't happen. Maybe I shocked him, she thought. It's not every day a person willingly puts themselves in the sights of an angry Saiyan. Shoulders squared, she walked over to the wall and casually leaned against it, making sure to leave several feet between herself and the fuming warrior.

Bottle in one hand and the other knotted into a fist at his side, Vegeta didn't move or even look at Khri as she folded her arms and crossed one ankle over the other. It was hard to keep her nose from twitching at the scent of burned sugar. "Leonid," he sneered in greeting, raising the bottle to his lips.

She nodded respectfully, sparing a glance at the shouting match that had erupted between Roshi and Kuririn. They'd overturned the table, sending cards flying everywhere, and Roshi was about to end up with another lump on his head. "Your Highness."

Vegeta nearly choked on the mouthful of lager. He recovered quickly and glowered up at her. "So. You figured it out. I was wondering if you had the brains to do it."

"It wasn't difficult," she answered quietly. "You are the mirror image of your father, with or without the beard. Even if I hadn't known your name it wouldn't have me taken long to think it through." Her voice hardened and she stared down at him. "You'll have to forgive me if I'm not sympathetic for the loss of Planet Vegeta. I witnessed the damage your Oozaru forms inflicted on countless planets."

"Feh. It was their own fault." He took another drink. "If they hadn't resisted they wouldn't have suffered. It was that simple."

Khri wondered just how far she could push him. He oozed raw power and she didn't have to be a chi user to feel it. Its probably what keeps his hair standing on end. "Now that Freeza and his father are gone, some of those worlds are starting to recover. I only hope they get the chance to do so before another tyrant comes along." She cocked her head slightly. "I will admit that finding you here surprised me. I never would have believed a Saiyan prince could settle into domestic life on a world like Earth willingly."

"What makes you think I've settled into anything, Leonid?" he snapped back. "I'm here because its convenient at this moment, nothing more."

"I stand corrected." Khri gave him another respectful nod. "Your mate, Bulma, told me that you train in a heavy gravity chamber almost nonstop. I seem to remember hearing that Saiyans like to be prepared for battle at all times."

"Unlike other species in the galaxy." Vegeta bolted down the rest of the beer. "Oh, don't worry, Leonid. I don't have any plans on resurrecting the Empire anytime soon." He snorted. "Not that I could, with the likes of that peace-loving Kakarrot and his two brats being the only other Saiyans around."

"A fact for which the galaxy is extremely grateful."

Vegeta jumped to his feet, the bottle in his fist finally succumbing to his anger. He ignored the blood trickling through his fingers as he took the few steps separating them. Khri refused to flinch, using the long ago memories of devastated cities, continents and whole worlds to buoy her determination. Chi blindness didn't prevent her from feeling the static charge of Vegeta's flaring temper. "Who the hell do you think you are to insult me?" he seethed.

"I told you who I am. Whether or not you believe me is your problem." She raised one eyebrow. "Would it surprise you to know I was at your father's coronation?"

"What?" Vegeta took a half step backward in surprise. "Is this another lie?"

Caught you off guard, didn't I, little prince? "I don't lie. Yes, I was at your father's ascension ceremony on your home world. I was one of those faceless political attendees loitering in the back of the hall, forced to attend because no one else wanted the job. Your father was just a boy at the time, but he carried himself with true Saiyan pride."

That day had been one Khri had met with reluctance and a rare case of nervousness. Leonids and Saiyans had been aware of each other for years but this was the first political invitation either side had extended. Her Clan was aware of the savagery of the Saiyan Empire and the risks of drawing their attention, either negative or positive. One after the other her Elders had declined the assignment until she, as perpetual Youngest, got stuck with it. She was waiting for her promotion to Battle Commander to be finalized, so this was a prime opportunity for her to really screw things up and have her commission go down in flames. Sai had gone with her and between the two of them they'd turned the trip into a reconnaissance mission. They had been able to bring home a lot of useful information, such as making sure any future colony worlds never had a moon. Her promotion had come through the following week.

Khri was close enough she could physically feel Vegeta's chi fade as curiosity took the place of his anger. His face was still locked in a frown but uncertainty flickered in his eyes. She used the moment to stand up and unfold her arms, having proven the point she didn't intimidate easily. "I don't know if any recordings of the ceremony survived Freeza's wrath. Perhaps you saw them at a later date before your home world was destroyed. I thought you would like to know at least one witness to the event was still alive."

