Whazzup *insert your name* ! Guess what? I am officially done with school! *YAY* Freedom tastes so sweet…. *happy sigh*
Anyway, welcome new subscribers and congratulations: jimthebear2, SCStaff, 9thZfighter, mks 12 98, Prince Goku, Ky111, dcp1992, unwanted half-saiyan demon, selkadoom13, Buckets full O' Sunshine (EPIC name btw! :D) and Sirius potter2 for being brave enough to review! XD
Jimthebear2: Welcome! I am glad you like the first part! :D I will try not to disappoint! *no pressure*
SCStaff: The loyal corrector has struck again! XD Indeed, I meant 'stream' instead of 'steam', sometimes I just type so fast letters gets lost in the process. *sniff* Poor letters… You'll see that it is corrected, so thanks! You better take this job seriously! I am counting on you!
9thZfighter: *blushes* I feel so flattered! Thank you for the compliments! :D
Mks 12 98: Welcome back! I am glad you started reading the second part!
Dcp1992: Haha, I briefly explained it in one of the chapters in part one, I think in one of Gomih's flashbacks in chapter 15. If you are too lazy to go back and read it, here's a short summary: Trunks came to this time just before the android saga in his time machine at age twelve. According to me, he is the lone survivor of this time, and due to the fact that he is her biologically son, despite the time change, Bulma adopted him. Baby Trunks, as in the actual anime, was never born, due to this change. Gohan and Gomih were seven at the time, making Trunks five years older than them. They are thirteen now, and 13 + 5 = 18 :D Therefor Trunks is 18.. Make any sense?
*HAPPY READING!
…
CHAPTER 4: Damage Control
I plopped down on a soft set of grass, Gomih falling limply besides me, clearly still unconscious. My breathing was heavy and my arm flew to my chest, putting pressure on my rib which was obviously broken. I stared with a confused expression at my new surroundings.
The dark woods and mountain range stared back at me. I am back home… I realized as I saw our well lit house standing out like a decorated Christmas tree in the darkness.
How did I just do that? I asked baffled in my mind. Did I seriously go Super Saiyan three all over Raphael's ass, and teleported away using instantaneous movement in the same day? Weren't my techniques supposed to be dormant?
I clenched my fists in anticipation and I closed my eyes in concentration as I tried to use my advanced teleportation technique to move me to the lookout. I scoffed bitterly, figures…
It must all be in the mind… I realised. I just have to keep pushing myself to unlock more and more until I have everything back at my disposal.
It was late evening and dark outside. A gentle breeze made the trees sing in the darkness. The quiet beauty of the moon smiled back at me with billions of shining faces frolicking around her. The white glow of the moonlight shone through the trees and made their shadows dance ghostly around on the pathway.
My sister's sudden groan and stir made me flinch. I put my hand gently on her shoulder as I waited for her to return to full consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open slowly, but just as they saw the light she shot up, looking around her wildly for any sign of danger.
She flinched as she noticed that I was sitting in front of her and reached out to me, placing her hand on my face. "Gohan?" She asked unsurely in a soft voice.
I took her soft hand in my own as I led it away from my face and back to her body. "Yes it is me, genius." I patronized her, but my tone quickly turned to worry. "Are you alright?" I asked with big eyes.
She absentmindedly placed her hand on her forehead without looking away from me. "I think so." She said softly. "My head and stomach hurt a little bit, but other than that I am peachy."
I let out a deep relieved sigh at her assurance. I rose to my feet and extended my arm towards her. "I guess we'd better get back. Mom must be freaking out already." I said.
She wavered, staring intently at my hand for a few seconds before she spoke. "Gohan, who was that?" She asked out of the blue, her deep brown eyes meeting mine. "And how did we get back here, without the spaceship?" She continued bombarding me with questions as she frantically looked around her.
I plopped next to her on the grass again, sitting cross-legged. "Remember when I asked you if you would believe me if I told you that I was sent back in time, having lived an entire afterlife beforehand?"
Her eyes widened. "Was that someone you encountered in that time?" She asked; her mouth slightly agape.
"Yes." I confirmed after a while. "He was the major villain I pursued over five years in that time." I absentmindedly pulled out grass from their roots with my hands, and placed them on my leg. "And now that he knows about me… Maybe he remembers, I don't know." My eyes met with her terrified ones. "And if he does, we are in trouble."
"Where's the power you achieved in that time?" She asked. "They cannot just vanish, can they?"
"That's the thing, they are still inside me, but buried very deep. I think I'll have to train very hard to bring them forward again." I pouted. "And…" I hesitated, scrutinizing her expression. "You actually believe me?" I asked with a frown, a little baffled.
"Uhm, duh…" She made it sound like I should have found it obvious. "You wouldn't lie to me." She stated with assurance. "Mom forbade you after you told me about rain being angel-pee." She crossed her arms over her chest as she recalled that memory. "I was way gullible back then." She criticized herself.
"Was?" I teased, earning me a light shove on the shoulder.
"Watch it." She shot back menacingly. "So what was this world of yours like, anyway?" She asked curiously. "More importantly…" Her voice trailed off. "What was I like?"
"Kids!" Mother's shrill voice yelled, making both of us flinch. "Where the hell are you?!" She asked loudly as she ran onto the front lawn. "I know you guys are out there somewhere, your dad sensed your ki's!"
"Maybe if we stay very still, she will go away." I suggested in a whisper.
"I think it is more afraid of us than us of it." Gomih joked.
"KIDS!" Her voice rang through the entire woods, making some birds flee terrified out of their nests and filling the skyline with their loud squawks, signalling danger for the other animals.
"She is going to find us sooner or later." I reasoned as I got up.
"Rather later than sooner." Gomih grabbed my arm, preventing me from moving any further. "Don't be a hero Gohan." She stated dramatically. "You won't be much use if you're dead!"
I took a deep breath. "We are Saiyans for goodness sake!" I said bravely. "Hardened warriors quiver at the mention of our mere race, and we quiver in the face of sheer a human?" My voice deepened.
"If you don't come out now…" Her voice turned silent, a rare occurrence for our extremely talkative mother. "I see you!" She yelled after a few seconds. "You are on that cliff!" She revealed our hideout openly.
I let out a silent squeal and jumped behind Gomih, adjusting my body so I was completely concealed behind her back. She wasn't the most ideal body shield, but in this dire situation she would just have to do…
"You go first." I nudged.
She scoffed. "Big talk after that heroic speech of yours, we are Saiyans remember."
"Whatever!" I shot back. "You are the older child; therefor you have to protect me, so go!" I gave her a little push and she tumbled forward, tripping over the edge.
I peered around the tree I was hiding behind, just wanting to make sure my sister made it safely to the ground. I saw her walk with determined steps towards our hostile birth giver, stopping when she was about a hundred metres away.
"It was Gohan's idea Mother!" She yelled across the field, slandering my name. Ugh, why didn't I see that coming?!
I gracefully jumped from my concealed spot, using my arms on the tree to my aid as I imitate a slingshot action, propelling myself over the cliff. I landed in a spiderman-like stance on the soft grass about fifty metres closer to Mother than Gomih.
"That is not the case at all Mommy!" I defended my honour. "This little devil-child you conceived before me is a blatant liar." I got up in a standing stance. "If I have to be completely honest, I would say that we are equally to blame for this, well uh, situation." My eyes met with Mother's, and I cringed.
"If you think that I am going down with you, you are making a giant mistake!" Gomih ran up to me, poking me aggressively on my chest.
