Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Swarm Saga ❯ Of Phones ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

 

Chapter 10: Of Phones

 

Kuririn walked into the office where his wife was going over the accounts. He placed the papers he had in his hands on the corner of the desk. “The Talbots want to extend their stay through the weekend. And they want to keep the same room which means that we can't put the Akinos in there.”

 

His wife looked up from her bankbook. “Actually it was the Bails and we'll just move them down the hall. They wanted an ocean view not necessarily a corner.”

 

Kuririn sat down and regarded his wife's face. He envied the way she so calmly and quickly fixed problems. She seemed so dispassionate to the uninformed observer. Kuririn, however, knew better.

 

Sometimes he felt guilty about the jobs that she handled since they opened the inn but it really was an even split. She handled the technical side (planning, money, and booking) while he managed the staff and worked with the guests once they arrived. She looked better on brochures and press releases but Kuririn had better people skills. They were two sides to the same coin.

 

At his small sigh, Eighteen turned her head to the side, crooked her finger at him and smiled. She stood up as he glided over to the desk. Upon reaching it, she leaned across and kissed him on the cheek. The simple gesture heated his face and made him remember how lucky he was that he was able to win her heart in the end.

 

The first time she kissed him the world opened up. It was just a peck, a single, insignificant, meeting of lips and cheek, nothing really. Yet that nothing changed his view more than death, his friendship with Goku, his breakup with Marron, anything. That moment taught him compassion. She could have killed him. She probably should have. A single touch and he would have been back in Otherworld. He was powerless to stop her. Instead, she kissed him and he finally discovered life's purpose.

 

“You know the guests are through for the night, there's no daughter in the building, and that door locks.”

 

Kuririn smiled and, being the smart guy he was, took the hint and locked the office door. When he turned around, the private line rang. Eighteen glanced at it sourly before picking it up, barking out a terse intro.

 

“This had better be good.” The fighter watched as his wife's sculpted eyebrows scrunched together. “Marron,” she said. She listened to the other end a little longer before dropping the phone and streaking out the window.

 

A father cautiously picked up the phone and held the receiver to his ear. He listened to the conversation on the other end with growing horror. He looked longingly at the open window telling his self that he would not be useful in the situation. Eighteen was enough firepower and, judging by the look on her face as she left, she was more than ready to use it.

 

---

 

Vegeta sat in front of the computer screen searching sites. Most of the information was about Marron. That wasn't surprising. Marron was more accessible and much prettier.

These humans always did have their priorities in the wrong place. Then again, Bulma never seemed to understand his. Many of the stories portrayed Marron as the golden girl, the child of goodness and light whose parents were both famed martial artists. In contrast, the problem was depicted as the evil slow brute who stole the championship right out from under Marron.

 

Vegeta fully admitted that the stories smacked of truth. However, he resented the implied references to cheating. No respectable Saiyan would cheat to win, fight dirty maybe, but not cheat. For the umpteenth time in the last two weeks Vegeta found his self torn; still trying to decide if he should be offended.

 

Vegeta continued to move through the sites when he came across one site hosting pictures that made the past three days in front of the stupid monitor worth while, fortunately because his rear was beginning to hurt. The first picture contained Nappa, airborne and smirking, ki blast in hand. His tail was wrapped tightly around his waist but still in plain view. The second showed the problem stretching her tail out and smirking at Marron as if she were the only one privy to some sick joke.

 

Two pictures displayed Kakarrot as a child. In the first, he wore that horrible orange thing. His hair was wild but he hung over the pure white tiles of the arena floor with a fat brown tail wrapped around the arm of some green creature. The other had Kakarrot facing an opponent that looked mysteriously like a younger Roshi. The main difference between this and the last was that he stood thirty feet tall; hair, muzzle, teeth, and red eyes. Vegeta smirked over the image. He wanted to print it out and store it in a scrapbook somewhere to look at on a bad day. The idea of Kakarrot actually being in touch with the one thing that was purely saiyan made him smile.

 

The last picture proved the most useful, however. Some Bubba was standing next to his truck with his ball cap pulled down over his eyes. In his hands was a slip of paper with strange symbols printed on it. The looked like basic geometrics with lines coming off of and through. To anyone else they would simply be a series of well drawn scribbles. To the Saiyan prince, however, they were perfectly readable; Mar Negi Seloli (Seloli daughter of Negi). He began to read the article trying to ignore the fact that some human had put it together. The author's opinions would simply be dismissed as conspiracy theory and the author thought of as simply one of those nuts who believed in aliens. Instead, he concentrated on the important information. It seemed that the problem had managed to hitch a ride to Fire Cliff in return for her signature.

