Cosmic Crisis 3 - A New Enemy

Note: Before you read this, I just want to clarify something. A few chapters back I stated that the Vela years are longer than those of Earth, hence, the ages of the Sidra-jins seem abnormally low. But if you do the math, it makes sense. Also be aware that Sidra-jin females marry young, around the age of 10 or 11 (13-14 in Earth years). Get it? Got it? Good.

Chapter 19 - Let the Celebration Begin

Carina paced the floor nervously. She was finally changed into her dress, which Reena and Ceres had complimented her on.

"What's wrong, Carina?" Reena asked?

"Maybe she's worried about birth control." Ceres snickered. Carina glared at Ceres.

"It got old really fast." She said.

"Whoa, Carina...it was a joke." Reena said. "You must be really stressed out. What is it?"

"NOTHING!" Carina snapped. "Oh...I'm sorry. I'm really worried."

"About what?" Ceres asked.

"About looking right and acting properly and being nice and diplomatic and helpful but not extroverted." She said, taking a deep breath.

"Carina slow down. You don't have to act anything." Reena said. "Just go as you are. You look great, you mood is...er...well, was lively. There's nothing to worry about."

"Okay, but promise me something." Carina said, stopping in her tracks.

"What is it?" They both asked.

"NO inappropriate jokes tonight." She said. "And you know what I mean. It doesn't bother me, but there are going to be some really...really important people there."

"Hai, Carina-sama. We won't." Reena said, and elbowed Ceres sharply in the ribs.

"Ow, Reena." Ceres complained, and then saw the look on Carina's face. "Oh, ok no jokes tonight, I promise."

Carina smiled and loosened up.

"Thanks."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, causing Carina to jump halfway across the room.

"Carina, just calm your nerves...you're too jumpy." Reena whispered. The door slowly opened and a figure stepped into the room.

"Kaasan." Carina said, straightening her hair.

"Carina what's the matter? You're trembling." Melina spoke, looking at her daughter with concern.

"I'm fine. I just need to calm down..." she replied.

"Well I came to tell you three that the party is starting in a couple of minutes, so you might want to come." She said, smiling, and looking around the room. "You girls look wonderful. You'll probably be turning quite a few heads this evening."

"Please...kaasan...don't remind me." Carina said.

"What do you mean?" Melina asked.

"Melina-sama, she's nervous. She's afraid she's going to mess up." Reena informed the queen.

"Little Carina...you have nothing to worry about." She said. She started to speak again but Aries passed by and walked in.

"Melina, we have to get going." He said hurriedly. Melina smiled one last time at her daughter before departing.

"I don't feel so well...why don't you guys go on ahead and I'll catch up in a few minutes?" Carina said, holding her stomach.

Reena and Ceres looked at each other.

"No, we'll wait." Reena replied. "Who are friends to desert one another, ne?"

Carina smiled.

"Thanks guys." She said, and stood up straight, patting her stomach and stretching her arms. "I'll be fine."

As they walked down the main hall of the east wing, their shoes clattering on the marble floors, someone approached the three of them.

"Ceres." He spoke.

"Cronus!" she said, and walked over to him.

"You look beautiful." He said, smiling, and taking her arm in his. Ceres looked back at Reena and Carina, smiling, and walked on ahead.

"Look at his body." Reena whispered into Carina's ears. "You can tell he's one of the elite Sidra-jin soldiers. She's so lucky."

Carina giggled lightly.

"Reena, trust me. You will find your prince charming." She said.

"I already had." Reena said sadly. Carina stopped walking and placed her hands on Reena's shoulders.

"Reena listen to me." She whispered harshly. "You are going to have fun tonight, I don't care what it takes. Now please open up your mind and forget about what happened...just for a few hours."

Reena looked at her friend for a few seconds before nodding her head.

"Good. Now come on, let's knock 'em dead, shall we?" she said, as they linked arms.

"Let's." Reena replied, and they headed towards the conference hall.

Trunks was the first into the room, followed by Goten, and then the three Sidra-jins. He walked around casually and observed the scenery.

There were about 2 dozen round tables, obviously for couples and groups of people, placed throughout the enormous room. There were also long tables, filled with food and drinks, set up against the wall. There were already many people attending, all of the men in tuxedos and formalwear, and the women were in beautiful, extravagant gowns. There was music and laughter filling the room.

"Hey Trunks, lost in the sheer excitement of it all?" Goten said sarcastically.

Trunks rolled his eyes at his friend.

"No, I was just making a note of something." He replied.

"What's that?"

"The fact that Earth and Vela are a lot alike."

"I know."

"But here, the sky is purple, and not blue." Trunks said, laughing. They entered more into the room, until they were near the middle. Suddenly, the moment Trunks had long since dreaded, Goten spied the food.