I pointed a shaky finger forward. Gomih followed my finger and flinched as her eyes met with the most terrifying thing known to a Super Saiyan.
Chi-Chi…
Her eyes were red with rage and her bangs waved violently like a flag in a storm, above her head as she stared us down, a strange yet very familiar angry aura flashing around her small frame. Her mouth opened wide, exposing her ravenous teeth as a thunderous yell escaped her throat, the sheer volume making us fall back on our butts.
"I HAVE HAD ENOUGH WITH YOUR DISOBEDIENCE!" The loud words streamed aggressively out of her lungs; making the ground we were sitting on shake a little.
"Chi, honey, calm down." Dad soothed behind her.
"Don't tell me what to do!" She yelled venomously and reached into her apron, holding her secret weapon threateningly in front of her body. My eyes widened. Gasp. No… Not the…
Frying pan of doom…
A peculiar high pitched squeal ran over her lips as she flung the ghastly cooking utensil our way. Everything moved in slow motion. I saw with dread how the pan spun slowly, and so, so accurately towards my unprotected head.
My sister's yell playing dramatically and abnormally slowly in the background, I stared death in the face. A determined expression formed on my face. Not today death, not today.
At the last possible moment, my hands instinctively flew to my face, flawlessly catching the indestructible weapon between my two palms. "Ha!" I exclaimed victoriously, but my victory was short-lived when my brain registered an excruciating pain.
"Arrrrrgh!" I yelled and yanked my hands away, making the pan shoot back over my shoulder. Another yell echoed through the area.
"Gohan, what the hell?" My sister's high-pitch screeched hurt my ears. I turned around, doing a little dance while blowing frantically on my aching hands. I saw Gomih doing the same awkward dance as me, waving her hand frantically to her vermillion forehead.
I stared at my palms; they were actually glowing bright red!
"Mother, that thing was still hot!" I yelled out in pain, as I sank down to the grass, pressing my burning hands on the cool grass. A sizzling sound actually emitted from the grass, followed by a thin layer of smoke.
Mother ran over to us and threw her soft lavender-scented arms around our shoulders as she pulled us in one of her legendary hugs. She planted quite a number of kisses repeatedly on our cheeks.
"I am sorry, I didn't mean it." She apologized and wiggled us against her chest. She shot us a strange look when she pulled away; a mixture of anger, relief and gratefulness were mixed in her eyes. She pulled both of us in one of her hugs again, pushing our cheeks together.
"My babies are okay, grounded until infinity, but okay." She sobbed uncontrollably.
Dad sighed. "I am glad we don't have neighbours…" He said slowly as he walked back into the house.
"Mom, can kind of not breathe." Gomih squeaked out, and thankfully she let go of us.
"What happened to you guys?" She asked after drying her tears. "Bulma said something about you stealing one of her spaceships." She frowned angrily down at us and crossed her arms over her chest. "Who taught you to be such criminals; I raised you to be honourable and kind…" She sniffed loudly. "But you turned out to be delinquents. Where did I go wrong? What did I do to deserve this?!" She ranted on and on, not giving us a chance to speak.
"We went into space and ran into some purgers who took us hostage and took our, Bulma's ship. We miraculously escaped thanks to Gohan." Gomih interrupted, overpowering Mother's cries.
"Are you hurt?" She breathed with a panicky voice and examined us. "Maybe internal…" Her eyes widened as her worried thought was uttered.
I flinched as she pressed against my side, directly on the sorest spot of my injured rib. Her eyes scolded me. "You are hurt." She said slowly and pressed more intensely on my side. I pried her clingy fingers from my abdomen.
"Mother it is nothing; just a bruised rib." I said in a soothing voice. "I have endured much worse in my life."
"Now you are saying I am a bad mother." She accused as she got up.
I frowned at her. "When did I ever say that?" I asked defensively.
"Just now; you claim that you have been hurt much worse. It is clearly aimed at me lacking to protect you from harm." She ranted.
"Mommy, I didn't mean it like that." I said and pulled myself from the ground. "I just said that you don't need to worry about it, I can handle a little bruised bone any day of the week." I smiled and planted a peck on her cheek.
"Well okay." She said, her eyes still piercing mine. "But don't hesitate to tell me when you are in pain, you too Gomih." She peered over my shoulder at my sister. "Even though I am so livid at you I can literally drive you through I wall right now, I wouldn't want my babies to be in pain." She smiled lovingly at us and headed for the house. "Your food is in the oven, oh and I was serious about the whole grounding thing." She spun around, looking at us again. "For the next two months you will not set foot out of this house, except when you are going to school." Her eyes travelled from my sister to me. "Are we clear?"
We nodded simultaneously.
Mother frowned. "I asked, are we clear?" She repeated in a voice full of authority.
"Yes Mother." We answered her fully.
"Good; I will see you kids in the morning." She wished us a good night and headed back to the house.
"Why did you tell her the truth?" I asked my sister when our mother was out of earshot.
"I wasn't aware I was obligated to lie to her." She said in an annoyed tone of voice.
"No of course not, but you are usually not that blatantly honest."
She frowned at me and placed her hands firmly on her slender hips. "What is that supposed to mean, are you calling me a pathological liar?" A tad bit of offence clung to her voice.
"You usually just put a spin on the stories you tell, that's all." I admitted.
She sighed. "I am just sick and tired of all the lying. It is bad enough we have to lie about who we really are to fit in, in school… I just don't want to bring that fakeness so close to home, you know?"
I smiled. "Yeah; the truth will set you free, right?"
She chuckled. "Exactly."
As I opened the front door a flash of heat blew into my face, epically contrasting the chilly breeze outside. Gomih sat at the kitchen table, resting her head tiredly on her arms as I warmed up our plates in the microwave.
She sat up straight again when I put the warm plate of fish, chips and salad in front of her. She closed her eyes as she sniffed in the heavenly aroma of Mother's extremely delicious cooking.
"Mom outdid herself tonight." She commented dreamily with a mouth stuffed full with food.
I nodded. "This might be the space-lag talking, but this seriously must be the best meal I have ever eaten."
"Amen."
We finished every scrap of food on our plates in less than ten minutes and groaned happily as we reclined back in our seat with full bellies.
"You didn't finish telling me about the future, or actually your past, since Mother rudely interrupted us." She started making a conversation.
I chuckled. "Why don't I start at the beginning?"
She smiled. "Preferably."
"It all started at the Cell Games…" I started. "But in this version I didn't survive." My voice trailed off in suspense; I decided to leave out the part about me taking Dad down with me, unnecessary information. "Instead of being sent to otherworld, I was whisked away to a magical realm, none other than Magisterial's, the highest Kai in existence, even higher than the grand Kai." A smile played on my lips. "He was the one who trained me for," I wavered, counting the years on my fingers, "Six years. Thanks to him I obtained the third and fourth level of the super Saiyan transformation."
My sister gasped. "There is a more advanced level of super Saiyan than the second transformation?" She asked wide-eyed.
I confirmed her question with a smile. "Anyway, it was in that realm where I met Draco." I chuckled at the sheer mention of his name. "In the beginning we hated each other; we were constantly fighting and playing mean pranks on each other… But those shenanigans made us grow close, forming a bond as close as brothers, if not closer."
The loud ticking of the clock in the kitchen distracted me for a moment, before I returned to my telling. "Magisterial has a guard; a group of twelve extraordinary fighters, professionals in the world of protection." I smiled. "The thirteen of us shared marvellous adventures, especially me and Reynard the great," I shook my head slowly at his memory. "That was how he always introduced himself…."