 

He sat back and rubbed his hand over his chin before reaching for the phone and calling Gohan. After sharing his information, he closed his eyes and rested his head against the back of the chair while he waited for the hybrid to figure out the map.

 

“Well Vegeta,” the voice on the other end sounded weary. “Best guess? I'd say South City. It's the biggest dot on her trajectory.”

 

“What would she want there?”

 

“I don't know. But at the pace she's been traveling I'd say she wants it pretty badly. I'll have Videl keep an eye on the crime reports from there.”

 

“I want her found.”

 

“You're not the only one. Look, I've got a student coming in I'll talk to you later.”

 

“Fine.” After Gohan hung up, Vegeta rubbed his wrists before pulling out the keyboard tray and searching for South City.

 

Every so often, Trunks would walk by and stick his head in the door, worried about his father. Vegeta rarely became this involved in a project other than training. Even when his father proofed programs for himself or Bulma he did so with an easy nonchalance. But for the past three afternoons in a row, the older man had glued himself to the computer screen. So the younger prince guarded the entrance to the study and watched his father rub at his wrists between flipping screens until the flame haired man acknowledged his presence without ever turning away from the screen.

 

“What do you want boy?”

 

“Mom sent me to tell you that dinner was ready.”

 

“I'll be right there.”

 

Vegeta turned off the computer and stood up. “Father, are you OK?” Upon hearing the question, he regarded his son; watching him with a feral intensity.

 

“Why wouldn't I be?” Trunks just glanced at the spot where his father kept trying to pull up on the gloves he wasn't wearing. Vegeta suddenly released his arms. “I'm fine,” he barked out as her pushed past his heir on his way to the kitchen

 

Trunks followed his father from his office. His father's back was ramrod straight and he walked stiffly without swinging his arms. Every so often he would flex his fingers; sweeping them out one by one and bringing them back into a fist. “So did you ever get your engine working?”

 

Trunks stopped in the hallway and allowed his brain to process the fact that he had just been asked a question. He then had to take a few long strides to catch back up. “Yeah, we even got it into the plane and tested the entire thing yesterday. And today, I flew it to South City and back.”

 

The short prince stopped so suddenly that, even with Trunks' reaction speed, he almost ran into him. “South City?”

 

“Yeah, I know the plane was not tried, and something could have happened on a trip that long, but it's not like I'd get hurt if something did go wrong.”

 

Vegeta grabbed Trunk's shirt on both fists to haul his son in closer. The demi-Saiyan felt the collar pull at the back of his neck and felt the tickle of fear run down his spine. “Why South City?”

 

Trunks tried to pull back. He didn't like the flash flood of anger that appeared in his fathers eyes. For the first time in his life, he was actually afraid of Vegeta. “I surprised Marron for lunch.”

 

“Marron's in South City? Shit!” The prince abruptly released his son with a small push as he once again pushed past him, this time heading back to the small office. He stopped at the open portal and turned back towards the boy. “Call her; find out if she's safe. Tell her to go back to her parent's house. Or better yet, tell her to come here.”

 

“Father, what's going on?”

 

“Just do it!” The prince stormed back into his office and grabbed the phone from the desk.

 

---

 

Marron leaned back against the door to her apartment with a groan. Home was such a wonderful place to be; not her parent's house, but hers. It was nice to be coddled by her mom but having her father constantly want to talk and ask if she was ok was beginning to wear thin on her nerves. At least here in here own loft she could feel more like a human being, a responsible adult, and less like a weakling who almost died. Her parents were not intending to make her feel that way but that is what happened.

 

Leaving the lights off, she kicked off her shoes and threw her keys on the small table next to the door. Pushing away from the door, she slipped off the suit coat and padded through the apartment in her stocking feet. She entered the kitchen and threw open the refrigerator door, the light causing an eerie glow. Inside it was empty. Something must have happened during the last week which caused the neighbor to throw everything out. She'd ask her about it tomorrow. In the meantime, dinner would just have to be take out from that Chinese restaurant Goten had gotten her addicted to. What a pity. It would take them thirty minutes but she really wasn't that hungry after lunch.

