Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Errant Exile ❯ Tensions and Portents ( Chapter 15 )

Errant Exile

Chapter 14: "Tensions and Portents "

AN: Help Piccolo and Namek fans name the C2 community currently under development! Over the next few days those of us at namekseiDOTnet (just take the DOTout) will be taking suggestions for a title. We'd love some input - and please feel free to sign up while you're there!

"I think I'm afraid, but I think I'm too angry to think about it" - Khri

The morning of Sai's scheduled arrival dawned no differently than it did most other mornings in the tropics. The sun burst over the horizon in its normal fanfare of glory, setting the waves dancing with golden sparks and the lingering clouds on fire with pink and orange light. Seated comfortably on the slate tile roof, Piccolo focused on enjoying the fresh air rolling in from the ocean and tried to meditate. Today was going to be a trying day and he'd need all the calm he could muster.

He'd spent most of the previous night in the comfort of Khri's living room, electing not to go back outside when a second wave of thunderstorms rumbled up the coast. The light of the false dawn was shimmering through the eastern windows when Piccolo suddenly remembered that today was the day of Sai's return trip. He had slipped out the back door before the birds started to sing and took up a watchful post on the roof. His new post gave him a clear vantage point to watch the real sunrise. It also let him listen above the surf for the first sounds of an approaching spacecraft. The real reason he'd perched on the roof was one that made him shift uncomfortably if he thought about it too long.

Piccolo squeezed his eyes shut at the memory of Khri's innocent trip to the kitchen without her robe. Just when he'd convinced himself there was a perfectly logical reason seeing her so vulnerable made him uncomfortable he remembered why Khri's eyes glowed in the dark. There was a damned good chance she'd seen him hovering in her living room, pretending to be meditating. Her footsteps hadn't missed a beat when she walked back to her room but that didn't mean she hadn't spotted him. Either way he was determined to pretend the whole thing hadn't happened and wasn't above using Sai's arrival as an excuse to sneak out early.

Above the squawks of the seabirds fighting over breakfast Piccolo could make out a distant whine. It was quickly growing in both volume and pitch, grating on both his sensitive ears and his fraying nerves. The shuttle, identical to the one that had brought in the medical team, dropped from the clouds and headed towards the beach. The tortoise-marked ship whipped the surf as it glided over the waves, finally floating to the shore and coming to a rest on the sand. The glow of its engines cooled to a faint blue as tendrils of steam threaded into the air.

Piccolo heard the patio door swing open. Khri appeared from beneath the eaves, one hand shielding her eyes from the glaring sunlight as she watched the shuttle's ramp lower. The moment it hit the sand soldiers streamed out, flanking a group of what had to be technicians. All of them came to immediate attention when they saw her. He noticed she was back in her uniform - except for the cloak - and the spiky headset was stuck to her left ear. She didn't bother to look back at the roof before she began the short walk to the shuttle, acknowledging and dismissing the troops with a brief salute.

He scowled when he saw a familiar red-haired man walk down the ramp, two assistants in tow. Sai was talking to them in low, urgent tones as he scrawled on a slimpad similar to Khri's. After his assistants had hurried away, Sai slowly raised his head and stared straight at Piccolo. His face was pale and there were dark crescents shadowing his eyes. He didn't bother with a salute; he simply nodded. Piccolo returned it but added a baleful glare. You and I are going to have words later, he silently promised the man.

A good part of the strain left Sai's face when he greeted Khri with a salute, but not all. She waived him off and walked with him back towards the shuttle. "I'm glad you were able to keep the latest deadline, old friend." Her voice was soft but Piccolo's roost and the northerly breeze made it easy to hear. Both stood well away from the ramp where a parade of boxes and crates were being unloaded. "The reasons behind the schedule changes must have been good ones."

"Battle Commander, there is one in particular you must be made aware of..." Sai's voice trailed off and Khri visibly paled.