Vegeta finally looked away and grunted. "It doesn't matter. I was raised to be a prince and someday a king, not an outcast on this weakling world."

"Weakling? Are you so sure of that, Highness?" She looked over at the patio, where most of the other guests were eating. The translucent dome had darkened as the afternoon faded to evening, and a clever lighting system bathed the ceiling with a convincing projection of stars and a thin crescent moon. Tiny lights twinkled in the trees and Bulma was happily lighting the torches around the patio. "If all the reports I've read are correct, this world has experienced more than its share of devastation at the hands of others. Over and over they manage to survive and go on." She watched as Trunks and Goten playfully sparred on the lawn, only to get yelled at by ChiChi for knocking over the furniture. "In spite of all that destruction, life can and does continue." A sudden chill ran down her spine. Why do I feel what I've said is going to come back and haunt me?

Vegeta calmly wiped his bloody hand on his shirt, the red splotches blending with the tropical print. "It looks as if the Namek isn't concerned about you anymore," he said, gesturing with his thumb.

Piccolo and Gohan were engaged in a conversation with Tien and Yamcha. If they'd felt Vegeta's chi surge and then dissipate there was no sign, at least until Gohan glanced in their direction. She nodded at his concerned look. He grinned back and resumed his discussion. "Piccolo thought he recognized me from someplace," Khri said truthfully. "We simply talked about it and cleared up the misunderstanding."

"You might want to watch out for him, Leonid." Vegeta's voice was laced with malice. "He used to be the Demon King. He wanted to rule the Earth and turn it into an extension of Hell. Did he tell you that?"

Khri watched Vegeta's smirk for several moments. He'd been unable to provoke the reaction he'd been hoping for from her and was playing one of his last cards. She almost chuckled. So, 'Junior' had been honest all those years ago when he'd insisted he would be the Demon King one day. "By your description, Your Highness, he 'used to be.' It seems both Saiyan princes and Namekian demon kings can have a change of heart." She turned to leave when Vegeta stopped her.

"One last question. My father's coronation was almost a century ago. Is it true what they say about Leonid life spans?"

She was mildly surprised; this was the first time anyone on Earth had asked about her age, even in an indirect manner. She'd been expecting it sooner. "I guess that would depend on what 'they' say, Your Highness. We're definitely not immortal." She bowed deeply and walked away.

Suddenly feeling very thirsty and emotionally drained, Khri was headed for the bar when Trunks caught up with her. "I saw you talking with Dad," he said. His fair skin was paler than usual in the evening light. "He powered up like he was about to go Super Saiyan! We know you two got off to a rocky start but I never thought he'd go on the offensive. Are you all right? You had us all scared!"

Super Saiyan? What the hell is a Super Saiyan? "I'm fine, Trunks. We traded a few insults, but most of it was nothing more than rehashing old history. I think we reached an unspoken truce, at least for the moment."

Trunks sagged in relief. "Phew. Before everyone gangs up on you, I'll let Gohan and Kuririn know and they'll spread the word." He looked up at the approaching figure and cringed. "Uh oh...here comes Piccolo and he's not happy. Hope you don't mind, but I think you should be the one to talk to him!"

Khri watched in confusion as Trunks raced off. "All I did was talk to Vegeta..."

"Which could have been a big mistake."

Piccolo was scowling down at her in genuine anger. "What were you thinking? Vegeta might not have a tail, but the way his chi was powering up it felt as if you were pulling it all the same!"

"Since when am I responsible for what that Saiyan feels?" Khri asked, keeping her voice low in spite of her growing irritation. "If Vegeta didn't have a leash on his temper this planet would have been orbiting the sun in big chunks long ago. If he can't handle a conversation then maybe he should..."

"Maybe you should learn a few things before you start poking your nose where it doesn't belong!" Piccolo snapped. "Listen, kid, if you..."

Khri gasped and took an involuntary step back. She felt as if she'd been slapped; her ears and head started ringing as the Leonid version of adrenaline dumped into her bloodstream. She was dimly aware of Piccolo's face moving from anger to confusion to surprise.

It had been such a long time since Khri had been so deeply insulted and offended she found she had forgotten how to deal with it. She knew she'd lost control to the point of showing fang, and the shame of that lapse only added to her fury. As a last resort she bit down on her tongue and tasted blood. Lips pursed and barely able to hold her angry response back, Khri turned around so fast her braid whacked Piccolo's chest.

"Khri, wait, why are you..."

