To See the Old Neighborhood.....

Part 23

Goku spotted it first, floating there, high in the atmosphere. The space ship, easily recognized as Freiza's, looked as round and intimidating as it could despite its resemblance to a beetle.

"There. Just ahead," he pointed, though everyone would have seen it even if he hadn't spoken.

"Brrr.......," Bardock murmured, pausing a moment before joining Vegita and Goku a few meters ahead, waiting.

"What was that all about?" Vegita asked, hardly shifting an eye to see the sudden pale colour on the warrior's face.

"I just got a crazy case of deja vu," Bardock said quickly, and as he few ahead of them he said quietly to himself, "Just deja vu. Nothing more."

"Keep your eye on him, Kakarot," Vegita warned, nudging Goku in the arm.

"Why?" Goku, eyes wide and slightly confused asked, cocking his head to one side.

"I think he's mad. And if he's not, then he will be by the time we're done with Freiza."

"Vegita, what are you talking about? Why are you being so suspitious of everyone?"

"It's NOT suspition, Kakarot," Vegita watched Bardock as he stopped to wait for him and Goku, "I'm just remembering what that idiot Noone said about what might happen if we show them too much of our power.........."

"He already knows he's dead, Vegita. It may not be on the top of his head, or in his thoughts, but if you look in his eyes..........you can tell he already knows."

"Still, be wary......or I'll kill you for blowing our cover," Vegita grinned viciously.

"I'm always careful," Goku returned a kinder version of Vegita's smile and they headed off to Freiza's ship.

****

"Goten, are you SURE this is where you last saw Pan and Trunks?"

"For the last time, YES!" Goten said, raising his voice at the thought that Gohan didn't believe him. "Trunks was laying right......," he paused to look around a second, then pointed, "There. An' that means Vegita an' Pan were right here, cause they fell right by him."

Gohan nodded, "Sorry, Goten. I don't doubt you, I'm just nervious........."

"Me too, do you think they're okay?" Goten looked slightly unnerved, "I can't feel any of their chi's."

"Yeah, it's like they don't exist.......but I think we would have felt it if they had died," Gohan winced at that word........died........

They suddenly both lifted their heads in alarm.

"Did you feel that too?" Goten asked, looking off into the horizon, pausing to briefly admire the foliage that had suddenly sprung nearly the instant the rain had stopped. The incedible typhoon had fizzled into a gently misting that soaked the clothes more than even a hard rain could manage. It was uncomfortably humid and both brothers were sweating from no exertion other then just standing there.

"It.......sort of felt like Trunks........," Gohan said, squinting his eyes as he tasted the chi that had stormed their sences.

"It musta' been Lomen!" Goten yelped, "He somehow can use another person's chi after making a......making......."

"Making a what?" Gohan asked, riveting his eyes from the horizon to look at his brother.

"I think he used the word link. He said he had a link onto Trunks's chi and soul."

"Soul?"

"That's what he said, though I think he was just saying that to scare me. But he accually CAN take make a link to someones chi. That's how he stole Trunks's power. But........I think he can only make the link when he touches you."

"Then we'll just have to make sure he doesn't touch us, now won't we?" Gohan said, patting Goten on the head reassuringly.

"Yeah!" Goten cheered and they headed off after a slightly deformed version of Trunks's chi.

It didn't take them long.

****

"Why are you looking out the mouth of the cave like that?" Lomen asked.

Vegita, now awake, confused, angry, scared and especially hungry turned to look at Trunks.

"You're in trouble now, Lomen. Oh boy are you ever.........," Trunks grinned.

****

"They're in there.......," Goten said, pointing to the opening of the cave that they now floated high above. Gohan nodded as the two landed meters away.

"Get ready for a fight," he said, then yelled loudly, "ALRIGHT, EVERYONE OUT. NOW!"

****

Lomen didn't move.

"You shouldn't try to make Gohan angry," Trunks said, grinning wickedly, "And don't think that the power you stole from me will be enough to beat him! He's super strong."

Vegita glared.

Lomen continued to not move.

****

"I don't think they're gonna come out......," Goten muttered and looked to Gohan to see what the next move should be.

Gohan sighed and yelled, "THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE BEFORE I MAKE YOU COME OUT!"

Still no signs of movement from within.

"Okay, then. Have it your way," Gohan said grimly and raised a hand. With hardly a flick of his wrist, the whole top of the cave exploded, showering everyone with a fine powder that used to be solid rock and easily exposing the members hidden. The powder clumped together as it fell, giving the eerie feeling of snow without the cold.

There was absolute silence for a moment as the wind toyed with the little clumps, catching them on eyelashes and eyebrows,or tickling noses.

Goten's sneeze broke the still.

"So you're Gohan, hmm?" Lomen said, slowly getting to his feet, keeping his eyes on Gohan carefully, "The little purple hair is right. You are powerful."

"I didn't come here to get into a fight. Let the kids go."

Lomen just cocked his head to one side and said as though he hadn't heard a word, "And I hear you know kyushu suru. I think I was about your age when I learned it, too. But we're a long lived race and we can keep our beauty for centuries. You can't imagine how old I am."

"I dunno, you don't look too young," Goten said, floating toward him a few feet, "You look kinda wrinkly."

"WHAT?!" Loman quickly started probing his face with his hands while Trunks snorted in laughter. Vegita couldn't help but crack a smile while Gohan just rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, c'mon, Trunks. Vegita. Get Pan-is she okay?- and we'll go."

"Okay, Gohan, and yeah, she's fine," Trunks said, stooping to pick up the little girl, "She's just sleeping."

"You're not going anywhere," Lomen stated, crossing his arms and shifting his weight onto one leg in a cocky manner.

"Oh, Gohan, I'm scared!!" Trunks suddenly yelled, his voice highpitched and he launched himself towards Gohan where he secured his arms around Gohan's neck and buried his head in Gohan's chest, making sobbing sounds.

Gohan, disturbed by Trunks's sudden out of character burst, stepped back, "T-Trunks?"

Trunks squeezed Gohan by the neck harder and whispered in his ear, "Shh! I gotta tell you something."

Gohan, understanding instantly, patted Trunks on the back and said the typical hushing words, "It's okay. I'm here now, don't be scared....... (ect.)"

Trunks continued whispering, "Lomen seems to be able to steal and control half-Saiyan's chi better than pure ones."

Gohan nodded his head in a fraction of a way, managing to continue glaring at Lomen and mock-comforting Trunks at the same time.

"But he doesn't know he can, since he doesn't know we're half-breeds," Trunks said and gave a very convincing sob before continuing, "Whatever you do, don't let him touch you for any amount of time. He's GOOD."

"Everything will be okay, now," Gohan said, and set Trunks down next to Goten who, not having heard Trunks's whispering, was very concerned about his friend's sanity.

"Well, lets do it," Lomen said, smiling to reveal many rows of perfect teeth.

To be continued......