Saiya-Man and the Legion of Super-Heroes
Chapter 9: The Disagreeing Party
By Claudius
I don't own the copyright to either DB or the Legion.
Garth (Livewire) Querl (Brainiac 5) Imra (Saturn Girl) Val (Karate Kid) Andrew (Ferro) Lar (M'onel) Jan (Element Lad) Nura (Dreamer) Ayla (Gosamyr) Projectra (Sensor) Dirk (Inferno) Rohk (Cosmic Boy)
Never has anything proved so false in appearance. The exterior of the Legion Plaza looked calm that morning in 1775, but its interior reigned chaos. It had been attacked from the inside. Its members all fallen to the invaders, and only three persons remained conscious to save the rest. This last hope was ironic, for none of this trio- two girls and one boy- was ever part of the group.
Only two of them knew about this day's uninviting omen. Val Armorr of Earth discovered it the moment he entered the Plaza. His keen senses, honed by extreme training from post-infancy, enabled him to recognize the warnings. One of his female companions, though lacking in such skills, was just as perceptive. It must be said that Nura Nal of Naltor was the contradiction to Val. He looked like a fighter. Nura didn't. Her soft features contrasted with Val's tough demeanor. From her shining silver hair to the star-shaped beauty mark on her cheek, Nura's features bore no evidence of a combative person. However, she possessed a foresight her more experienced companion lacked. Her morning of this day began with the end of her nightly imaginations. And it was an upsetting awakening at that, Nura bore the scars of a dream. The damages around this place were the very picture of that nightmare.
The lady walking behind them appeared a combination of the two. She was the clairvoyant's equal in beauty but had the fighter's strong looks. Walking into this mess was a role unfit for her royal upbringing. But it was for that lineage that brought Princess Projectra of Orando to this planet. She would find acceptance beyond her status. And the Legion would be that key.
These three young heroes had each made contact with the Legion for membership. Each was given an invitation for application on this day. But there would be no procedures for membership today. The wreckage that appeared in the hallways ended that optimism, with the bodies of injured Legionnaires a sad reminder of what the future might bring.
The loud steps of feet came to their ears. The trio made their stances. Val came in front, with Projectra and Nura in support. Whoever or whatever harmed the Legion was now coming for them! But the three were not cowards. The threat would not find them easy prey.
The threat marched in, their steps cold and automatic. Four mercenaries. Perhaps more were nearby. Their true forms were guarded by garments of technology, making them even more inhuman.
Val met his attacker, pressing his arms and legs to directions of defense. He leapt into the air, springing his left leg forward. But the opponent was ready, moving as swiftly as Val. The result was a series of hand and foot blocks with neither giving way. But Val then turned his leg in a way that only a rare few could expect or withstand. This foot made its monumental attack into the armored foe's neck. The foe froze into a statue from this attack, falling down.
Impressed, Projectra followed Val's lead in a less acrobatic, but no less courageous turn. Her movements bore no sign of defense or offense, which calmed her opponent to come closer. But this mercenary witnessed a ferocious sight: a dragon erupted from the ground before him. Scaled and large, this bestial monstrosity lashed out with lethal desire. The opponent fired his armored hand, projecting a stream of flame that went through the beast. His attention stolen, he was fast conquest for Val's hand.
Nura could only watch as her two companions showed their skills with aplomb. What could she do? Her powers proved unequal to the defenses Val and Projectra had. Her doubts opened her to a mercenary's hand. It grabbed her silver hair, pulling them like puppet strings. Too late. The Mercenary realized that was the last thing he should have done.
"My hair!" Nura saw the strands hanging before her eyes. Her beautiful hairdo had been ruined by this sleazoid. This made her the perfect metaphor for the saying "Hell has no fury…"
With an assistant hand chop from Val, which tore the attacker's helmet off, Nura was able to throw a major right hook at the disguised mercenary's unguarded face. He fell to the floor. Revenge is usually an unsatisfying act, and for Nura, her rage had proved a horrible consequence to her. "I broke a nail!" It kindled her anger. Another opponent would be her target of hate.