"When I returned to earth, exactly six years and three months after my initial death, you were all grown up. Ugh, and you and Trunks were in a relationship!" I retorted in disgust. "But I wasn't allowed to make contact with you guys. I couldn't compromise my cover… I had a mission to do after all."
My smile twisted into a scowl. "And the last person I want you to meet, Raphael." Goosebumps popped up on my skin at the mention of his name. "That vile creature you met earlier today also goes by the destroyer of worlds." A grim expression coloured my face. "He lives up to his name…"
I stared absentmindedly at the flowery-patterned tablecloth. "You know I almost defeated him…" I made my voice heard again after a few seconds. "I was actually on the brink of defeat, but your, and the others support gave me the power to conquer even that, and I narrowly escaped death's lingering fingers, allowing them to take the destroyer of worlds instead…"
"But he was still alive…" My voice trailed off. "And he took me with him, to wherever. We never reached the destination, but later my saviour revealed to me in a dream, after he warped me back in time, that it was the world of darkness, opposite of the world I got to know with Magisterial. He also revealed a new enemy, the mastermind behind all the evil schemes, the reason Raphael is as he is. And I get the feeling we are going to meet him face to face someday…" I smiled at my sister grimly.
"And the next thing I knew, I was back at the Cell Games… The moment just before the fatal mistake I did previously was made." I hesitated, staring at a blank space on the wall in absentmindedness. "The future version of me, or as he stated: how I would have ended up if my future continued at that pace… He saved me; he allowed me to have a second chance." I lifted my head up. "And I am not going to let that go to waste." I beat my clenched fist against the table, making it shake a little bit.
Gomih let out an impressed whistle. "So you say Trunks and I had a relationship?" A blushed formed on her cheeks as she absentmindedly turned a random string of hair around her index finger while looking down.
"That's what you took from that?" I asked in a rather loud tone, shocked that after all the wondrous thing I told her, she would choose the most trivial thing to comment on.
"Did we hold hands and kiss and stuff?" She asked shyly, ignoring my previous question.
"Now you're just being childish!" I accused.
"Did we?" She pestered.
I rolled my eyes. "Yeees." I answered begrudgingly. "And sometimes even in front of me." I cringed at the sheer disturbing thought. "It was disgusting."
Her eyes were sparkling. "Maybe I should ask him out; or maybe I should wait for him to ask me out!" She started squealing. "What do you think?"
"I think we have had a long and exhausting day, and should rather make important life decisions in the morning." Right on cue, I yawned.
She smiled. "You're right… A wonderful world awaits me in my dreams." She gushed idealistically, swaying from side to side as she walked up the stairs and to her room.
I put our used dishes in the sink, and quickly ran a soap-soaked sponge thoroughly up and down the porcelain surface of our dirty plates. I smiled at my face staring back at me from the shiny white piece of round porcelain and put them in the dish rack before I headed up the stairs, my fatigued legs barely carrying my up the height.
I gently pushed my door open with my right palm while rubbing away the sleep in my eyes with the back of my left hand. Not even bothering to switch the light on, I blindly made my way to my bed and safely fell stomach first, onto the soft heaven. Sleep took me as soon as I closed my eyes…
"Gohan!" My mother's sharp call yanked me violently from my dreams, and I immediately shot upright, staring dazedly at my surroundings. I groaned, still feeling groggy from the lack of sleep.
"Gohan!" She tried again.
"What?" I yelled back, annoyance apparent in my tone.
"Don't you dare use that tone of voice with me young man." She scolded. "Telephone."
I jumped out of my bed and leaped from the top of the staircase to the bottom on the first story, earning me the 'act civil' glare from my mother across the room.
I got a glance of the clock and frowned. Five-thirty, who would call so early?! I eagerly picked the communication device up and nestled it comfortably over my ear. "Hello?" I answered unsure.
"Gohan." I cringed as I heard Bulma's vibrant voice. "I hope you weren't still sleeping." She didn't sound sorry in the least.
"Bulma!" I exclaimed happily and leaned my arm against the table for support. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
She scoffed. "Save it suck-up." She retorted bitterly. "Would you guys mind coming to Capsule Corp before school this morning?" She asked friendly, cutting right to the chase.
"We are kind of busy today Bulma…" I lied.
She chuckled. "Let me rephrase that kid, you guys will be in my office before school this morning." Her voice was coated with venom.
"Okay, if you insist." I sighed a fake sad sigh. "I guess our education isn't that important."
"Damn straight." She replied in a peculiar accent before hanging up.
"What was that about?" Mother asked curiously as she flicked through the early morning news channels.
As if you don't know... "Bulma wants to see us before school." I answered with a yawn and headed for the stairs.
"Oh; and will it kill you to pack away the dishes once and a while?" She directed to me in an irritated tone. "I had to do it this morning."
"I washed and dried them Mother." I said slowly.
"But you left them in the rack." She sighed. "You only did the job halfway, next time I expect you not to slack off." She finally found a channel worth watching and placed the remote on a pillow next to her.
I frowned. Is she seriously going all mental over a pair of freaking dishes? I rolled my eyes; parents…
Knowing that I wouldn't be able to get any more sleep, no matter how much I tried, I jumped into the shower. For the most part I just stood there, letting the warm water rain down on my body and trickle down to the floor.
Five minutes before I decided to get out, I spent actually cleaning myself. I quickly ran the slippery bar of green soap all over my body, enjoying the soft, caressing texture the white foam created on my skin before it washed away with the current of water, flowing down into the drain as if they had never existed in the first place…
I massaged my scalp with the new shampoo Mother got and rinsed the soap away after I was done. A pleasant lingering smell of apple hung around my scalp.
As I got out I bound my white towel around my lower body in an inescapable hold. I walked over to the sink and grabbed my toothbrush. I vigorously brushed my teeth, making up for last night when I didn't brush. but stopped as my eyes met with the most disgusting thing I have ever seen in both my lives.
A giant red pimple stared back innocently at me from where it resided on my left cheek. I got closer to the mirror, wanting to examine the vile blemish more intently. It looked grosser, even dangerous, up close.
Trying to push the image of the volcano on my cheek out of my mind, I walked into my bedroom, my hair dripping the entire way as I walked. I released a small amount of ki, just enough to dry my hair. Hairdryers are overrated.
After pondering for less than five seconds in front of my open closet, I decided on wearing black shorts with a loose-fitting white t-shirt and a pair of slip-in shoes.
I was surprised that it was already six-thirty, almost time to go to school, or make Mother think that we are actually going to school today. I am probably going to be missing in action for another day of so, thanks to my 'concussion' and since we live so far away, Gomih isn't required to go to school, since I am not going…
I grabbed my backpack from the corner of my room and headed downstairs. The delicious aroma of bacon and eggs hung in the air, and I followed it to the kitchen. I immediately dug in to my plate in front of me, finishing it in record time and already asking for seconds.
After I finished my second plate, Gomih came down the stairs; cleaned and dressed. She was clothed in a pair of bootleg jeans, wearing a tight-fitting white tank-top underneath a buttoned-down red check-shirt. She topped the ensemble off with a pair of her favourite old sneakers and a silver-chain necklace with the lone pearl dangling down it in the middle she got for her birthday this year.
We finished our breakfast quickly and said our goodbyes before we blasted off into the sky.
"Bulma asked to see us this morning." I said as we were starting to speed towards Hercule City.
Gomih sighed. "Mom told me…"
It was silent for a while before she started talking again. "Do you think she is going to kill us?" Gomih asked in a small voice.