 

Trunks arrived at her at her office with flowers and taken her out to a fancy four star restaurant in town that was meant to impress. The restaurant intimidated her at first causing her to long for the backwater holes in the wall that she usually frequented and took great pleasure in introducing others to. Others consisted mainly of Goten; who was always a connoisseur of eateries that prepared good, cheep food in large portions. She began to squirm even more when Trunks leaned forward and removed the pencil from behind her ear. Could there have possibly been anything more embarrassing. However, her lunch partner simply smiled and used the opportunity to begin asking her questions about her work. They spent the remainder of the hour together talking about training and her job. Overall, the food was good and the company even better.

 

She fumbled with the phone in the dark. Moving to the living room, she hit the light switch and screamed.

 

She sat in the overstuffed estate sale find on the other end of the room. Her head was cocked to the side and she regarded Marron with unflinching eyes. “You are out of food,” she said.

 

Marron looked around the room. The other girl never moved, just sat in the chair like a statue. “I noticed. What are you doing here? How did you even get here?”

 

“To see you. I ran, people brought me.” She shrugged as if to say it was no big deal.

 

“How did you find me?” If that wasn't the stupidest question she had ever asked.

 

“Your people put too much data in your machines. Once I figured out how to make it work, it was easy finding what I was looking for.”

 

Marron closed her eyes and swallowed. Her fingers gripped the phone harder. Opening her eyes, she looked down and saw the white plastic device in her hand. She had completely forgotten that she had it in her hands. Moving very slowly, she ran her thumb over the keypad. She continued to caress the buttons before pressing and holding down one of the keys long enough to activate the speed dial.

 

She looked at the Saiyan sitting on the other end of the room. She sprawled out in the chair while seeming to contemplate the fresh lacerations on her hand. Dark eyes, however, continued to cast glances toward their “host” out of the corners.

 

“Why were you looking for me? What do you want?” Marron was not sure that she wanted to know the answer but it seemed the only thing to do, to ask.

 

The older woman switched her regard completely to her as the repressed “Mona Lisa” smile replayed itself on her face. Her eyes lit up like a cat playing with a defenseless mouse. “Why do you think I am here?”

 

Marron was tiring of this game. Every muscle in her body seemed to go into high alert. She took a deep breath and tried to relax herself. They both knew why she was there. “You are here to kill me. You tried to at the tournament but didn't; although I'm not sure why. Either way, you're here to finish the job.”

 

Something Marron said must have been vastly amusing. Seloli began laughing, a hearty laugh that shook her shoulders. She caught her breath and leaned forward, elbows on her knees. All traces of amusement fell off her face as she spoke. “You tried to grab my tail. For that, you should to die.” Marron could have sworn she felt her heart stop as said tail slid lazily to lay exposed over the arm of the chair and thumped against the side. “But, had I killed you, they would not have let me win. I did not come this far to lose. You should not worry about it now. You have something I want.”

 

Marron blinked. What on earth could she possibly have? Her confusion must have shown because the other woman smirked. “The beam cannon. I want to learn that beam cannon. You are going to teach me.”

 

Marron felt her jaw drop as the phone clattered to the floor. The Kamehameha? She had to be joking. “I can't teach you that.” The statement came out more breathless than Marron intended.

 

“You know it.” Her reply was three little simple words. More of a statement than a question but their delivery made them the three hardest words the blond woman had ever heard. This girl could give her mother a run for her money when it came to lack of emotion.

 

Fortunately, Marron had been taking lessons. Despite the tremble in her lips her reply was smooth. “But I have only been seriously training for two years. I'm not in any position to teach anything.” Hopefully, the intruder into her life would buy that.

 

At a lift of an eyebrow as if to say “you are now useless and I should kill you” Marron quickly rethought her strategy. She hadn't really though of that possibility. It might be best to keep her happy. ”Goku might be willing to work with you.”

 

“Is that who taught you?”

 

Marron took a few steps into the room and perched on the arm of the sofa. “Well, no my parents...”

 

“Then why would you send me to this Goku?” Seloli's voice got louder as she leaned forward and glared with just enough force to put some metal in Marron's spine.

 

Her voice also took on a hint of steel. “For starters, he's Saiyan.”

 

Marron fell from her perch into the cushions of the sofa as the Saiyan girl stood up. “Krito. Habba cofot breg Saiya-jin?”

 

Seloli stood above her glaring down. Her hair actually stood up straighter and the tail lashed around behind her as it knocked pictures off a side table. And, she seemed to want an answer to whatever it was that she asked. Marron actually recognized the last word so she supposed that the question was about Saiyans.

 

“Yes, I know them.”