"Oh my Kami...look at all that...food." He said, drooling.

"Goten no!" Trunks said. "Don't embarrass us...please."

It was too late. Goten was already at the table, filling a place with enormous quantities of food, before Trunks could blink.

Carina and Reena finally made it to the conference hall, and approached the room where the party was being held.

"Ready?" Reena asked. Carina nodded in determination.

"Ready." She replied.

The two girls stepped into the room, the lights bouncing off of their gowns and hair, causing them to shimmer. Before Carina could introduce herself to a group of people standing nearby, Reena yanked on Carina's wrist.

"Carina look." She said, pointing. "That guy over there is making a total pig of himself."

Carina looked in the direction of Reena's finger.

"Oh! That's one of the Saiya-jins!" she exclaimed. "Come on!"

Carina made her way across the room, Reena following close behind, and headed towards Goten.

"Hi...Goten, isn't it?" she asked. Goten looked up and almost fell over from shock.

"Nat...er...Carina!" he said.

"This is my friend, Reena." Carina said, pulling a nervous Reena forward. Goten did a double take and backed up a few steps.

"Oh...it was...nice to meet you...Ree...na..." he said. "But I um...really have to get going." He said, clearing his throat, and leaving very swiftly.

"Right..." Carina said, following his disappearing form with her eyes.

"Oh great!" Reena said, obviously distressed. "He doesn't even know me and he already hates me!"

"Actually Reena, I think he likes you. Why do you think he got so nervous all of the sudden?" Carina noted.

"I'm not stupid Carina, you're just trying to make me feel better." Reena cried, and then stormed off. Carina started to follow, but the gap closed.

"DAMNIT!" She thought to herself. "Where is that Goten kid? I'm going to find him."

She started to head in the direction that Goten had just walked, but someone grabbed her wrist. Half-expecting it to be Reena, she spun around in surprise.

"There you are."

"Orion? What are you doing here?" Carina asked confusedly.

"What do you mean, I've been here." He said.

"Oh...right. Stupid me, I can't think straight." She said. "Help me find someone."

"Who?"

"Goten. Remember...one of the Saiya-jins from earlier today?" she said.

"What do you need to find him for?"

"Just trust me on this one." Carina said, and started to walk away, but Orion held onto her wrist.

"Don't waste your time, I'm sure he's halfway across the room by now and it will be nearly impossible to find him." He said. Carina started to struggle but just gave up and sighed.

"Whatever." She said, her voice hinting at agitation.

"What's the matter now?" he asked, smirking and raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing, and don't look at me like that." She said, growing more and more irritated by the second.

"What's gotten into you tonight?" he asked, his eyebrow still raised.

"Nothing has gotten into me!" she said harshly. "I just-"

"Princess Carina-sama?" someone interrupted. Carina turned around and saw a young couple standing in front of her.

"Y...yes?" she stammered.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." The woman said, extending her hand. "I'm Hera, and this is Castor, my husband."

"N...nice to meet you too." She said, taking the woman's hand and shaking it.

"So what's this we hear about you...getting married?" Hera said. Carina promptly facefaulted.

"Who told you that?" she asked, trying to appear calm.

"Well there have been rumors going around...you're of age by now anyway, we just thought you would have chosen a mate." She continued. Carina desperately wished that Orion wasn't in her presence and able to hear the conversation.

"No...n...not yet." She stammered.

The couple finally excused themselves and said goodbye before walking back into the crowd to mingle.

"Oh my god how embarrassing." Carina said, leaning against the wall.

"I see her point." Orion said suggestively. Carina could easily detect the hint in his voice.

"I don't want to get married yet." Carina said, folding her arms, but relaxed them again because she didn't want to appear angry. "My kaasan didn't marry until she was 19."

"Fair enough." Orion said. "Want something to drink?"

"No thanks...maybe later." She said. "I still want to find Goten. And where did Reena go!"

"Relax, I saw her with Sirius." He said, taking her hand. "You know Reena, she will be fine."

Carina sighed heavily.

"Right, I just need to relax...just relax..." she said softly.

Orion pulled her close.

"Want to dance?" he asked.

"Sure."

Trunks and Goten were talking about Goten's encounter with Reena from the past, when a lot of the couples began to dance to the slow song that had just come on.

"Great, now what?" Trunks said. "Just sit here and look like a bunch of losers?"

He turned back to say something to Goten, but he was already gone.

"What the...?" Trunks said, looking around. He then saw Goten and Reena dancing near the corner. Trunks wished to Kami that he had a camera.

"Hey Trunks." Ceres said, stepping close up him.

"Hi." Trunks said nervously.

"Do you want to dance with me?" she asked, smiling sweetly.

"S...sure." He said, placing his hands on her waist.

Ceres just sighed and leaned against him.

"Natalie is going to kill me for this." He thought.