In Your Dreams

Chapter 17

In Your Dreams: Chapter 17

''This can't be right.''

Bulma looked out of her driver's side window as she steered the large hover van in a circle. According to the radar that was tracking the signal from Vegeta's cell phone, this was the general area they needed to search. However, the terrain below was a frozen wasteland filled with nothing but snow and ice for as far as the eye could see.

Trunks scanned the white landscape below and his frown deepened. ''No way. There's no way a lab is down there somewhere.''

The blue haired woman shook her head and began to descend. ''I know it seems strange, but this is where the signal is coming from. Goku and Vegeta are within twenty-five miles of this spot.''

Gohan, who had ditched his usual suit and tie for his old training gi, didn't seem convinced. He had his own suspicions about why they were tracking the signal to a place like this, though he wasn't sure he wanted to voice his thoughts out loud. Fortunately for him, or unfortunately depending on how you looked at it, Piccolo was more than willing to speak up.

''Are you sure they didn't just kill Vegeta and dump the body out here?''

Silence settled over the cabin until Trunks once again spoke; this time with a little anger in his voice. ''That's ridiculous! My father can't be killed by a bunch of humans! I can't believe you'd think so little of his skills as a warrior, Piccolo!''

The Namekian merely shrugged and continued to look out the window as the aircraft they all rode in finally landed in the deep snow. Regardless of whether or not the demi-Saiyajin wanted to believe it, they still needed to consider that scenario as a strong possibility. These humans had already proven themselves a worthy and capable opponent when it came to handling Saiyajins.

Once the vehicle was on the ground Bulma cut off the engine and stood up. She'd gathered Gohan, Trunks, Goten, and Piccolo together for this particular mission. She didn't feel the need to bring Yamcha, Tien, or Krillin along. None of them knew of what Goku had gone through, and she doubted the Saiyajin wanted that to change. Instead she'd opted to keep the rescue party as small as possible and she limited it to family and, in Piccolo's case, close friends.

''Alright. I'm getting a temperature reading of 40 below zero out there, so everyone limit your search time to no more than twenty minutes at a time. I want you all to return here to warm up and get progress reports from the others. If you find something, don't go in alone. Come back here and wait for the rest of us.''

Goten frowned and folded his arms. ''Only twenty minutes at a time? But it'll take forever to find them that way! Our ki should keep us warm enough...''

Bulma shook her head. ''No! Saiyajins or not, you were not made to withstand these kind of temperatures, with or without your ki to warm you. Goku fought an enemy in conditions like this years ago, and he even said he had trouble gathering his ki and focusing when he was so cold. It's very easy to get hypothermia in these conditions, so I BETTER see each one of you every twenty minutes.''

Low mumbles filled the cabin as the younger men mumbled under their breath, but they all reluctantly agreed to the rule; except for Piccolo.

''I can control my body temperature. There's no reason for me to stop until I find them.''

Sharp blue eyes snapped to the Namekians' suddenly tense form. ''I don't care about your alien abilities! I said every twenty minutes, and that means you too, mister!!''

Piccolo lowered his eyes away from the woman's fiery gaze and mumbled a low ''yes ma'am'' under his breath.

Bulma snorted and pointed to a storage area behind the group. ''Ok, everyone grab a coat before you go; along with gloves and a hat.''