"Maybe she will have mercy…" My voice trailed off unconvincingly.
The rest of the forty-minute flight we flew in silence; the whooshing tune of the wind being the only sound between us.
We walked down the bricked path to the head entrance of the corporation. The doors opened automatically when we stood in front of it and we walked into the neatly decorated and toasty lobby.
"Gohan, Gomih, what a surprise!" The girl at admissions, I believe her name was Grace, exclaimed as she saw us. She was currently an intern here at the corporation, apparently having finished school last year.
Grace was quite pretty with her small, sweet round face and delicate features, her natural auburn hair handing in wild, yet stylish curls, flowing down to just below her ear, framing her face beautifully. Her hazel eyes were also very interesting to look at, and I could easily imagine someone getting lost in them.
"Yeah, we are here to see Bulma." Gomih answered the girl.
She frowned and stared at her watch. "We don't officially open till eight, but I am sure she won't mind if she sees it you guys. She is in her office." Her innocent voice claimed.
"Thanks; we will see you later." I greeted her and walked towards the elevator I knew so well.
"If we make it out alive…" Gomih added dramatically and followed me.
The elevator doors opened with a ring as we reached the third floor. We stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall until we reached glass, see-through door with a giant 'BULMA' nameplate resting in the middle; hard not to see.
I knocked on the door a few times and shot my sister a reassuring look when I heard footsteps near the threshold. The door suddenly swung open, Bulma holding it open and leaning against it with her left arm.
Her straight blue hair fell gracefully to just above her shoulders and shiny diamond earrings sparkled underneath the blanket her hair created over parts of her face. A short black dress clung like a second skin to her body, and skyscraper heels rested on her feet, making her even more taller and intimidating than what she usually was.
"Well, well, well…" Bulma stared at us with her arms crossed over her chest. "If it isn't the little thieves…" She eyed us with anger.
"In the flesh." Gomih joked and flashed Bulma a brilliant smile.
She scoffed, not amused by my sister's comedy attempt. "Admission is the first step." She turned around and walked over to her workspace, placing some papers in different compartments as she resumed in a seat behind the giant mahogany desk.
"We are really sorry by the way." I tried to salvage the situation early.
She laughed; a deep throaty witch-like cackle. "You already had the chance to make things right yesterday kiddo, but yet still you decided not to return to earth like I asked; I am the one talking now!"
"Sorry…" I whispered.
"Firstly, let me just say that I am glad that you guys made it back safely; a part of me is glad that you returned without any major scarring... A small part…" She whispered under her breath, but my heightened hearing was able to pick up the words. "Okay, now that that is said, where the hell is my ship?!" Both of us cringed at her venomously loud tone.
She extended her open palm towards the two of us, expecting one of us to place the capsule of the craft in her hand.
"We kind of don't have it…" Gomih admitted slowly.
"What do you mean?" Bulma asked in an angry voice. "If you don't have it, who does?"
"Some extra-terrestrials… You see we left it on some weird planet, realm thing we discovered…" I answered truthfully. "We couldn't have gotten it, even if we tried. We were held hostage and barely escaped with our lives…"
"You what?!" She yelled. "That was my prized ship!" She wailed. "My baby…" Her expression turned confused. "If you left the ship there, how did you get back to earth?"
"Instant transmission." I answered flawlessly, hoping that she would think that Dad taught it to me.
She sighed, and ran her hand slowly through her hair. "Okay, since that was a two billion zennie ship, here is what I am going to do…" She placed her hand on her face. "I have one of two choices." She lifted two of her fingers in the air. "I can liquidate all your and your family's property, and use you as slaves until the debt of two billion zennie is paid off… But I can hardly punish your mom and dad for your mistakes, so I think the best course of action will be for you two bastards to get comfortable here because you are going to me build a new ship, while I drink martinis until I puke."
"Deal." I immediately spoke for both of us, relieved that the punishment wasn't that harsh. "To the second option.." I made it clear, just in case.
Her fingers curled around her cup of coffee, comically portraying a picture of: 'Best scientist in the world.'
"I am glad we could reached a civil agreement." She eyed us with angry eyes. "Now off to school you two." She took a sip of her coffee. "I don't want to ruin your education." She winked at us.
"Yeah, we are kind of not going to school today…" I confessed.
One of her perfect blue eyebrows arched in confusion. "And why not? You don't look sick or anything." She observed.
"Let's just say I took a speeding baseball to the head, and I am supposed to have a 'concussion'." I made inverted commas with my fingers. "Mother doesn't know about the whole ordeal, so Gomih and I have to keep on the down low." I explained, pointing to the backpack on my back.
She whistled. "Why am I not surprised?… Well get along, I have some work to do, but remember, your punishments officially starts on Monday."
"Noted." Gomih said and headed for the door. "Oh is Trunks here by the way?" She asked, pointing to the house.
"Well, I am not sure, thief." She took a quick look at her watch. "It is too early for him to be off to school already, so he probably is still here."
"Good, I want to say hi." She smiled.
"If you don't have anything to do today, you might as well start helping me draw up some innovative new prototypes." She suggested.
"I actually have some business to discuss with Piccolo, but I am sure Gomih won't mind helping, she is an excellent artist."
Bulma smiled. "Sure I will ask her. Have a fun day kiddo, but not too fun, I am still mad at you."
I chuckled and waved at her as I retreated out of the door. "Sorry again Bulma!" I yelled over my shoulder.
I used the stairs instead of the elevator this time, and got to the lobby in record time.
"So how'd it go?" Grace's feminine voice asked concerned.
I smiled at her. "Not as bad as I had anticipated… But let's just say that you will be seeing a lot more of us in the near future."
She chuckled. "Well, I am glad that you survived her wrath." She turned to the computer again and the keyboard chattered merrily as she typed something. "Have fun at school." She shot me a last smile before I exited the building.
I made sure no one was near me before I blasted off into the horizon; luckily, since it was still early I had a clear range. The wind caressed my skin as I flew in the direction of the lookout. I turned to turbo speed, and a white flame-like aura swirled around my body as I travelled through the skyline.
In no time I reached the lookout and landed with a soft click of my feet on the grand pearly white tiles. I walked in the direction the medium-sized palace-like building residing at the opposite end of the ancient platform, a place I knew so well; the lookout was our base and practically our home during time of distress, especially during the whole Cell ordeal.
The shade of the palm trees was casted over my body as I walked on the pathway to the building, an array of tropical trees planted on each side of the aisle.
"Gohan!" I recognised the youngest guardian of earth's cry immediately.
"Hey Dende!" I exclaimed happily and gave my little green friend a tight hug.
"Wow, you grew." He exclaimed as he scrutinized my appearance.
I laughed. "I don't think it is possible to noticeably grow in two weeks, but thanks." I looked around the lookout, searching for big green friend.
"Looking for Piccolo?" He guessed as he saw my expression.
"The one and only." I confirmed. "Do you know where he is?"
He chuckled. "He is in the back, meditating."
I smiled. "Figures." I sprinted off into the direction Dende pointed out. "Thanks!" I yelled and darted forward.
"Hey kid." Piccolo greeted me with closed eyes before I even turned around the corner.
I leaned casually against one of the nearby pillars. "Hey mister Piccolo."
He opened his eyes and looked me over. He got out of his meditational stance and stood up, walking towards me. "What's wrong?" He asked with a frown.
"How can you possibly know that something is wrong?" I challenged.
"Your aura feels disturbed." He answered without hesitation.