Ignoring him, Khri walked slowly away. She had never been the type to stomp her feet or march without a command but it took all her self control to keep her stride slow and determined. She took a small path that led towards a large, elaborate fountain she'd seen while talking with Gohan.

Crafted from white marble and decorated with urns of fresh flowers, Khri watched the water in the fountain's azure tiled pool ripple as falling water pattered the surface. A fine mist cooled the air but not enough to make her feel uncomfortable. The edge of the fountain had been sculpted into a wide seat and supplied with waterproof cushions. She listened to the water for a minute and let the soothing noise bring her temper down from a full boil to a simmer. There was no one else nearby and Piccolo thankfully hadn't followed her. At the thought of his name she felt her anger snap again. She sat down on the side of the fountain in disgust, crossing her legs and folding her arms. How dare he call me such a thing! If I hadn't made a promise I'd give Junior such a dressing-down his ears would burn off his thick skull! If he thinks he's going to get away with such an insult, he's...

Khri's internal rant stopped when she heard the soft shuffle of footsteps in the grass. She looked up to see a young girl storm around the fountain, glance angrily at her, then sit down on the fountain's edge a few feet away. Like Khri, she sat cross-legged and folded her arms in an angry huff, her dark eyes throwing sparks.

The little girl was the same child who had arrived with Gohan and Videl, no doubt their daughter. Her thick, black hair had the tendency to stand up the same way her grandfather Goku's did. Khri watched her for a few moments, feeling her anger ebb and her curiosity grow. "Why are you mad?" she finally asked the girl.

"All Bra wants to do is play with dolls and Marron won't even talk to me because she's too busy making goo-goo eyes at Uncle Goten!" She scowled even deeper, but Khri could see tears sparkling in her eyes. "Grandma keeps lecturing me on how I should study and not spar with Daddy, and there's nobody here to talk to, and I'm so bored!" Her small fist came up and wiped at the tears. "I hate being little! Bra's younger than I am but because she's taller everybody treats me like I'm the youngest, especially Uncle Goten and Trunks!"

"And they never really listen to you," Khri replied, trying to burn a hole in the grass with her glare.

"Yeah! And they're always telling you to run off and play because you're bothering them!"

"And they always give you the jobs they don't want."

"Yeah! Uncle Goten makes me take out the trash when I'm at Grandma's house, and sometimes I have to wash all the dishes and clear the table when he's supposed to!" The little girl sniffled, then slowly looked up at Khri. "Who are you? I saw you talking to my daddy earlier but I've never seen you before. I'm Pan."

"I'm Khri." She inclined her head politely. "It sounds like you and I have something in common."

Pan edged closer on the seat. "You're the youngest one in your family, aren't you?"

"Yes, Pan." Khri couldn't hold back a bitter smile. "I am Youngest."

"Do you have older brothers and sisters? I don't."

Khri thought about this a long time. The question wasn't easy to answer in a way she thought Pan would understand. "I've got lots of older brothers and sisters, but many of them have died. A lot of them died before I was born."

The distance between them shrank a couple more inches. "That's awful. I'm sorry." Pan relaxed and uncrossed her legs, letting them dangle over the edge of the seat. "How many do you have left?"

Khri watched the little girl's face. "Sixteen have died, so I have thirty-seven left. I have twenty-two brothers and fifteen sisters."

Pan's jaw dropped. "And they're all older than you?"

"All but one." A shard of pain, dulled by time but still holding an edge, poked at Khri's heart. "I had a twin brother who was born after me, but he died a few weeks later. Had he lived, he would have been Youngest. My parents tried to have more children for years but then my mother died. So I'm still Youngest."

Pan's eyes widened in sympathy. "I don't know if I'll have any brothers and sisters, but I'm going to try to be nice to them. I won't be mean because I hate being treated like a baby."

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Pan. Do you think you could do something for me?"

"What?"

Khri sighed. "If you do have younger brothers and sisters and they get important jobs or become famous, will you try not to resent them too much? They are, after all, just doing their jobs."

"I'll try," Pan said sincerely. "How long have you been the youngest in your family?"

Keeping her face from appearing too grim wasn't easy. Pan was actually asking her age and that wasn't something she was comfortable discussing with anyone. "Longer than your Grandpa Goku has been alive."

"Wow!" Pan shook her head. "That's an awfully long time to have to sit at the kid's table at family dinners."

Khri couldn't hold back a laugh. "It's not quite that bad, Pan. But I do never seem to get my choice of dessert." Unless somebody wants a promotion...

