Pt 4

Nekura sat on the floor in his quarters, staring at the images of the Saiyan impersonators on his personal viewscreen. Of course the information he had obtained from Ritan's mind would correspond with what Kakarot had claimed. He had been a traitor after all. What was bothering Nekura, however, was how much more Ritan's mind had revealed. Apparently, his adoptive father had been following rumors regarding a couple of Saiyans who had survived the destruction of their planet.

Nearly six months earlier, the ship had come upon Earth and discovered the rumors to be true. From there, a study had been done on the two full blooded warriors and their children and the Lord had decided he wanted the youngest of the children, Nekura. Commander Zora had been sent to capture him and he had been given to Jessna to transform into what he currently was. Those thoughts had infuriated him so much that he hadn't hesitated in killing the bastard. It wasn't true! He had clear memories of growing up on this ship. Hell, he could remember aiding in the conquering of a small planet when he was just four years old! So why was this bothering him so much?

A soft buzzing filled the room, announcing the arrival of a visitor. 'Come in, Zora,' he said silently and listened as the door slid open and closed and Zora's soft footsteps crossed the room. He didn't look up at her as she came to a stop next to him, keeping his attention on the images. Finally, she said, "You are confused. You have allowed Ritan's treacherous mind to fill you with doubt."

Nekura didn't reply. There was no need to. She was right and they both knew it. He could feel her gaze on him, studying him. "There's something else that adds to your doubt," she said slowly.

Damn woman. He just couldn't keep anything from her no matter how strong his barriers. He sighed. "When I was fighting telepathically with the Namek, he repeated what the demons had told me. That I am half Saiyan and Kakarot's son. But he went further than that. He said that the Saiyan home world had been destroyed nearly forty years ago, killing all but four males who were away at the time. Two were Prince Vegeta and Kakarot. Kakarot was a baby at the time and just before the planet was destroyed, he had been sent to Earth and grew up there."

"So, according to the Namek, you couldn't possibly be the last surviving Saiyan because the time line is all wrong," Zora said matter of factly. She moved so she was in front of him, then sat down. "Nekura, do you trust me?"

Nekura frowned. "Of course I do. You and father are the only ones I can trust."

"Then come into my mind and view the memories I have of the day we found you. Eradicate all doubt and confusion those demons have filled you with."

Nekura gazed at her for a few seconds, feeling the woman's mind opening to him, inviting him in. Once he felt the invite, he opened his own mind, reaching out and making the connection. He closed his eyes, feeling the familiar pull as his consciousness joined with hers and he was taken back in time, nearly ten years earlier....

Zora gazed around the dying planet with an air of boredom while her men searched the area. The planet was in a system they were passing through and would have ignored had it not been for the strange signal the bridge had detected and relayed to Lord Nexus. His Lordship, curious about the signal, had ordered her to take some men down to investigate the source. That had been well over 2 hours ago and the elusive source had yet to be found. She was starting to contemplate a halt and return to the ship when one of the men called out, "Commander! Over here!"

'Finally,' she thought, heading to where her men were gathering. A small crater that had collapsed some time ago had been dug up, revealing a little surprise; A space pod. Zora's eyes narrowed as she looked at it. "It's Saiyan," she murmured. "Must have left it behind when they were last here. No wonder this planet is dying."

"I don't think so, Commander," one of the men who had gone into the crater to examine the pod said. "It's malfunctioning. Must have crashed landed. It's stuck in stasis and there's someone in it!"

"What? Are you certain?" Zora asked in surprise. Must be fairly deep stasis, she hadn't sensed anyone.

"Positive Commander, this thing's occupied."

Interested, Zora asked, "Can you open it, Solider?"

"Yeah I think so, it'll just take a few minutes." At her nod, the solider set to work and five minutes later, the door was slowly opening. Zora could feel the solider's surprise as he looked inside. "Uh, Commander..."

Zora jumped down into the crater and moved to the solider's side. He moved away and she looked into the pod, discovering just why he had been so surprised. Curled within, less than a year old, was a Saiyan baby. A boy.

"Must have been sent off world before it was destroyed," the soldier murmured. Zora silently reached in and gathered the baby up. "Have the pod brought to the ship," she ordered. "Some of the parts and technology may be useful."

"Yes Commander," the solider replied and Zora, baby nestled securely in her arms, teleported off the planet and back to the ship. She went immediately to Lord Nexus' chamber. "My Lord," she greeted, moving down to one knee. "We finally came upon the source of the signal. It was a Saiyan pod that had crashed landed sometime ago. Probably shortly after the Saiyan home world was destroyed. There was an occupant." She stood and moved up the steps, stopping when she reached the top and kneeling down again so Nexus could see what she held.

"A Saiyan child," the Lord murmured, a trace of surprise in his soft voice. "So there was a survivor." A bone white hand emerged from the darkness, a blue glow surrounding it. The glow appeared around the baby, vanishing a few seconds later as the hand returned to the darkness. "This child is special, Commander. Do you feel it?"

