Disclaimer...I own none of the characters, etc. except the plot.

I STAND ALONE Ch.9

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Bra asked after several dull hours of flying through the stars. The homing beacon was still beeping, but it was taking an unusual amount of time for Bra. She had her father's patience...which was about nothing.

"Yes, we're going the right way and if you ask 'are we there yet' any more I'm going to rip your tongue out with a fork!"

"Eeesh Pan, a bit crabby today? That time of the month?"

"Yeah, for beating the crap out of you. At least Marron's quiet over there." Pan said as she nodded in Marron's direction. Marron was seated in the back of the cockpit reading over some book.

Bra followed her gaze over to their quiet member then snuffed her nose into the air as she returned her gaze back towards Pan. "It's the quiet ones you have to be worried about." she huffed as she grabbed a strange device from one of the storage compartments.

"What's that?"

"One of mom's inventions. It may be able to assist us. It can speak to other Capsule Corporation vehicles."

"It's that what Gill can do too?"

"Mom based this thing off Gill. This can only talk to other CC vehicles though. It has a decent range. I thought I'd turn it on and see if it can speak to whatever vehicle my brother is using. If it can, it may tell us its condition and where it is. Perhaps even coordinates."

"So now you decide to turn on that brain of yours. Who knew?" Pan chided.

Bra gave her a smirk her father would be proud of. "If that's a challenge, you'd better watch your step. I've been training too."

Pan couldn't help but chuckle heavily. "I'm sorry, but weaving in and out of packed mall hallways and dodging coat racks to get to a 1-hour only sale is hardly training."

"You may have trained heavily in your childhood years Pan, but you're still only a quarter saiyan. I AM HALF."

"So?"

"So, I bet I'll get super saiyan before you do."

"Why would you care?"

"Blonde may look good on me. Besides, it'll save on time and effort with hair color. I can change it within seconds and change it back again even faster."

"Why do I bother." Pan said as she smacked her forehead and returned her attention to flying the ship. Suddenly another beacon began sounding. It was a planetary proximity beacon. "Hey, we're approaching a planet. Maybe Trunks is on it?"

Bra began coursing through the star chart to find its identity. "I don't know Pan. But perhaps it would be a good idea to at least get close to it. If he is and we get close enough, we should be able to sense his ki if he's there."

"Unless he's supressing it or hurt."

"Why do you always think so negatively Pan?"

"Because a warrior must think of all options. Hope is useless unless you know what you're up against. Didn't your daddy teach you that?"

Bra snuffed and ignored her, chosing to have a seat and play with the gadget that may be able to communicate with another CC vehicle.

In the icy caverns...

Trunks looked himself over in a clear icy wall. He was glad it couldn't give him a detailed look, but rather a blurred image of himself.

*This is bad. I look terrible, like some rabid caveman on dope or something. Guess it's another thing I can blame on those bitches. Revenge is best served cold, but how am I do enact it without stooping to their level? I'm better than they are. I'm worthy of more than this. I need something that will show my status over them.* an evil smirk formed slowly from the mouth of the son of Vegeta as his brows furrowed downward. *A super saiyan with an agenda! They will learn their lesson for wronging me. But first, I need to stall a little longer. I don't quite have the energy I need yet. I must have reserves. I will not make the same mistake twice. I will not allow them to shoot me with my back turned again! That was careless of me and I paid the price for my own stupidity. Now, it's different. The name Trunks will strike fear in them and generations to come...assuming there are any more generations to come. Nevertheless, these mongrels will learn what a mistake it is to mess with me!*

Back in space...

"Pan, I have a reading. There is a Capsule Corp. ship on THAT planet!" Bra exclaimed as she triumphantly leaped out of her seat. She whacked the back of the pilot's chair.

"Bra, knock it off! You nearly knocked the controls out of my hands. Then we could end up spinning into all those asteroid thingys that are surrounding that planet."

"Just get there okay! It's gotta be Trunks!"

Many moments later...

"We're just about to enter its atmosphere. Why can't we sense Trunks' ki?" Pan muttered.

"Well Ms. Sherlock, perhaps as you said earlier, he may be supressing it." Bra snapped back.

Pan huffed but said nothing. Now was not the time to start yet another cat fight with Vegeta's daughter.

Marron remained quiet in the back, but was intensly studying the planet through the windows.

"Gals, this planet looks very much like Earth. It's likely to have other lifeforms on it."