I laughed. "I guess one can say that…" I looked up, straight into his green eyes. "I want you to train me." I said bluntly.
He frowned and walked down the stairs to the front of the throne room. "You are the strongest being on earth, why would you possibly want to receive training under me… Again?" He smiled.
I chuckled. "I want mental training; I want to reach the inner mechanisms of my mind." I elaborated.
"What do you want to reach?" He questioned curiously.
I smiled deviously. "If I unlock it, I will show you." I continued mysteriously, earning me another frown.
"When do you want to start?" He asked, not pestering me with more questions.
"Right now, if possible."
He nodded and blasted into the sky, flying at a high speed in the direction of the Northern woods. I smiled and jumped up after him. I quickly caught up to him and we flew together in a comfortable silence until we reached the serene opening, Piccolo considered sacred.
We walked the short way to the waterfall and he resumed a flawless meditation stance on the soft, emerald green grass near the cliff. I followed him and sat in my own clumsy version of a meditational stance in front of him.
"Close your eyes and think about nothing except for your breathing and heartbeat. Concentrate on that." Piccolo's voice was so soft and soothing that goosebumps formed on my skin.
I did as he commanded and closed my eyes. I shut out the entire world, the rhythmic sound of my even breathing and heartbeat the only sounds audible to me. My body slowly floated up; it was like I was sitting in the air now.
Thump… Thump… Thump… Thump…
"Steady yourself with a few deep breaths, you are tense."
Breathe in… Breathe out… Breathe in… Breathe out…
"Good." Piccolo complimented. "Your mind is clear…" He breathed. "Now focus and find what it is you are searching for…"
I travelled as a third-persons spectator in my mind. I walked through the crowded halls that occupied my every thought. A flurry of images about my happiest days appeared in front of me, soon followed by the bad ones. I must have walked past my memories…
The next section I walked by was filled with information. Equations, facts, numbers, words; all hung in the space above my head, filling up the entire area. I had to squeeze tightly through all the knowledge to get to the next section.
Feelings swirled around me, overwhelming me with a set of positive and negative emotions at the same time. The slow pace I was travelling in turned to a run as fear involuntarily filled my body. As soon as I was out of the swirling feelings, I stopped and a neutral emotion paused in my system.
Without commanding my body to move, my feet automatically travelled forward, leading me despite my protests. I stopped moving when I reached a particular dark space inside my mind. I lifted my palm up, holding my hand near my face, and forming a small ki-ball in my palm. It radiated enough light for me to see the entire area clearly.
Gasp…
A huge metal box occupied the far back of the dark section. I walked closer and noticed that several chains and complex locks were intertwined around the crate, making it impossible to open… Except if you have a key, which I didn't…
I knew with all my being that this was where all my dormant powers and memories of my afterlife were hidden.
I curled my free hand over one of the locks and gave it a steady pull. The chains yanked back, as if they had a mind of their own, and made me fall on my back.
I quickly jumped up and made the light-beam float in the air. Using both hands this time I pulled on the chains, using my feet as leverage on the indestructible box, I heaved with all my might.
Nothing…
Frustration filled my entire body and tears of desperation started to drip down my face. I was so close! So freaking close… But yet so far.
A yell erupted from my throat as I transformed directly into my second Saiyan transformation. This time I grabbed a part of the metal and pulled and pulled until I felt my face turn red from the exertion.
I increased my power and I actually started to feel how the box bent under my grasp. I clenched my teeth and another agonised yell burst through my lips. My muscles screamed in protest, but I ignored them.
I felt how the metal shifted, creating a small opening. But it was enough. The memories flew out of the small hole, and flooded my mind. I fell backward at the sheer intensity of it.
Some of my dormant techniques like instantaneous movement and ki-manipulation also escaped. The power of my third Saiyan transformation also slipped through, but just barely.
I stared in anticipation at the silver metal box, but nothing more came out. The hole was too insignificant for my more complex techniques and powers to fit through, but nevertheless I smiled. At least I had some now…
My eyes shot open, and I was aware of Piccolo shaking me violently by the shoulders.
"Kid?" He asked unsure as his frantic eyes met mine.
I jumped up and held him in a tight hug out of utter joy. "It worked!" I yelled as I let go of the embrace. "Thank you Piccolo!"
"What worked?" He yelled back. "It looked like you were dying from my perspective out here… So please enlighten me." He said hostilely and crossed his arms over his chest.
I smiled brilliantly, exposing all of my teeth. "Let me show you." I loosened my arms and neck before I resumed a specific stance. I lowered my power to less than zero, and kept that shield around my body, not wanting to alarm the others with my power or damage the earth, especially this sacred sanctuary.
I clenched my fists next to my sides and stood with crouched shoulders. I closed my eyes and located the freed transformation effortlessly in my mind. I smiled and released the vast amount of power in mere seconds, standing completely still as I felt the warm and familiar energy spread through my bones and muscles.
I felt my hair extend in length and stop at the small of my back. My muscles bulked out a little, and I seemed taller.
I laughed as I saw Piccolo's baffled expression. If we were cartoon characters his mouth would have fall, literally, to the ground.
I smiled. "So…. What do you think?" I asked in a chirpy voice, eager to know what he was thinking.
"What… You? I don't understand." He stuttered out unintelligently.
I chuckled. "This is the third Saiyan transformation." I explained.
He blinked quickly. "Okay, but why can't I feel any power emitting from your body? It feels like there is just an empty space of air occupying the area in front of me."
"I lowered my ki; I don't want the others to freak out when they feel my powers." I elaborated and extended my arm. "Want to feel it?" I asked.
He hesitated, throwing me an uncertain gaze.
I shot him an encouraging smile. His hand slowly travelled to my arm, and after hovering his limb above my arm for a few seconds he grabbed on to it and his eyes widened.
He abruptly let go of my arm and rubbed it absentmindedly as he stared at me with an expression mixed with awe and confusion. "It is mindboggling." He stated simply.
I chuckled. "That is one way to put it."
"How?" He asked baffled. "You have trained since the Cell games, but not so vigorously for you to have reached another level of the Super Saiyan without anybody finding out about it."
I smiled deviously. "Have you ever heard of the Magisterial Kai?"
Piccolo's eyes widened, and for a moment I thought that they were going to pop out of his sockets. "How do you know about him?" He questioned with a shocked tone of voice.
"He was the one who trained me."
His mouth fell open. "You received training under the Magisterial Kai?" He exclaimed with a yell.
I nodded. "I will explain everything to you later Piccolo." I smiled broadly. "I want to test out my new powers."
"You do that. " He said with a stunned expression. "I am going to lie down for a bit."
"See you!" I waved at my Namekian friend as I blasted off into the skyline with incredible speed. I chuckled under my breath. Poor Piccolo… I thought. I caught him completely of guard today!
As I flew back through the mountain series I felt so proud of myself for achieving what I thought would be impossible. I flew down towards a lake, still at full speed and extended my index finger down to the water. A pathway formed in the liquid as my finger trailed through it.
I frowned as I felt a strange ki emit from behind one of the trees next to the lake. I stopped abruptly in my tracks, making my long hair tumble over my face. I brushed my thick blond hair out of my eyes and concentrated with more focus at the vibrating ki. I could distinguish four types of animals and human ki's mixed in with it.
That is one of the ki-manipulation techniques Magisterial teaches his students. I cringed. It must be Raphael!
Knowing that it is a lost cause to turn away and surprise him at this point, since he can already sense my presence, I decided to attack him directly with full force.
