Disclaimer: Dragon Ball/Z/GT belongs to Akira Toriyama and anyone I haven't mentioned. I am just writing this for my own and possibly the enjoyment of other fans.
Note: I have no clue how long this fic will be. It's an Episodic fic the over arching plotline is very easily broken into story arcs each with their own title and length. It is heavily based upon Sliders or Marvel comics Exiles in characters hoping into alternate worlds and dealing with what they find there.
Warnings: Well each episodic section will have it's own warnings as being alternate worlds each one will be different. I have chosen to rate this fic as Mature because some of the worlds will be very dark.
Travelers:
Prologue:
"Is there any way your information could be wrong?" Dende asked the bureaucrat standing on the edge of the platform with him. "Is it possible that your records are incorrect and this venture is unnecessary?"
"Our records are never wrong; they have to take this trip." Dende felt a pang of irritation at how the bureaucrat was dead set on this course of action that was going to cause a great deal of trouble for him and his world.
"Couldn't you just double check the records before yanking these two young men out of their lives?" He saw the oni glare at him in response. "I mean it wouldn't take but a few minutes for you to send an inquiry."
"That isn't my department I am supposed to inform them of their fate and send them on their way." Dende gave up he was going to have a devil of a time explaining this to their families and once again he wished for the days before had to deal with the bureaucracy that governed all the various facets of creation. "It is time to bring them here."
"Can't we at least wait till they finish their dates?" He asked looking back down at the nightclub where the two where currently dancing with two girls. The oni shook it's head and clapped its hands causing the two to appear on the look out looking dizzy and confused. "I'm sorry about this but there isn't anything I can do." He said to them as they turned to him for answers.
"These are Goten and Trunks the half saiya-jin offspring of the two remaining pureblood saiya-jins in this time line?" Dende nodded in response and watched as he turned toward the stunned youths. "I am pleased to inform you that the department of time line management's records indicate the two of you are to be travelers for the duration of one year, three months, seven days, twenty-three minutes and three seconds."
Dende couldn't believe that was all the explanation he was going to give them. "Dende what is going on here?" Trunks demanded angrily. "Who is this guy and what the hell is a traveler?"
Dende was reminded of his father and once again wondered how he was going to explain this to Vegeta. "He works for the Bureaucracy in charge of governing over time lines."He glanced over at the Oni. "I wish I could do something to prevent this but word has come from higher up that I can't."
The oni ignored him and addressed the two young men. "A traveler is a person our records indicate must disappear from their own time line and journey through alternate worlds until a set period of time is up." He looked at them as if they were all stupid as he continued. "You are familiar with alternate time lines?"
"Yes we are familiar with alternate time lines." Trunks said angrily as he glared at him. "But what records and why do we have to do anything you say?" Dende watched as the oni glanced at his watch and then turned back toward them with an annoyed look on his face.
"The records of the time line management department indicate you two are to vanish from this time line for a duration of one year, three months..." He stopped when a ball of energy whizzed by his head. "That was uncalled for." He said primely and Dende had to suppress a laugh. "The simple fact is our records state this will happen so it has to happen."
"Why?" Goten asked speaking for the first time. "I mean who controls the records and what would happen if we don't go?" Dende was surprised Goten wasn't stupid but he wasn't as bright as either his best friend or his older brother.
"The records are controlled by a different department I just deal with enforcement." The oni said glancing at his watch again. "And if you don't depart at the prearranged time then this time line and all the others you were scheduled to arrive in will have to be removed to protect the rest." Dende watched the shock on their face at the implication.
"When you say removed?" Trunks asked a dark look in his eyes. "Are you saying that everything will be destroyed?" Dende knew that was exactly what the oni was saying but he wasn't going to be the one to bring it up.
"Yes, it is the only way to protect other time lines from a cascading reaction that could destroy all of creation." The oni said still watching his watch as if the destruction of universes was business as usual to him. "Our department has to keep order otherwise time travel would wreck countless universes." He smiled. "Why the situation with your alternate self involved four time lines and countless hours of paperwork." He said pointing to trunks. "Now the two of you are powerful enough to make this difficult will you co-operate or shall I schedule this universe for destruction."
"Can we do anything to stop this Dende?" Goten asked him as Trunks was just glaring at the ground. Dende shook his head as he saw the two look away. "I guess we don't have a choice about it do we Trunks?"
"No, we don't." Trunks said turning a dark glare on the Oni. "What about our families will we get to say good bye to them?" The oni shook his head no as he continued to stare at his watch. "Dende will you tell them?"
"Of course I don't think your father will take it well." He said with a frown. "I imagine your mothers won't take it very well either." He saw the Oni finally turn away from his watch. "I will see the two of you when you return." The two young men nodded and then looked over at each other.
The Oni gestured and two watches appeared in front of them. "These will count down your departure from each world." Dende watched as they put the watches on. "You'll move from world to world automatically when the timer reachers zero." The oni looked back at his watch. "Times up you'll make the first trip momentarily."
"Wait a minute what happens if we die in one of these worlds?" Trunks asked suddenly. "And is there anything we aren't supposed to do in these worlds?" The oni didn't answer as the two disappeared in a flash of light.
"I shall be leaving to file my report now." The oni said with a casual glance over at the Kami of earth.
"What happens if they die?" Dende asked he knew Goku and Vegeta would be noticing their sons vanished powers signatures soon. "Also why don't you stick around and help me explain to their fathers what has happened?"
"What happens if they die?" The Oni paused and then shrugged. "No idea it's outside of my department." The oni said cheerfully and then frowned as Goku appeared obviously worried. "As to your other request I simply don't have the time I have several important reports to file." The oni vanished as Goku turned a curious look on Dende.
"Goku, I will be happy to explain everything but let's wait for Vegeta I will need your help to keep him calm." He wasn't sure anything could keep Vegeta from going ballistic but he had to try. He quietly summoned Popo from his room. "Mr. Popo if you would please collect Bulma and Chichi as they will need to hear this as well."
To Be continued...
I know Trunks and Goten get sent to Alternate worlds is a common fic cliche in this fandom. I don't really care I though it would be a fun fic to write and that's all I really cared about. I decided rather than going with the typical invention causing it to instead go with the idea that since the cosmology of the DBZ world is such a bureaucracy that if there was any force governing travel between worlds it'd be just as screwed up and regimented. Thus their records say this happens so it happens regardless of there ever being any rhyme or reason.
Again this fic will be episodic in nature with each world visit having it's own storyline and differences. As a result warnings for each individual episode will be included.