*Bana's POV

"Mom... uh, I told you I was sorry..."

Even today she's still in a dour mood--though whether the cause was what I did to Trunks during the spar or just Dad's pending pay, I couldn't be sure yet. Better get ready.

Presently she turns to me as she's frying something, and glared.

"That again? ...What did I tell you about controlling your powers, Bana?"

"...I-I didn't mean to seriously wipe him away, Mom, honest! It was just... uh... a method to help speed things up..."

"Yes, and that 'method' nearly cost us a life! Seriously, son, you're getting a little too powerful for my taste... No, the power itself is fine, otherwise you won't even survive that encounter; it's your attitude that needs proper refining--and I'm not really sure backside-slapping will do much to help in this..."

"Well... sorry. I feel bad--"

"In any case, once he gets home, we'll see what tricks your father might suggest to repair that. For my part I've had enough."

"...What?! Oh, no no no, please not him..."

"You forced this on yourself, Bana."

"Mom~!"

"Don't plead with me."

"But--"

"Tell you what, young man: best solution for you is to wait for him while reflecting your past actions. Now, unless you wish to eat overcooked takoyaki for lunch, leave me by myself. You'll know when it's done."

Darn...

"Okay then..."

I reluctantly sauntered away, still thinking of what she said.

You already know for yourself how strictly Mom could deal with me at this point, I believe? Well, pass the ball to Dad. I know he's way weaker than she is--but I had absolutely no idea if he could be strict at all in this respect, and if so, what are the lengths he'll be willing to go...

Would he smack me outright in the face, say?

Or ground me in my room, door locked from outside, for who knows how long?

Or maybe have me stand exposed to sunlight by midday?

Then again, he might also content himself with a simple, deep and sincere apology... I just don't know!

...Duh. Might as well finish today's homework...

As I prepared to open my pencil case close to my open notebook in the living room, the phone nearby rang.

"Bana~ get that for me, will you, dear?"

"Complying!" then, to the mouthpiece, "Yes. Bana speaking--"

"Ah, Nephew? ...Listen, go get any of your parents, now!"

"...Wha? Auntie, what's--"

"Don't ask, just do! Urgent!"

Well, Mom's coming this way, so I passed her the phone.

"Saui."

She listened quietly for a few minutes.

"...One hour?! What kind of a warning is this? ....Alright, but my husband is-- Geez, alright, we'll be there!"

She slammed the phone, panting fiercely, then turned as I'm just about to do the first problem.

"You. Pack up and follow me, quick. Frieza's coming. Yes, I'm talkin' 'bout that Saiyan menace. Hurry now."

"You mean... I'm joining the fight?!"

"Right now."

"...Dad?"

"I'll see about him. A thousand soldiers at least... Well, son, are you done?"

"Uhh, sure, it's not like I'd have to wear that armor again... I'm good as it is."

"Should've done just that, but no matter. Pass me that pen, and wait outside."

As I proceeded to do as told, Mom thoughtlessly tore away a page of my notebook and scribbled some words.

Gosh... hopefully it's a blank, or I'm toast!

***

"Let me get this straight... Frieza's arriving once more?!"

"You heard me. Managing to rally a thousand soldiers in such a brief span... Might as well use them to rampage through the cities. That they had not showed how shrewd he is, as expected of a 'cosmic emperor'."

"Huh..?"

"Tactics, Bana. He knew Earth's warriors would be induced to try and halt him and said army. Beat the defenders, and the walls he could crack at leisure."

"So then... where are we headed?"

"The Western shores."

"Always from the West, eh..."

Mom kept quiet and accelerated her dash.

"Don't lag, now!"

***

Uwah... she's right. A bunch of people had already gathered.

There are Gohan, Krillin, Master Roshi (I got to know him from the time at the cruiser; he's quite strong despite the looks), Piccolo the Namekian, as well as Tien, that three-eyed baldy monk with martial tendencies. Add to that Mom and me... that makes in all seven fighters, until and unless Dad would notice Mom's note and come to our aid fairly soon. Opposed to that is Frieza and his bunch of guys. Frieza himself is seated in a levitating chair, aptly designed to fit his petite physique.

...What? Of course I haven't met him personally--I just guess he's the boss from that chair, and it seems I'm right about it.

"Hello, everybody."

"Wha? Bana, you are going to fight them too, seriously?!"

Krillin looks surprised.

"Well, my mom seems to be okay with that, so..."

"...Right now we need practically everyone able to fight out," she put in, "and my son's prowess is second to none, you'll see."

"I guess you're free to think like that, but--"

"Besides, Frieza would not know about Bana yet," she flicked a gaze to me, "unless he does anything stupid... such as purposefully provoking him."

"Great," Piccolo mused, smiling, "provided you limit yourselves to fighting Frieza's men only. They are already numerous to begin with, and Frieza himself is on an entirely different level as far as we know..."

Again Mom directed a 'Got that?' look at me. I readily agreed.

"For Frieza himself, I believe we'd have to leave him for my dad or Vegeta," said Gohan.

"What--those two blockheads are somehow not around?!"

"I understand your surprise and annoyance, Saui, but yes... they are presently training with Beerus in his home planet, I believe," Gohan answered.

"I wouldn't fuss too much about Kakarot, but... oh, when I get my hands on that Vege... see if I wouldn't skin him!"

"Enough," Piccolo mediated. "Focus now is to somehow stall them. Anyone here good enough with words that would now care to demonstrate his or her skills?"

I craned around. None volunteered--until another spacecraft passed us overhead.

"That logo... it's..."

Mom gaped as she followed the craft's trails with her eyes.

"Oh, so you do know something." Tien remarked.

"Well..."

"Well, Mom, so what mark is it?"

"That's the Space Galactic Patrol Organization; I believe I need not go too deep on their general occupation?"

"I can imagine, thanks. Whoever's in that vessel is aiming to put Frieza under arrest, right..?"

As it was, no one did so much as crack a smile.

Huh, so it is that serious...

Piccolo grumbled. "Powerful as members of that organization are believed to be, just one of them might not be of too much aid..."

"Hi, everyone..."

Two figures slid out of the craft.

"B-bulma!!"

"Auntie!"

....

Bag of crap, just how far would Uncle's family members expose themselves in harm's way?! I can see Trunks doing so since he's at least part-Saiyan; but now it's his mother, an Earthling through and through with at best questionable combat potentials...

...Ah, however, she does bring someone else... and this has to be the owner of that plane--the said officer from Space Galactic-whatever.

Having been told of the situation, there followed a short banter between Frieza and Aunt Bulma. My impression? She appeared to have come across him at some point in life, to his acknowledgement; but the encounter must have been kinda unfavorable (or it's just due to her swearing in the last part of dialogue?), for in the end he decided to mobilize his army anyway.

As they charged and we--including Jaco, the galactic patrolman--prepared our stance, I couldn't help but feel this thrill. I could--and did--wound Trunks, one of the sons in our royal line. Against this motley group, I might as well wreck them all and not do it alone!

"Right!" holding his walking stick like a marshal's baton, Master Roshi said, "in my estimation, you guys ought to stand against at least 180 of them; that should be able to hold them off 'til Goku and Vegeta get here. Wish you all a good fight, boys! Here they come!!"

So begins my very first real-time war situation.

***

By this time you ought to know what is expected :3