Sealed head to toe in glossy crimson armor, four identical figures marched in unison down the ramp, their heavy black cloaks waving in the breeze. Each manned a corner of the float pallet bearing a coffin-sized chest encased in what appeared to be the same plating. A metal band wrapped completely around the chest and had been secured on the lid by a thick gold seal. The honor guard came to a halt at the base of the ramp and all the nearby technicians and soldiers came to immediate attention. 

Piccolo watched, both curious and a little worried, as Khri stood before the faceless figures and bowed deeply. So these clowns aren't military...they're something even more important, he reasoned. There was a brief exchange between Khri and the guard stationed on the front right corner, which ended with Khri making another deep bow, turning and marching up the beach. The honor guard followed her, carefully guiding the float pallet and taking pains not to touch the lid. They disappeared around the side of the house in the direction of the garage.

Sai had remained behind on the beach. He looked shaken and a little fearful. He didn't bother to mask his feelings when Piccolo drifted down from the roof and met him half way to the house. "What was that all about?" he asked.

"Leonid House Guard," Sai replied soberly. "They answer only to Eldest himself. You can't order them around and anyone who impedes their mission intentionally faces summary execution."

Piccolo looked down at Khri's Second. The man hadn't been trying to intimidate him; in fact, Sai had the pale, tired appearance of someone who'd just spent long hours feeling scared to death. Judging by the circles under the Leonid's eyes, he was short on both sleep and patience. Piccolo remembered he had a long list of gripes he wanted to 'discuss' with Sai but suddenly they didn't seem very important. "Things are that bad?" Piccolo asked quietly.

"Worse than you know, Namek. The House Guards are just one reason why the modifications to the house were delayed." 

A series of floating pallets were being pushed down the ramp. Piccolo nodded in satisfaction to see they carried thick, clear panels that were the perfect size of Khri's windows. "Talk, Sai. What's going on?" 

Sai resumed the trek towards the house and Piccolo fell in beside him. "Namek, I'm going to be honest with you. I have a lot of reports that indicate things are going to go very wrong very soon, but no solid evidence."

"Like what?"

"Tigradi troop movements. Strange supply requests and off-schedule courier runs." He paused on the back patio to let a trio of technicians hauling a nest of cable to go in first. "I've got informants supplying me with clues on an hour-by-hour basis but I haven't been able to find a common connection to tie them all together."

The living room was swarming with activity. Care had been taken to protect the house; thick plastic sheeting had been draped over the furniture and a runner covered the wood floors and rugs. One group of techs were working to remove the temporary windows while another handful conspired in the far corner, debating the best place to drill a few small holes through the wall. Piccolo and Sai swept past all of them and retreated to the front of the house and the undisturbed formal dining room. Khri's slimpad and a half-full bottle of water sat on the large oak table, the only signs she'd co-opted the pleasant room for use as a temporary office. The windows were open and a gentle scented breeze rustled the wooden slats of the blinds. One of Khri's recent purchases had been the heavy oak table and four matching chairs that dominated the otherwise empty room.

Enough with the guessing games. Piccolo folded his arms and stared down at the slightly shorter man. "There's something you want to tell me but don't want Khri to know."

Sai snorted, running his fingers through his hair, making it stand on end. "Namek, as much as I hate to admit it, you were right. Khri is safer here on Earth than on the Aughenai."

Piccolo stared at Sai in shock and let his arms fall to his side. Such an admission, especially made to a rival, meant that things had to be very bad indeed. "Why? What's going on?"

"I can't prove anything, of course, but I suspect there's about to be an all-out war between our House and the Tigradi." Sai sat tiredly on the edge of the table. "The Telkarri are all but contained, but Tigradi communications activity is at an all time high. More importantly, there have been direct assassination attempts on the Fleet Commander and Battle Commander Ahtai."

"On board your ship? Damn..."

"Damn is right." Sai glanced out the arched doorway as a team hurried past with another run of cable. "Ahtai was injured but didn't miss an hour of duty. Eldest knows there's trouble ahead and I think that's why he ordered Khri to come here. I think he wants her out of harm's way."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "You said yourself she's needed on your ship because of her abilities and experience. Why would your 'Eldest' set her aside if her skills could make a difference in..."