Pan wriggled over until her knee was touching Khri's leg. "You looked awfully mad, too. I saw you talking to Mr. Piccolo. Did he make you mad?"

The idea seemed to upset Pan. Khri guessed it had to be because Piccolo was Gohan's friend and a friend of the family. If Pan had grown up with a tall, green-skinned Namek as part of her life and she admired him, her upset was understandable. "He...called me something that upset me, Pan. Now that I think about it I realize I overreacted and I should apologize. He probably thought I was going to rip his ears off." She chuckled. "I thought about it, too."

"I know Mr. Piccolo says naughty words when he's mad and Grandma yells at him if I'm around, but I've never heard him call anybody a name!"

Khri felt her cheeks warm with embarrassment. "He called me 'kid.' My siblings use it...differently...than I'm sure Mr. Piccolo meant it."

Pan looked up at her in disbelief. "Is that all? He calls me 'kid' all the time. Trunks and Uncle Goten, too. He's even called Daddy a kid, but that was when they were sparring. He only calls you that if he likes you."

"Really?"

"Really! He's standing right over there, so why don't you go say you're sorry and then come get some dessert?" Pan jumped off the seat. "I'd better go get some chocolate cake before Goten and Trunks eat it all. Bye, Khri! Bye, Mr. Piccolo!"

Khri watched as Pan ran off in the direction of the patio. The dome had darkened to the point where more automated lights were switching on, including ones in the fountain. She turned sideways, letting her fingers trail in the sparkling blue water as a shadow eclipsed the projection of the moon. "How long were you eavesdropping?" Khri asked, flicking drops back into the fountain.

"Long enough to know not to call you 'kid' again." Piccolo sat down beside her at a comfortable distance. His nose wrinkled as the mist wafted across his face.

"It's been a long time since I'd heard that word applied to me," she said. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. I guess its ironic that it took a child to straighten me out."

"Pan has Goku's spirit. She's always cheerful, believes she can do anything, and has all the makings of an excellent fighter." Piccolo stared at the water a long moment before seeming to reach a decision. "I'll make you the same deal you made me. I promise not to call you...that name...again. Agreed"

Khri smiled. "Agreed." She was fighting the urge to scoop a handful of water and splash him just to see him jump when a loud, rhythmic pounding echoed through the dome. "What the hell is that?" she gasped, jumping to her feet.

Piccolo's mouth curled in a snarl. "Its Bulma's idea of music. She insists on ending the party with a dance. Don't be surprised if Trunks comes looking for you."

The noise was hurting Khri's ears; she could only imagine what it was doing to Piccolo's. "Don't tell me it stays this loud!"

The thudding faded, surged briefly and then quieted to a tolerable level. Piccolo sighed and shook his head. "It always starts out that loud, but she's finally figured out that Dende and I will leave immediately if she keeps it like that."

Khri was about to suggest they snag Dende and make a polite exit when the sound of running footfalls made her turn. Trunks and Goten raced down the path, playfully jostling each other, until they stopped at the fountain. "Come on, Khri! You have to dance with us!" Trunks gasped as he gave Goten a shove.

"I'm afraid I don't know any Earth steps," she said apprehensively. "I would just end up tripping you!"

"We'll teach you!" Goten nodded at Piccolo before grabbing Khri's wrist, either ignoring or unaware of her attempt to jerk it back. "Don't worry, we'll watch your back for you..."

"...In case Master Roshi decides to try anything," Trunks finished.

Khri looked back at Piccolo in desperation, but he simply gave her a 'see-I-told-you-so' smirk. Trapped, she let the two boys haul her off in the direction of the patio and the pounding music, leaving Piccolo alone to watch the fake moon creep across the artificial sky.

AN: Just a few final notes for my readers:

AceofAuthors: Glad you're continuing to enjoy it! Things are just getting wound up...

SexySayainSakura: Um, as to that "tension" thing? Patience! (:::whistling innocently:::)

Dreamwraith: You've hit the nail on the head and understand exactly what I'm trying to do with this story. My challenge is to respect and keep the characters IN character as much as possible, make the relationships work in a realistic manner, have an intelligent and sympathetic OC that fits well into the storyline, and give the reader a good payoff in the end. I think we share the same "rants" regarding Piccolo-based fictions, and I'm doing my best to avoid them! :-)

The next chapter is well underway and has a tentative title of "Bump in the Night." It takes a slightly different twist than...hey! Who put the (*@#&* citrus peel in my iced tea?