I landed in the valley between the reeds and walked slowly forward, wanting him to think that I didn't suspect that it was him behind the green growth, and just before I reached the tree I clenched my fists, ready for anything the vulgar being will throw my way.
I reached the tree and I heard the rustling of some bushes behind it. One more step…
I lunged forward with my clenched fist, hitting it against something hard.
I froze as I saw my fist completely embedded in the giant stump. The tree shattered under my grasp. My eyes widened as I sensed the peculiar ki behind me. I felt a hand against my shoulder, and instinctively turned around, flinging another fist with full force forward.
I noticed the person was wearing a brown trench coat, dark bug-like sunglasses and a bright blue beach hat. Real discreet Raphael, I thought as I stared at his ridicules ensemble. My fist was nestled cosily between the person's fingers as he caught my punch. I threw my other fist at him too, aiming for his face, but it had the same fate.
I saw the person expose his perfect white teeth as a brilliant smile form on his lips.
"So we meet again…" He said in a deep dramatic voice.
Seeing that his attention shifted, I used my position to my advantage and used all my strength to pick him up and throw him over my head. He squealed like a pig heading for the slaughter house as he travelled through the air, and crashed on the ground; a small crater formed under his body.
I jumped back a few feet, already in a perfect fighting stance and holding an already formed small ball of energy in my palm. I was surprised when he didn't get up; he just laid there between the leaves with a smile apparent on his face.
As he turned to me he let out a girlish yell. He immediately arose in a sitting position, waving his hands defensively in front of his body. "What the hell Gohan, I am offended!" The voice exclaimed.
I frowned; he was clearly not the destroyer of worlds. "Who are you?" I aired my curiosity.
He jumped up in one swift movement, making the stray leaves swirl angrily around his feet. He plucked his coat and hat off his body in one swipe, exposing his identity.
"Rey?" I asked in disbelief under my breath.
"Don't just stand there!" He scolded. "Give your bestie some sugar!" He extended his arms openly towards me. I powered down back to my base form and ran with a smile on my face to him and jumped eagerly into his arms, hugging him tightly.
"What are you doing here?" I asked with a broad smile as he put me down.
He fell down on the grass, sitting comfortably with his legs extended in front of his body. "Your escapade yesterday caught Magisterial's attention." A frown suddenly formed on his brow. "One moment you were there and the next you just vanished, just to appear hours later on your planet again." He raised his eyebrow at me. "What is up with that?"
I smiled grimly. "You guys are spying on me." I accused.
"For your safety bro; you don't have access to all your powers now, so…" He defended. "It is just a precaution."
I took in a deep breath. "What would you say if I told you I know where Raphael is hiding?"
His eyes widened and his mouth fell slightly agape. "Seriously?" He asked with a baffled expression.
I nodded. "Gomih and I decided to take a spontaneous trip through space to unwind a little, and the next thing we knew, we landed on some dry and dull planet. We were immediately taken hostage by the inhabitants and later discovered that it was Raphael who operated the realm." I sat down next to Reynard. "He attacked us and was at the brink of killing me…." I shivered. "Probably sensing the direness of the situation, my hidden powers kicked in and I used instantaneous movement to get back to earth." I explained thoroughly.
He whistled. "Boy that is a doozy!" He exclaimed. "Can you take us there? If we can take him out now before he has the chance to complete his army, it would be golden!"
I pouted. "Not exactly…" My voice trailed off. "You see, I typed in random coordinates in our spaceship's navigation system, which I can't remember and to top it all off, the craft is still in his hidden realm." I explained.
He growled. "We never get a break, do we?"
My eyes lit up. "Bulma!" I exclaimed, earning me another confused glare.
"What?"
"Bulma." I repeated with a broad smile and jumped up. "She will know what to do." I extended my arms towards him. "Come on! Do you want to catch the destroyer of worlds or what?"
He smiled and eagerly took my hand. I pulled him up and we blasted immediately into the sky, flying at full speed. I was flying slightly ahead, so Rey could follow me.
"I have missed you." He said out of the blue. "Two years is a long time to go without your bestie."
I smiled. "I didn't even remember you at first." I admitted.
"The time shift made your brain a little confused?" He guessed.
I laughed. "Yeah something, like that…. But in this week actually, future me came to me in a dream and explained everything!" I exclaimed. "I was so relieved that I wasn't crazy, so relieved that you guys didn't forget, like everybody else."
He grabbed me in a sudden noogie. "Who could forget someone like you?" He asked playfully.
I chuckled. "Exactly!"
"Just one question though…" His voice trailed off.
I turned my head to him. "What?" I asked curiously.
"Not that I am not enjoying the view, but wouldn't it be quicker to use instantaneous movement to get to this Bull-chick of yours." He aired his opinion.
I chuckled. "I am not used to using it." I confessed. "Grab on; oh and by the way, it's Bulma." I said her name slowly. "If you call her the Bull-chick, it is the last thing you will ever say…"
He gulped. "Bul-ma." He practised slowly. "Damn, she sounds intense."
I nodded and grabbed on to his arm as I performed the technique I haven't done in two years, except for yesterday… "We are here!" I exclaimed, shocked that I did it correctly. I pointed down to the dome like building below when I saw Rey look all over, except for the actual building itself.
"The buildings on your planet sure are ugly…" He said in a disgusted tone and started descending quickly, but I grabbed his arm, restricting him from moving.
"The people on earth don't know about ki, you cannot just fly down there!" I yelled in a whisper.
"Then it is about time they learned!" He argued.
I shot him my serious eyes. "Dude, I really want to keep my real identity hidden."
He nodded. "Okay, so what do you propose we do?"
"Bulma created a safe landing spot for cases just like this." Using my arm to lead him forward, I flew towards a thickly vegetated area behind Capsule Corp. I let go of my ki, and dropped vertically until I was safely between the shrubs. Rey soon followed.
"So you say this Bulma person is pretty good?" Rey asked absentmindedly as he brushed some stray leaves off his clothes.
I smiled. "The best."
We walked out of the bushes and soon found the pathway that lead directly to the corporation. I leaned against the large heavy door, leading to the garage, and opened it by pressing all my weight against it.
The gigantic room was well-lit and many a scientist was actively busy with experiments and building mechanisms.
I easily spotted Bulma from the herd of scientists. She was standing with Gomih over one of her glass tables. Her short hair was bind up in a messy ponytail on the top of her head and she chewed on the back of a pencil as she studied some papers in her hands.
"Hey Bulma." I greeted with a smile.
"Hey kiddo." She said absentmindedly as she continued studying the piece of paper.
"Who is your friend?" Gomih asked as she walked over to us.
"Gomih, Reynard; Rey, Gomih." I pointed to the two entities as I introduced them.
"Nice to meet you Gomih." Reynard said with a sincere smile as he shook my sister's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine." She smiled. "So how do you guys know each other; I usually know all of Gohan's friends."
We looked at each other, not sure what to say. "He is kind of one of my friends from the previous time." I admitted with a whisper.
Her eyes widened. "No kidding." She said as she ogled my friend. "So you kind of already know me, from that time?" She asked with an excited smile.
He nodded. "And I am glad to say that you are much nicer in this time!"
She frowned angrily at him. "What is that supposed to mean?" She nearly yelled.
"Scratch that." Rey said under his breath after her outburst.
"If I am scratching anything it will be your face!" She retorted back and I placed my hands on her shoulder, restricting her from mutilating my friend.
"He is just joking sis." I soothed. "You are very pleasant to be around with, right Rey?"