"Piccolo? Sai?"

He stopped short at the sound of Khri's approaching voice. "Don't tell her about this little talk, Namek, not yet!" Sai growled the instant before his superior officer appeared in the doorway.

Khri's smile never reached her eyes. "There you are!" Her gaze traveled back and forth between them, suddenly wary. "I don't have to break up another disagreement, do I?"

"We were just...talking." Piccolo and Sai shared a conspiratorial smirk.

Khri arched a brow at them, unconvinced. "I think I prefer you two arguing. Seeing you two in agreement can only mean trouble."

"How can I assist, Battle Commander?" Sai asked respectfully.

"You probably won't have to warn them, but make sure the techs and support team stay out of the garage."

Sai snorted. "I'll send down the order, but they already know better than to tangle with the House Guard."

"That's why I led them to the garage," Khri said quietly. "There's nothing in there but the new VTOL and the tools you brought down during your last visit. The Guard Captain has orders not to leave it unsupervised until the shuttle is ready to launch. I can't think of a reason the tech teams would need to go out there. Sai, do you have a guess as to what's in that chest?"

"None, Commander. They arrived on the Aughenai two days ago with sealed orders. All I know is they're here at the direct order of Eldest."

"I learned a bit more." Piccolo noticed that Khri's face was a shade paler than it should have been. Her skin was flawless but the tension she was working so hard to hide seemed to add years to her amber eyes. "The Guard Captain told me that the crate has a special security lock. It can't be opened until the after shuttle leaves Earth's atmosphere. At that time the Captain will send the signal to disable the explosives and my hand ID will disengage the seal..."

Piccolo stared down at her in disbelief. "Explosives?"

"They're just a precaution and won't go off if the case is opened correctly." Khri kept her voice low but Piccolo could hear the worry. "I've had to accept two other deliveries like this, but never away from Home or off the Aughenai."

"Battle Commander, pardon me if I'm overstepping, but...have you heard from Eldest lately?"

Khri folded her arms and leaned against the timbers of the door frame. "No. Nothing. Eldest certainly hasn't been easy to talk to; in fact, Sai, you've had more communication with him than I have lately. With that tight a seal, I probably won't be able to tell you what's in the chest once I do know because of security reasons. Which brings me to another concern." She stepped away from the frame and slid the pocket doors closed. Piccolo breathed a sigh of relief as the noise level dropped to a comfortable level thanks to the heavy leaded glass. "Sai, I'd like to know what the technicians are installing in the small bedroom."

Sai took a deep breath. "The techs are installing an advanced memidex computer system. It's been specifically designed to allow for massive memory capabilities with enchanced retrieval speed. Its capable of doing advanced calculations and extrapolations but those aren't its strong points."

Piccolo managed not to snort derisively. He's rehearsed that more than a few times.

"I've also brought an upgrade for your slimpad," Sai continued. "It's a completely new design specifically modified to interface smoothly with the memidex. The graphics are also above and beyond anything on the Aughenai. Its brand new technology straight from home"

Khri's eyes were wide. "Sai, what is all this for? What is causing Eldest to believe I need such a thing?" 

"I wish I knew, Battle Commander," he replied soberly. "I've done everything short of breaking regulations in order to find out. Maybe Eldest sent you some sort of message and its in that sealed chest."

Piccolo watched as Khri walked around the table to stand before one the open windows. She raised the blinds completely and opened the window a bit further. The breeze hissed through the palms just outside before rushing into the room, tousling the thick fringe of hair over her eyes. "I don't like this," she said without turning around. Her voice was a mere whisper on the soft wind. "I don't understand Eldest's more recent decisions and he refuses to answer any of my messages. And this not knowing...scares me."