"Aye, my Lord," Zora replied, looking down at the stirring infant. "He will be a very powerful warrior if he survives."

"He will survive, Commander. As of this moment, this lone survivor of a dead race is under my protection. He shall be the son I was never able to have. Take him to the Doctor. I want to be certain he is healthy and has experienced no side effects of his long term stasis."

"Aye, my Lord," Zora replied. She bowed her head, then stood and left the chamber for the Doctor....

Nekura opened his eyes at the same time Zora did, their barriers automatically going up as the connection closed. They gazed at each other silently, the confusion and doubt Nekura had been feeling quickly dissipating. "Thank you, Zora," he said after a few minutes. "I will not allow their lies and deceptions to confuse me again."

Zora allowed a small smile to cross her lips as she reached out and touched his cheek. "I know you won't. Now I want you to practice the techniques I taught you. We will be testing them on the enemy tomorrow."

Nekura nodded and as Zora left him alone, began practicing for the deaths of the demons.

Trunks sighed as he stared at the food on his plate, ignoring the activity around him. He and Bulma were at an outdoor cafe, having lunch. Or rather, Bulma was having lunch. Trunks just wasn't interested in eating. He wanted to be with his father, Goku and Gohan, training to help Goten but his mother had dragged him out gadget shopping, stating she needed his advice and opinions. He had tried to sneak away once or twice, but it was like she had eyes in the back of her head. So, he suffered through, distracted mind never leaving Goten and the younger's boy's situation. Oh Dende how he missed his friend...

"Honey," Bulma spoke up from across the table, concern in her eyes, "You really should try to..." She was cut off by the sound of an explosion and terrified screams coming from down the street. "What in the world...." Bulma exclaimed, both she and Trunks jumping to their feet and moving to try and see what was happening.

People raced passed them, separated by the little fence that marked the boundaries of the cafe and panic stricken screams filled the air as another explosion rocked the ground. Trunks' gaze drifted skyward and his eyes widened when he spotted the cause of the explosions. "Goten!" he shouted.

"What? Where?" Bulma asked even as she looked up and spotted the boy herself.

"You'd better get out of here, mom! Things are probably going to get really messy!" Trunks exclaimed, raising his ki and shooting off into the sky, ignoring his mother's shouts to come back. Goten was his best friend. He wasn't going to hide from him and let him level the city. "Goten! Stop!" he shouted, coming to a stop when he was about ten feet away from the other boy. He drew in a sharp breath when his friend turned his gaze on him. Now he understood, just by looking in the other's eyes, just why Goku had been so shook up.

"Well now," Goten said, "I finally get to meet the other abomination spawned using a Saiyan body. And I must say you are all very repetitive. My name is Nekura not Goten. I was hoping to get the attention of the two imposters but you'll do for a start."

Trunks closed his eyes, reminding himself that Goten's mind had been poisoned against them. The anger and fear he had felt at Goten's disappearance beginning to surface, Trunks opened his eyes and looked hard at his friend as he powered up to Super Saiyan. "I'm not going to waste my breath telling you what everyone else has already told you. But I do want to say one thing before we start this."

Goten smirked lightly. "Go right ahead."

"I am not an abomination. My name is Trunks and before they took you and twisted your mind, you and I were best friends. We grew up together and I just want you to know that no matter what happens, we will always be friends. Even after I have to kick your ass."

Goten burst out laughing. "Very amusing, demon. Are you ready to die now?"

Trunks didn't have a chance to reply as he dodged a sudden ki blast. He returned the blast, then rushed forward to meet his friend in close combat. Keeping in mind what he had been told about Goten's newfound telepathic abilities, Trunks put to use what Piccolo had taught them about mental barriers, hoping to keep the other boy from cheating. It worked, but only for a short time. Trunks was either too inexperienced or Goten too strong. It was probably both but either way Goten soon broke through Trunks' defenses and there was nothing Trunks could do that Goten didn't know about. Even when Trunks tried to lead Goten to a more suitable battlefield, away from the city, the boy wouldn't go for it, forcing Trunks to remain where they were to fight.

Thirty minutes had not yet passed and Trunks was already battered and bloody. The others hadn't been kidding when they said that Goten was stronger and faster than he had been. The city block they were in wasn't doing too well either. Buildings were half collapsed and the street torn up. Thank Dende the people had all had the good sense to evacuate but he wondered how long it would be before the army showed up.

'You'd think those idiots would have learned by now,' he thought, barely managing to dodge what would have been a very painful blow. 'Oh look! Two ultra super beings beating the daylights out of each other and leveling entire buildings! Let's shoot a couple of missiles at them, that should take them out.'

As he was thinking, he zipped to the left and then to the right abruptly, letting lose a blast that actually connected with Goten and sent him crashing through a building roof. Trunks blinked in surprise. Goten apparently hadn't known that was coming!

'Hm, may be on to something here,' he thought and as Goten shot toward him, Trunks began to fight without thinking about his moves. He thought about math problems, of kids at school, even of Goten and the trouble they always got into together. The tactic seemed to work as he managed to land several good blows. After a few minutes of this, Goten fell back, an amused look in his dark eyes.