"Uh, yeah totally." Reynard stuttered.
"Whatever." She retorted annoyed and resumed her seat next to Bulma again, flicking through a random magazine.
"Uh, Bulma, can I bother you for a moment?" I asked, trying to get her attention.
After a few seconds she reluctantly tore her eyes from her documents. "Why not, I am not getting anywhere with this crap." She threw the piece of paper aggressively onto the table and stared at me with eyes bursting with irritation. "What?"
"Maybe I can help with that?" I suggested. A frown formed on my brows as I studied the paper.
INGREDIENTS: CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
300g good-quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
3 eggs
1/4 cup (55g) caster sugar
1 tbs good-quality cocoa powder, sifted
300ml thickened cream, plus extra whipped cream to serve
Grated chocolate, to serve
Step 1
Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water (don't let the bowl touch the water). Stir until melted. Remove bowl from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
Step 2
Place eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat with electric beaters for 5 minutes, or until mixture is pale, thick and doubled in volume. Fold in cooled chocolate and cocoa powder until combined.
Step 3
In a separate bowl, whip cream until thickened (be careful not to over-beat). Use a large metal spoon to carefully fold the cream into the chocolate mixture, trying to keep the mixture as light as possible. Spoon into 6 serving glasses and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour. Remove from fridge 15 minutes before serving, then top with extra whipped cream and grated chocolate to serve.
"Bulma, don't tell me you're cooking again?" My voice trailed off as I stared at the recipe, remembering the last few horrible encounters she had with a kitchen.
"Don't you dare judge me Gohan… Besides I only have two days to prepare this dish from hell!" She pointed an angry shaky finger at the paper in my hand.
"Why don't you just buy something from the deli like you always do?" I asked.
She sighed impatiently. "Because I have been invited for dinner at the Mayor's house and they asked me to bring dessert! I surely can't arrive with a bowl of deli pudding; they are classy people, Gohan, they will know…" She explained.
"Maybe you can ask one of your maids to make it for you." I suggested. "It will technically be homemade, just not by your hands."
She clenched her brawny mannish fists. "That is just the thing!" She shouted, gesturing her arms wildly around her. "I want it to made by my hands." She placed her open palm in front of her eyes and stared at them. "This hands." Her lips started quivering.
Reynard cleared his throat. "Oh right, we came here to ask if you maybe could track the spacecraft Gomih and I… uh well, stole." I directed to Bulma.
"You are talking to a genius here Gohan, of course I can." She bragged, her previous sad tone gone as quickly as it appeared. "Are you kids going to get it back for me?" She asked with a frown.
"Of course!" I exclaimed.
"Well, that means you won't be able to help me built another one." A smile trailed on her lips. "But, then you will have time to help me design another ship and make this crappy dessert for me!" She clasped her hands together and darted off to her huge computer, her white lab coat flying behind her as she walked.
"Was that a yes?" Reynard leaned closer and whispered it into my ears.
"Coming from her, yes." I confirmed and walked over to Bulma.
She sat in her chair staring intently at her desktop for a few seconds before wheeling over to one of the keyboards. She started typing veraciously, her fingers moving over the keys at lightning speed, and a screen popped on. I placed my arm against the desk for support as I studied the words. I smiled as my eyes ran over the coordinates and quickly put a memo of that on a stray piece of paper I found on the desk.
"Great, thanks Bulma!" I thanked and hugged her around her neck.
I ran over to Reynard who was idly staring at a random scientist. "I don't know who you are kid, but you are making me very uncomfortable." He stared into Rey's eyes as he said that.
I pulled Rey from the man and muttered an apology at him over my shoulder. I pointed at the piece of paper in my hand, holding it in front of his eyes.
"You got coordinates?" He asked with a baffled smile and took the paper out of my hand, examining it more closely.
"No, I got that scientist, who you just majorly creeped out by the way, number for you." I said sarcastically.
"Grab on, we have a little trip to make!" He exclaimed with a bright smile.
I curled my arm around his, and waited. He closed his eyes, but after a few seconds we were still standing in the middle of the garage.
"I can't go there." He claimed with a deep frown. "It is like some sort of magic is propelling me from entering it."
I frowned. Of course, future me said something about Raphael's hideouts being undetectable for the guard members.
"How are you guys planning on getting there?" Bulma asked in a puzzled voice as she stared at us.
"Maybe we can borrow another ship." I suggested. "With your permission this time, of course."
"Sure." She agreed quickly. "You are retrieving the ship you actually lost in the first place, so I guess it is okay."
"Thanks!" I said gratefully and started to sprint into the direction of the shuttle launch area at the back.
"No so fast young man!" She yelled after me, making me stop.
"What?"
"There is no way I am letting you go alone." She stated and walked over to her white telephone hanging on the wall. I slouched my shoulders as I noticed her dialling our home number, probably wanting to contact my father.
"Hey, Goku!" She greeted over-friendly. "Yeah, I am doing great. Can you come over?" She asked bluntly.
"Of course not in an hour; right now!" She said in an authority like voice. "You can eat your lunch later."
"I don't care!" She yelled. "If you aren't here in the next five minutes I am coming to get you, and you know I'll do it." She threatened.
"Great!" She exclaimed chirpily and hung up the phone, only to pick it up yet again and dial another number I didn't recognise. "Vegeta, get your ass down here!" She yelled and immediately slammed it on its hook when she was finished talking.
Dad arrived in the next five minutes and Vegeta soon followed, his arms crossed over this muscular chest.
"What is it now woman?" Vegeta growled in his deep voice.
"Yeah, Bulma, what is so urgent?" Dad asked as he absentmindedly rubbed his stomach.
Bulma placed her arms around Rey and my shoulders. "These brave gentlemen here, volunteered to get my ship back, and since yesterday went so badly, I want you guys to escort them. Just to make sure they are safe."
"I don't see why I have to go along with Kakarot's brat to clean up his mess." Vegeta spat and turned around.
"We came across a powerful villain yesterday Vegeta." I started. "And if we cross paths again we could surely use your assistance as Royal prince of the Saiyans to defeat him."
Vegeta turned around, a challenging smile on his lips. "Since you put it that way." He reasoned. "But I am not doing it for you!" He yelled as he stomped past me.
"Gomih, do you want to come along too?" I invited.
She was already heading to the launch area. "Of course."
Bulma readied one of her other ships in a matter of minutes. We entered the craft and each of us resumed in separate seats. Bulma manually controlled the ship from outside, and just as we were finished buckling up, the female robot-voice started to count down from five.
"Blast-off." I braced myself for the impact I knew was coming, but was surprised to feel that the pressure wasn't that bad, definitely not as intense as yesterday's. It just felt like I was riding in a speeding car.
Everyone was calm, enjoying the ride, except for Reynard of course. He was screeching like a terrified banshee the entire time, until the ship slowed down after about two minutes.
"Don't you have a manly voice." Vegeta taunted Rey as he got out of seat.
"I was testing what effect a lack of gravity would have on a person's vocal cords." Rey stubbornly defended himself.
Vegeta chuckled. "Nice save sunshine, but this spacecraft has gravity." He pointed to the gravity generator at the back of the control room.
"Oh." Rey stuttered, not having a better comeback at the top of his mind.
"Gohan, I don't believe I have met your friend." Dad tried to make small talk as he unbuckled his belt.
"Where are my manners, Dad this is my friend from uh school, Reynard." I gestured a hand to him.
"Nice to meet you sir, you must be Gohan's dad?" He fakely guessed as he shook my father's hand firmly. "You guys look very much alike."