Sai's swallow was audible above the sound of the breeze through the screens and the faint rustling of Piccolo's cape. Piccolo said nothing as he stared at Khri's back but felt his own worry grow. Her actions recently proved she wasn't the type to admit fear easily and Sai's reaction just confirmed his suspicions. He didn't know enough about Leonid politics - nor did he care to - to ask the right questions let alone offer solutions, but he did know that they were frightening Khri.

And he didn't like it.

"Battle Commander," Sai began, his voice wavering, "with your permission I'd like to show Piccolo all the security devices we're installing. I'd like to get his opinion and see if there's anything I may have missed."

Khri finally turned around. She'd managed to keep the fear from her expression but Piccolo could still see traces of it in her eyes. "Please do that, Sai." She forced her face into an ironic smile. "Just bear in mind I'd prefer not to live like a prisoner, all right?"

Sai's tour through the "new and improved" house took longer than expected and was more frustrating than Piccolo had imagined. In between the constant interruptions by technicians asking Sai questions and wanting his approval on a task, Piccolo learned that all of the windows had been replaced, not just the ones shattered by the assassination attempt. Nearly invisible sensors monitored every exterior window and door, funneling information into small computer nestled into one wall of the kitchen. What irritated him most - other than Sai's condescending attitude and over-explanation of everything - was the plate outside the house next to the patio door. It required him to press his palm against it every time he wanted to open the door. He couldn't see how such a flimsy device would stop a determined attacker. I'll bet he installed it just to piss me off, Piccolo hissed to himself as Sai launched into another detailed description of the new dish on the roof.

"What is the point to all this?" Piccolo finally interrupted in disgust as the tour ended back in the dining room. "She can't stay in this house forever. How will all of your little machines protect her then?"

Sai watched grimly as two technicians started to haul the first load of tools back to the shuttle, then closed the doors. "Namek, I'd plant sensors in her underwear if I felt it would help...and if I could get away with it."

"Good luck," Piccolo snorted. "From what I've seen, I don't think your sensors are small enough to be hidden in so little fabric."

"That wouldn't be a problem. The difficulty is..." Sai's voice ground to a halt. Piccolo watched in amusement as the man's cheeks blazed as red as his hair and a flame kindled in his amber eyes. Taunting him with this particular bit of information out of petty revenge was risky, but he was convinced Sai would never mention it to Khri. At least he hoped he wouldn't.

Sai remained silent in his struggle to control his temper. "If you're able to get that close to Khri, then you're in a better position to protect her than I am."

Bitterness was an emotion Piccolo knew well. It had dominated so much of his early life, turning the smallest of accomplishments into a thing to be questioned and ultimately regretted thanks to his sire's influence. He recognized the same bitterness now, hearing it pour freely into Sai's tone if not his words. "Since you think everything I'm trying to do here is pointless, maybe you should take it upon yourself to be personally responsible for Khri's life. For decades I've done everything I can to watch her back. I'd gladly take the knife for her, if I could. If she means anything to you, Namek, anything at all, you won't leave her alone." His voice dropped to a low hiss. "War is coming, and its coming fast. Just knowing she's away from it...knowing she's protected..." He let it drop and shook his head.

Piccolo didn't know what disturbed him more; Sai's refusal to be baited or his revealing outburst. "Khri may be important to your people, but she's just one person," he offered. "If there is a war, do you really think your enemies would waste time and effort on her?"

"If they were sane? Of course not." Sai laughed humorlessly. "Over the years the Tigradi have become more violent, more bloodthirsty and chaotic. In the last century they've barely held themselves to the laws of Home in spite of pressure from other Clans. It seems they've finally tired of putting up a civilized front." Through the slight distortion in the leaded glass they could both see Khri walk down the hallway, two technicians following at a respectful distance. Sai turned back to look directly at Piccolo. "Her death would be a huge coup for them and a blow to us. She's more than 'just one person,' Namek. She's a symbol with a reputation. The Tigradi would pay dearly - in both their lives and ours - to see that symbol defiled and destroyed."