"Clever. You're smarter than you look. But that little plan won't save you. Not when I can still do this."

Intense pain exploded in Trunks' mind and he screamed, grabbing his head and struggling to stay in the air. He tried to dart away when Goten appeared next to him but the boy easily blocked him and slammed his fists into Trunks' back, sending him plummeting to the ground. He hit hard and curled up on his side, managing to pry one eye open to watch a ki beam rushing toward him, unable to move out of the way. From out of nowhere, another beam appeared, crashing into Goten's and stopping the attack.

"Trunks!"

Trunks' eyes, which had squeezed shut when the beams had collided, opened to find Gohan kneeling next to him. "G-Gohan," he whispered.

"Easy, Trunks," Gohan said, "You'll be alright. Let Dad and Vegeta handle Goten now."

The pain in his head had receded, but only a little and he was on the verge of blacking out, especially as relief that help had arrived settled over him. But he couldn't yet. He had to tell Gohan what he had learned. "G-Gohan, listen. He can't read y-you're next move if...if you're not thinking about it."

"What do you mean?" Gohan asked.

Trunks swallowed and did his best to tell the older boy what had happened. Gohan nodded in understanding. "Okay Trunks. You did good, rest now."

Trunks sighed and let go, retreating into the painless void that called to him. Gohan gathered the boy up and rose into the air to join his father and Vegeta. "Hey okay?" Goku asked and Gohan nodded, eyeing his brother warily as the boy hovered, watching the trio maliciously. "He'll be fine," he said, then moved closer to the pair and told them what Trunks had told him. Goku threw a surprised glance at Goten then looked back at Gohan. "Get Trunks to a safe place. Bulma's not far, she's probably pretty worried.

"Right. Be careful dad, Vegeta," Gohan replied, quickly locating Bulma's ki and taking off toward her.

Goku turned his attention back on Goten, immediately strengthening his barriers as Piccolo had taught him and raising his ki in the process. "This had to stop, Goten!" he called, going Super and continuing to raise his ki to pass into level two.

Goten smirked. "I agree. These delays in your destruction really have gotten annoying. So let's get this show on the road. The sooner I kill you two, the sooner I can destroy the rest of this world and move on to bigger and better things."

Goku glanced at Vegeta, who nodded and the pair attacked simultaneously. The advise they had received proved helpful indeed. Goten had a difficult time reading their moves but still managed to take very little damage and prove his strength greater even when Goku was well into level two. And while it took longer than it had with Trunks, their mental defenses were eventually broken and their minds invaded.

The painful assault had only just begun when it was interrupted by Gohan's return. The half Saiyan appeared out of nowhere, plowing into his younger brother and sending them both into an office building, giving Goku and Vegeta a chance to recover. As they regrouped, Gohan and Goten burst from the building, already heavily engaged.

"Gohan's in his mystic form," Goku murmured, a little surprised as he had not expected his eldest to take that form against his baby brother. But he was also interested to see how well Goten stood up against it. Gohan's mystic form was much stronger than Goku's level two form and with any luck, the mystic form would be enough to stop Goten.

But luck seemed to have flown the coup. After a few minutes of watching, Vegeta spat out a curse. "The kid's still stronger! How much power could he possibly have?"

Goku shook his head and, with a shout, passed into level three. "Time to find out," he said quietly, rising up into the air. "Enough!" he shouted, stopping the two combatants who looked surprised at the intrusion. They drifted way from each other as Goku rose up in between them, his gaze locked on Goten. "Take a break, Gohan," he ordered and, after a quick hesitation, Gohan dropped down to join Vegeta below.

"Impressive form," Goten commented. "Did the real Kakarot perfect it before you stole his body?"

Goku sighed inwardly. "You want to talk or fight?" he asked, wishing the boy would choose talk and simply come home with them. Goten's response was a quiet laugh and then he began the new fight. The battle, however, didn't last long. Goku had just barely stepped up his power when Goten suddenly froze in mid charge, eyes wide, mouth opening and closing like a fish gasping for air. A startling, pain filled scream split the air as Goten grabbed his head and dropped from the sky, crashing into the rooftop below them.

"What the..." Goku murmured as Vegeta and Gohan shot up next to him and looked down to where Goten had crashed. The boy looked to be in a state of seizure which caused Goku's heart to leap into his throat and fear to fill him. Before any of them could move, however, Zora materialized next to Goten, gathered him up and vanished.

"No!" Goku shouted, desperately trying to locate them. But, as usual, there was no trace. "Dammit!" he growled, managing to restrain himself from adding to the already heavy damage around them.

"Care to venture a guess as to what just happened?" Vegeta asked, irritation in his voice.

"I want to believe it was Goten trying to fight against what's been done to him," Goku replied quietly. He glanced around and sighed. "Let's get out of here. There's nothing we can do now but wait."

"I'm starting to hate that word," Vegeta growled as he and Gohan each put a hand on Goku in preparation for transport.

'So am I,' Goku thought, then the trio vanished.

tbc...