Dad smiled at me. "That's me." He said cheerfully.
"Do you need help unbuckling?" I asked my friend when I noticed that he hasn't even attempted to get out of his seat.
Reynard placed his hands defensively over the belt. "No!" He shouted. "I mean, I am comfortable like this." He said in a calmer voice.
Dad tapped me on my shoulder, diverting my attention from the frightened Reynard. "Son, can I talk to you for a moment?" Dad pointed to the back of the ship.
"Sure." I walked with him to the back and sat on the end of the bed in the small bedroom. "What's up Dad?" I asked curiously as I eyed him pacing back and forth in the room.
He paused and turned to me, facing me with a gentle frown. "Son, I don't know if it is appropriate for your friend from school to be joining us on this trip. I don't want him to get the wrong idea of our powers; the whole charade we built up with Hercule, has served us pretty well and…"
"Sorry for interrupting but I am going to stop you right there Dad." I said as I looked my father in the eyes. "Rey knows about ki." I said slowly, wanting the words to sink in.
"He does?" Dad asked with a questioning frown.
I chuckled at his expression. "He might not look like it, but he is actually a fighter." I stated truthfully.
Dad sat on the bed next to me with a baffled expression on his face. "I would not have guessed that." He said as he stared intently at the ground. "Is he an Earthling?" Dad asked with a frown. "Not many earthlings know how to use their ki."
I hesitated. "Well, no." I admitted. "But I am not quite sure where he is from."
Dad nodded, accepting my explanation. "Okay, if you trust him."
I smiled. "With my life."
He frowns. "Seems a bit extreme for a person you've known for less than a week, but I trust your judgement." Dad got up and started to walk back. At the last moment I grabbed his arm, restricting him from moving.
"Dad, wait."
He turned around and stared at me expectantly.
"I want to show you something." I said slowly.
"What is it?" He asked with a smile.
"Can you maybe sit down?"
Dad sat on the foot of the bed next to me again. "Just go with it, okay?" I breathed as I cupped his head in my hands and closed my eyes.
Using the meditation I did with Piccolo today to fuel my thoughts I pushed the memories from my mind through his skull. I felt how the images of my afterlife swirl around his head. I specifically pushed the memories of Raphael and Magisterial through.
Dad jolted away from me after I showed him what I wanted to. "What was that?" He gasped, looking at me with big eyes.
"Remember the stuff I told you the night I had another nightmare?" I asked, my eyes searching his.
He nodded. "Yes..?"
"Do you believe me now?"
He turned his head askew. "So this," He pointed to his head, ",you just played in my head, was your old memories?" He guessed correctly.
"Pretty much." I confirmed.
"But I saw myself in there." He noted with a vague expression.
"Of course you were there." I declared.
"But why can't I remember it, I surely lived through it, but why don't I have any memory of it?" He questioned.
"You are mortals." I started. "The only ones who can remember are Magisterial and his guard, and me…"
"I saw that kid in there too?" Dad made the statement sound like a question.
I chuckled. "Yeah, he was one of my comrades in that time." I explained.
"And I thought you were just making up stories, fantasizing scenarios in your head to deal with the trauma you went through with Cell." He looked at the ground. "I am so sorry, son." He looked up again, staring me right in the eyes. "I have been a terrible father, can you forgive me?" His brown eyes melted as they stared into mine.
"I guess I cannot blame you… I must have sounded far-fetched." I defended him.
"I believe you, now." He said the words I longed to hear.
"Guys we are going to land!" Gomih yelled from the control room. Dad and I walked out of the room and took in our seats. We all buckled up and waited for the descent. It was a bumpy ride, and Reynard yelled even louder than before, but nevertheless we made it in one piece to the ground.
I was the first one to unbuckle my seat and rushed to the door. I waited for everyone to line up behind me before I pulled down on the latch, opening the door slowly…
As I looked out, I noticed nothing but the brown desert-like sand. I gracefully jumped out of the craft, surprised that the aliens who attacked us earlier didn't do it again, they were nowhere in sight actually…
"I don't see what the big deal is." Vegeta retorted annoyed as he walked slowly with his arms crossed over his chest down the steps of the ship. "This is a desolated area."
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Reynard whispered to me as we walked a few steps ahead of the group.
"Positive." I assured; no doubt in my mind that we were on the same planet. "We just have to make our way to his chambers."
I walked ahead, with the others following me close behind. "Gohan this is the right place, but why can't I sense any of their ki's?" My sister asked as she caught up to me.
"I know." I said, looking straight in front of me. "But remember they possess the skills to lower their ki to the level that it seems like they are a vacuum in the air." I reminded her.
She nodded. "I guess we will find out now." She pointed in front of her. "Isn't that the building we were held in?" She asked unsure.
I squinted my eyes to get a better look. "That is it…" I confirmed. "Hey guys, you see that building?" I shot loudly over my shoulder. "That is where Gomih and I were held captive in." We walked past the withered prison and soon found ourselves walking on a stoned pathway.
Walking through a threshold, we stood in a large room, with Bulma's spaceship standing innocently in the centre of it. Our feet clicked against the stone floors as we made our way to the craft.
I noticed that a yellow note stuck on the ship and instantly grabbed it. 'You didn't think I would stay here, did you? Don't worry, we will see each other soon enough, earthling. R
My blood ran cold as the words registered in my brain.
"What is that?" My dad peered over my shoulder, and I abruptly pushed the note into the deepest corner of my pocket. I didn't want them to see it… I didn't want them to see the proof of my failure; I didn't want them to blame me…
"Just checking if the ship is okay." I lied.
Dad looked around. "We should probably get back. This place is giving me the creeps!"
"So much for needing my help." Vegeta retorted bitterly as he started walking back to the ship.
I pressed the small button on the side and the giant craft shrank down to the mere size of a capsule.
We hurried the short way back to the craft which brought us here, and quickly started travelling back to our home planet.
I was quiet the entire trip back; basically just speaking when someone asked me question. I was worrying about the future, if there was even a future…
"Are you going back?" I asked my friend from otherworld when we were almost at our destination.
A small smile twitched up the corners of his lips. "If you think I am leaving you alone here, you are crazy. Think of me as your bodyguard." He turned his head to me, exposing his teeth. "I have already enrolled in your school."
"What grade?" I asked.
"Eighth, like you, duh." He shook his head slowly. "It wouldn't be very helpful if I, as your bodyguard, weren't near you at all times."
"But you are seventeen; you can maybe pull sixteen off, fifteen at the most…"
He smiled a devious smile. His image blurred in front of me and his frame shifted from tall to my length and his face grew rounder, more babyish. "Convincing enough for you?" He taunted and turned back before the others could notice his change.
"I forgot about that technique…" My voice trailed off. "I guess a congratulation is in order; you are an eighth grader!" I playfully shook his hand.
My hand rested in my pocket as our descent to earth started, my fingers touching the paper Raphael scribbled on. I raised my head to look out of one of the large window, feeling comforted by the peaceful image of my home staring back at me.
I couldn't help but think: will I be ready…?
…...
Hey there! What'd you think? Don't forget to review!
*announcer voice* When will Raphael make a surprise visit to earth, and will Gohan be strong enough to defend his planet, or is he going to need some help..? *suspenseful voice* Find out everything and more, in the next chapter of Gohan: The Untold Story Part 2!
(Ps. That recipe is a real, and EXTREMELY delicious chocolate mousse recipe… I have actually made it a few times!)
See ya! : )