Piccolo stared down at the heavy square table. Khri had purchased it specifically because it wasn't new. Old wood, she had explained, had a deep luster and patina that only time could grant. 'The years add character and make it unique,' she'd told him with a meaningful smile. 'Every scratch, nick and flaw define it and set it apart, making it more special than something new.'

I could walk away from all this, Piccolo thought, closing his eyes. The racket caused by the technicians' drilling and pounding was starting to slack off, a sign their job was coming to an end. These aliens and their politics aren't my concern unless they threaten Earth. From what I've seen we can deal with the Telkarri easily...hell, I could probably go it alone without help from either Goku or Vegeta if I wanted to. Sai isn't my problem and neither is Khri.

And I'm trying to fool myself again.

Not so many years ago Piccolo knew he would have walked away. He wouldn't have bothered to get involved at all. The distant, hazy memories of Khri had been buried along with the darker, bloodier fragments of his childhood and would have stayed there if he hadn't allowed someone else to intrude into his life. Someone with thick black hair and liquid eyes that looked up at him without terror, filled instead with admiration and devotion. Someone he'd sacrificed his own life for and spent years trying to figure out why. Piccolo opened his eyes and found himself staring at the table again. Luster and patina. Khri has both of those. I only have scars.

"All right," he growled, "I'll keep an eye on Khri for you. How long do you think you've got until this war breaks out?" 

"That's hard to predict." Some of the tension in Sai's face had eased. "Our best guess, based on communications and troop movements, puts it a few weeks from now. They won't attack until they're absolutely ready but it could come at any time."

One of the pocket doors slid open and Khri poked her head inside the dining room. "Sai, the crews have just about finished. At least two are ready for inspection and three need some clarification on the final settings."

Sai nodded tightly. "Check, Commander. I'll be right there."

As he turned to go, the Leonid paused. "I probably won't get another chance to do this, so...thank you, Piccolo. Knowing that at least one of Earth's best fighters is protecting Khri really does help ease a lot of minds. Mine included."

Sympathy - both persistent and irritating - tugged at Piccolo to make a concession. "It won't be just me," he rumbled quietly. "If things get out of hand, I can contact Goku, Vegeta, and a handful of others nearly as powerful who can come in an instant. Walling her up in a fortress won't keep her safe." But I will.

Dammit...where did that come from? Piccolo found himself clenching his fists. Feh...I'm just fed up with this idiot's reliance on machines and toys to do a warrior's job.

Sai's spirits seemed to improve even further. "I'm very glad to hear that. If you want to tell Khri, just do it after I've left, please. I'd rather not risk having her final memories of me be ones of anger." He disappeared into the hall, leaving the door open.

Piccolo smothered a gasp of alarm and stared after Sai. Final memories? He really doesn't expect to survive this! Small, snarling 'what if' thoughts reared out of their dark corners and he ruthlessly beat them back one at a time. Now wasn't the time to wonder about Khri's future when the present was dangerous enough. Workers and soldiers alike scrambled out of his way as he walked out the patio door.

The technicians proved to be both fast and efficient. Shortly past noon the last of the crews were packing up their equipment, running the final tests and making small tweaks to the improved security systems. Piccolo watched impassively from a corner on the patio as empty cases and float pallets bearing the heavier tools were marched back down the beach to the waiting shuttle. The noise inside the house had dwindled to a few thuds here and there and the murmur of voices. "It sounds like they're just about done," he told the shorter figure standing beside him.

Khri's face was a mixture of quiet resolve, worry and sadness. "And I've got a feeling I won't be seeing them again." He watched as she clasped her hands behind her back. "Any of them."

"You don't know that for certain. Blackfire doesn't give you the gift of seeing the future, does it?"

"Not at all, but I've had hunches in the past that felt the same, and they've been fairly accurate."

Piccolo waited until the crew that had installed the windows were out of earshot before responding. "Are you thinking there's Kaio involvement here?"