Bra and Pan both stopped their stare down at each other and trained it upon their other teammate.

Marron gulped, but continued. "Perhaps we should flyby and scan it first. As you both said, we don't want any surprises."

"Blondie has a point there." Bra said as Pan gave both the 'evil' stare. She considered herself the leader of this mission and she didn't want others telling her what to do.

"Fine. Whatever. We'll do a flyby." Pan mumbled as she reoriented the ship so that it would skim the planet just above its atmospheric ceiling.

Bra and Marron relocated to some scanners at the side of the cockpit.

"Oh, NO WAY! That can't be right!" Bra yelled.

"What?" Pan asked.

"Are those what this says they are?" Marron asked.

"Dad must've been tinkering with this ship somehow." Bra continued.

"WHAT?!" Pan asked once again, growing evermore impatient.

"But the readings make sense don't they? I mean, it IS possible isn't it?" Marron inquired.

Pan growled. "Dammit, WHAT?!"

"Maybe we should fly over that area again and retake the readings?" Bra mentioned.

Pan had enough. She quickly unfastened her seatbelt and launched herself at her two suspenseful teammates. She knocked both to the floor and pinned them by sitting atop both. She grabbed Bra's neck, ready to strangle.

"Dammit, I shouldn't have to ask three times. What the hell are you two not telling me!?"

"S--sa--saiyans here." Bra coughed out.

Pan immediately backed off. Her expression was that of shock. "You, you're kidding right? There's no more live saiyans left right? Didn't Vegeta say that?" she rambled.

Bra stood and dusted herself off then went to a nearby mirror to check her hair and clothes. "It's a damn good thing you didn't mess up my hair Pan. I may have gone super right then and there." she spat angrily.

Pan rolled her eyes. It was always the same with the image-conscious daughter of Vegeta.
"The readings, they can't be saying there's saiyans on that planet. Right?"

"That's what they say Pan." Marron answered. "That's why we want another flyby over that region.How can it be?"

Pan gruffed as she turned sharply on one heel and jumped back into the pilot's seat. She disengaged the autopilot and spun the ship sharply. Bra and Marron were caught off-guard and fell as the ship lurched sideways as it turned.

"Take it easy Pan. Geesh!" Marron complained as she saw Bra growling once again in anger of having to get up, dust off, and look in the mirror again.

"Pan, you lucked out this time. I doubt you'll be so lucky a third time so just don't do it. Understand?!" Bra spat venomously.

"Oh, Dende help us, the world comes to an end of just one of Bra's hairs is out of place." Pan muttered under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing Bra."

"I have sharp saiyan hearing too y'know."

"Then I guess I don't need to repeat myself then."

Bra was about to lurch at Pan, but Marron stepped between them. "Stop. We've come this far together. Let's stay focused on why we're here...Trunks remember?"

Bra and Pan didn't say another word. Pan focused on her flying while Bra made her way back to the console to watch the readings once again.

Marron shrugged. She'd never understand saiyans.

Back at the icy cavern...

Another day had nearly passed and Trunks was feeling stronger by the minute. He tested his ki with small, energy efficient ki balls, blasting ice chunks. He then tested his own body and levitated for a moment, stablizing himself and mentally reaching within himself to assure himself that his body would withstand flight. He was very nearly ready physically. Now he need only wait and find the right moment to begin his assault. He was beginning to feel time shift to his side. With the element of surprise and the furious rage of a super saiyan, Trunks aimed to regain his freedom with a vengence. Never before had he felt such fury within himself. His normally calm, gentlemanly side had stepped aside to reveal raw instinct for survival. It was an instinct that bore into him from the blood of his father and a species bred for the heat of battle. It was time to redeem his saiyan self...that of royal heritage and pride. It was what he had forsaken and denied all his life, fighting to be normal and fit in with full-blooded humans. It clawed its way through pain and torture, through hope and then failure. This time would be different. This time Trunks would unleash what he had fought for so long to keep pent up deep inside.

And just outside the atmosphere of that very same planet, a trio of ladies were about to embark on a shocking discovery. Would it be one they walk away from? Would they find and save Trunks, whom had a place in each and every one of their hearts? Or would they see a failure not even they could have predicted?

Just what kind of rude awakening were Taree and the other remaining saiyans in for? Would an enraged Trunks spell their doom? Would the trio of pissed off ladies with a mission upset the motion of events for everyone involved?

Only time would tell for all involved...

to be continued...