 

“And I suppose you will tell Raditz where to find me?” Marron sat there trying to figure out who exactly she was talking about. Seloli held out her hand at bout the height of her chin. “Raditz. Short little tailless gi-tdor. First Class.” She then stroked her neck, where Marron could see the last traces of bruises, and looked away. “Good grip.”

 

Marron was spared from having to answer by the sound of glass shattering and Seloli being knocked through the wall and into the hallway.

 

Seloli coughed trying to re-inflate her lungs as the older version of Marron advanced on her, blue light crackling in her palm. She watched as well as the younger grasped the elder's arm. “Mom she wasn't trying to kill me. She wanted me to train her.”

 

Eighteen looked at her daughter without releasing the gathered energy at her fingertips. “Train?”

 

“Yeah, I told her she should ask Goku.”

 

The android contemplated the girl on the floor, who was wiping blood from her mouth and watching the energy blast with trepidation. “Goku already has a student. Four hundred dollars a month. That will provide you with a place to stay and training with me. It will not pay for your food. I've seen a saiyan eat and I'm not paying to feed you. You will follow my rules and those of my husband or I will kill you. Do you understand?”

 

The saiyan just nodded, eyes never leaving the energy ball in the older woman's hand.

 

“Good. Get your stuff. The further away you are from my daughter, the happier I'll be.” Eighteen dissolved the blast and turned her back. The dismissed girl glared at her but slowly pushed herself off the floor and moved through the room to collect her bag. After all, she was getting what she came for.

 

Marron waved off her mother's worries. She then leaned in closer and lowered her voice. “Mom, there is something you should know. She thinks Vegeta's name is Raditz. I don't know why.”

 

Eighteen looked at the girl. Goku had called Vegeta “Raditz” at the tournament. Perhaps this girl was why. Introducing himself as someone else was out of character for the Saiyan prince. As much as Eighteen did not like the short Saiyan she admitted he wasn't stupid. If he did something it was for a good reason. Therefore, far be it from her to enlighten the problem she was taking home. She watched the woman stand there with her bag over her shoulder and smirked. And why not, it wasn't every day that one had someone one loathed pay them to beat her up on a daily basis.

 

Somewhere, on the other end of a phone line, that lay forgotten on the floor, an ex-monk fainted.

 

 

 

TBC

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A/N: Feel free to review. It does not take long and you'd make me really happy. I love writing this story and I also love reading your opinions about it.

 

I also seem to have gotten into the habit of telling you where I got my names from so I will freely tell you that Negi, the name of Seloli's father, is green onion in Japanese. Random names of people you will never meet: The Talbots came out of the phone book at random and the Akinos are my tribute to Matsuri Akino the author of Pet Shop of Horrors (I love that manga.)

 

P.S. My Beta is no longer doing so in a timely manner. If anyone is interested, I'm taking applications. Please e-mail me. Address is in my profile.

 

 

 

Majin Sue - Yes, Computers are evil. We all understand that so it's ok. I'm just glad that you are still reading.

 

LilMelfina64 - Thank You. Updates should come about once a month. (Which means that this fic will probably eat my life.)

 

Skydaybreak - Now I can't tell you where they are from right now. It comes out eventually but I don't want to explain everything right off the bat. If I did that what would be the point of having you continue to read. *Evil Lisa Grin* and of course Chi Chi was going to yell. *glomps Goku and takes him away before he makes it home*

 

Gomer - Thank You. As to your question. You have a point. However, I use the Manga as my backup. Vol 1, p.23. Goku and Gohan are flying on Kintokun to Kame house and Goku says, “See it?! That's Master Muten's house!” Therefore, I am perfectly justified in using Master Muten. I like you. You are going to be fun. Keep bringing them on.

 

The Tiny - Yeah? Thank you. Wow I made it to your favorites! I'm honored.

 

Gadoken King - I really liked your review. I figured out what to do with Tien and Chaozu and Piccolo. Piccolo will be toward the end. Tien will likely end up being Yamcha's sounding board and the first to meet the girlfriend. He will also have something to do with Chaozu. I am so happy that someone picked up on at least one of the DB references. And no, Kuririn does not always play honestly, despite Vegeta calling him a goody goody. He started out as a rather devious little guy.

 

pannybaby123 - Thank You. Your review left me speechless. I know how you feel though. I read a lot of garbage myself to get to the good stuff. I'm glad that you feel that this is one of the good ones. I'm actually fairly insecure about my writing; especially after I read work by my favorite authors (yes I'm talking about Majin Sue and Bardockgurl and Card among so many others). Their skill and talent just blows me away.