"I'd bet on it." Khri's eyes glittered coldly. "I'm not sure where Kaio-Sama is interfering - on my end, at Home or both - but I'm convinced he's involved." She sighed, then pinched the skin between her brows. "I could wear myself out analyzing all the reasons and I'd still stand a good chance of being wrong. Not having any answers is wearing me thin."

"So I've noticed." Piccolo stared down at her, frowning. Her uniform didn't fit as smoothly as it had when she'd first arrived, and there was a noticeable gap between her thick belt and her waist. "You're not Namekian. You can't live on water. Should I ask Sai to leave behind some of those food bars you love so much?" 

A missing spark reappeared in Khri's eyes. "Try it, Namek, and I'll make sure you suffer too." She glanced down at her trousers, seeming to notice their poor fit for the first time. "You do have a point, though. I promise, after the shuttle leaves I'll scrounge some lunch and then see about placing a grocery order."

Piccolo had just enough time to nod in satisfaction before a very tired Sai joined them on the patio. "Well, everything is installed, cleanup is complete and I have no excuses to stall for time," he said, adjusting his communications array. "I've signaled the House Guard that everyone is on the shuttle. They'll do one last sweep, and then we'll be on our way. There's nothing left to do..."

"Except to say goodbye," Khri finished for him.

Actually turning aside would have been too obvious, so Piccolo focused his attention on the shuttle. Out of the corner of his eye he watched Khri and Sai saying their farewells not as Battle Commander and Second, but as two old friends and long-time companions.

"Take care of yourself," Khri whispered, tightening her arms around Sai's neck.

"You too." Piccolo pretended not to hear the scratch in his voice. Instead he concentrated on watching the vivid blue of the shuttle's engines send fresh curls of steam into the air as they warmed up. He was concentrating so hard on not listening that he nearly missed the sounds of approaching footsteps.  

"Company's coming," he growled softly in warning.

Khri and Sai quickly parted, turning to face the House Guard. All four of them waited until Sai acknowledged them with a crisp salute and answered with a slight nod. Khri, however, they graced with a deep, courteous hand-over-the-heart bow. The Guard Captain, identifiable by the gold cord looped around his left shoulder, stepped forward. 

"All security upgrades and subsequent checks have been made and meet with House satisfaction." The full helmet concealing his face gave his voice had a metallic edge. "After our departure we will send the signal and release the seals. Eldest has requested that Youngest open and examine the contents of his shipment immediately and send the proper code word, via secure channels, that the contents arrived in satisfactory condition."

Khri returned the bow. "I will do as Eldest requests, and Youngest thanks him for his generosity and thoughtfulness."

The Guard bowed as a unit again. Sai saluted Khri one last time, winked, shot Piccolo a parting, meaningful look, then headed for the shuttle with the Guard in tow. They disappeared inside, the ramp lifted, and the whine of the engines took on a new, higher pitch. Piccolo gave into a rare impulse and he gently placed a hand on Khri's shoulder. She didn't shrug it off as they stood together on the patio and watched the shuttle lift slowly into the sky. Her long, tawny fingers reached up to grip his green ones as the whine faded and the ship vanished beyond the high clouds.

Neither moved until long after the shuttle had gone. The steady piping of birdsong had resumed and the waves, rolling in with the tide, were taking small nips out of the footprints the heavy landing gear had left behind. Piccolo gave Khri's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "You ok?"

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll be fine," she said, giving his fingers a gentle pat before he released her. "I don't have to worry about the windows getting shot out anymore and I've got some new equipment to play with, so I guess I'm in better shape than I was this morning. At least when it comes to security." She turned and looked up at him. "Why don't we go see what Eldest sent? I'm very curious to see what was so important it had to be shipped under seal all the way from Home. I have to open it now anyway; orders are orders."

Strangely enough, both of the large carriage doors on the garage had been left wide open by the House Guard. So much for the place looking secure, Piccolo mused as followed Khri inside, blinking in the sudden darkness. A box of tools stood in the far corner next to Khri's new VTOL - 'old technology never improves with age' she had remarked when it was delivered - which occupied half of the garage. The motorcycle she kept in its capsule in her knapsack, which hung on a peg by the garage door. Hovering squarely in the center of the other empty bay was the sealed chest.

Undeterred by the knowledge the lid was rigged to explode if opened improperly, Khri eagerly inspected the seal. "The Guard Captain has already sent the signal." She indicated a blinkingl green light in the center of the round, ornate medallion. The seal itself was actually nothing more than a cover that swivelled aside to reveal a circle of dark, flat glass. She pressed the flat of her hand against it. It began to glow softly, increasing in intensity until shafts of light shone through her spread fingers. There was a snap as the metal bands released on either side of the seal and clattered to the concrete floor. Khri slid the seal cover back into place and gripped the edge of the lid. "The moment of truth," she breathed and pulled the lid upward.

The chest contained not one but three items, each of them nestled in a custom-fitted bed of protective foam. The first was a suit of glossy black and crimson armor, broken down into its individual components for compact shipping. The second was another molded case that took up nearly half of the chest by itself. The third was a rolled sheet of white parchment that had been tied with a red ribbon. The paper was the first thing Khri removed.

Piccolo leaned on the edge of the chest, mildly surprised it easily supported his weight. "Nice armor, but I hope there's more to it than just looks."

"That's not just any armor." Khri's eyes flickered across the single page, her face going nearly as white as the paper. "According to this note, it's the most advanced House armor to date. It's very light, flexible, and holds up under impact. Only the House Guard is supposed to wear it and only if they expect combat." She removed one of the gauntlets and slipped it over her right hand. It looked bulky and uncomfortable, but her fingers moved easily and she was able to make a fist. "I would love to have had the stuff made standard issue but its too expensive to mass produce." Piccolo saw through the faint glow of her eyes that the fear was back. "I don't think I want to know the reason Eldest sent me this." 

Definitely time to distract her, if I can. Piccolo tapped the case. "What is this?"

Khri continued to skim the parchment, then her eyes flew open in surprise. "It's a gift for Dende! The instructions say I'm to deliver it to him as soon as possible and I'm not to open it until I get to the Lookout." She tapped the handle. "Just by looking at it, I'd guess its some type of sensing equipment. Maybe even a small computer."

"What would Dende do with a computer?" Piccolo frowned, sharing her puzzlement.

"If that's what it is." Khri removed the gauntlet and placed it back in its foam slot next to the chest plate. Piccolo noticed there was no sign of any markings or insignia on the armor but it didn't really surprise him; Khri never wore any on her uniform. "I guess we'll have to wait to find out what this is until I see Dende."

"I'll contact him. I'm sure Mr. Popo wouldn't mind a guest for dinner, if you're willing to go tonight."

Khri lowered the lid on the chest, not bothering to reactive the seal. "That would give me time to go over all the changes to the house and send confirmation to Eldest I got his gift," she said. Her fingers curled tightly around the edge. "If that armor it is a gift."

Piccolo raised one eye ridge. "You think its something else."

When Khri looked up at him, the emotion in her eyes made his chest tighten. "I think it's a warning. And I think Eldest has a reason to believe I'll use it." Her eyes closed and she looked away. "And I think that's what scares me most of all."

The silence in the garage lasted until a gust of wind blew a cluster of fallen palm fronds in through the door. They scratched a noisy path across the floor and landed in a corner. Piccolo sniffed the air, smelling moisture and feeling a quick temperature drop. There's a powerful thunderstorm coming up the coast. Feeling frustrated and powerless to help, his hand found its way back to her shoulder. Khri smiled and then shivered, but he felt it had more to do with circumstances than the chill.

To Be Continued...

AN: Ye small gods, what a chapter. It seemed like every time-eating bogeyman on the planet was poking at me, trying to keep me from slogging through this.

This will be the last quiet chapter for a while. Things are going to get rough, and fast. I hope I'm ready for this.