Val could only watch dumbfounded. He never saw a woman fight so well. Of course, the other female was holding her own rather well. She was conjuring all forms of dark forces that fell upon the enemy. It appeared that Projectra was a sorceress (and she was truly bewitching him). However, he noted that none of her conjured creatures actually made a physical attack. There was some trickery here.
With this combined might, the four mercenaries were taken care of, though with mercy. Val wanted a different fate for them, but if he was to be a Legionnaire, he would have to dispense of such terminal directives.
"Well that was easy," Nura spoke. "I thought this was going to get a lot worse."
"I'm afraid this might only be the beginning," said Projectra, pointing to the approaching figures from afar. The darkness covered their shapes, though their forms hardly resembled the bulky forms of their predecessors. They stopped, their still movements giving questions to the resistance. Would they attack, or were they snipers?
The silhouettes clapped their hands. "Congratulations," said one.
At that, the unconscious Legionnaires disappeared. Projectra recognized their true beings: illusions. Just like her own creations. She, Val, and Nura strained their face muscles at this bizarre recovery. "What's going on?" asked the latter.
"Consider this a test," revealed the welcome persona of Saturn Girl.
With her was Saiya-Man. "Don't be so hard about the tricks," he said. "The Legion of Super-Heroes did the same to me."
"You have shown bravery, competence, and skill in this test," said Cosmic Boy. "You have all proven yourselves Legionnaires."
One of the fallen mercenaries, a victim of Nura, succeeded in his effort to stand back up. He removed his mask, showing his bruises. "Yeah," Livewire moaned. "Congratulations." The other armored cohorts revealed themselves as well. M'onel, Inferno, and Ferro.
"You will all receive code-names," spoke Livewire, making a good show despite his sore cheeks. "Saiya-Man will give them to you."
Both the demi-Saiya-jin's hands presented a small cushion. Three rings were on it. One was given to each person of this duo. They received them, as well as their new titles. For his skills, Val would be Karate Kid. For her clairvoyant abilities, Nura would be christened Dreamer. For her illusion enchantments, Projectra would be Sensor. That done, Saturn Girl gave the inviting declaration. "You are now part of the Legion of Super-Heroes!"
Despite the deception, the new members took it in stride (Nura, though, wished she didn't look a mess). The three newcomers were greeted by their former opponents. "Good thing I'm invulnerable," M'onel gratefully sounded to Val. "That kick could have killed me."
"Welcome to the Legion!" cried Ferro.
"Great!" Dreamer clapped her hands. "What do we do now?"
"Well," said Saturn Girl. "We'll give you enough work while we're away."
But Saiya-Man intervened on this order. "Why don't you come with us?"
His bright face countered with the unsure graces of Imra and Garth, the former giving her doubts. "I don't think…"
"C'mon," Gohan made the best of his persuasion. "If they're now Legionnaires, then they should share in the party."
"Party?" asked Val as if by shock. He wasn't one for festivities.
"We're having a party with Saiya-Man's family."
Different from Val, Nura sparked with hopeful delight at this prospect, wondering if there were more cute guys like Saiya-Man. "Where?"
"In the eighth century." Garth answered nonchalantly.
Puzzles increased in Projectra. "But I thought by your Earth calendar, this was the eighteenth century."
"Yep," smiled Gohan. "But I live in the eight one."
While Nura and Projectra stared in confusion, Val's face broke with astonishment. "So it's true," he spoke with pride. "You're Son Gohan."
"You got me." Gohan jokingly replied. He never really got into the idea that people would cheer for him like Mr. Satan. He shrugged any display of popular regard.
"But I thought time travel was forbidden," questioned Val.
"Yes," said Garth. "But we've found other ways that let us travel from here and back."
Now Val wasn't a party man, but the idea of meeting Gohan's father Son Goku was an offer he couldn't refuse.
Dispensing with the ethical problems, Nura made her lips curve a wicked smile. "So are there more like you, Gohan?"
Recollection came to Garth. An uneasy one. It appeared that Nura was something like his sister. The fact that both girls would be at the party made this worry a bigger problem. It didn't help that Ayla was planning some revenge to throw on her twin brother. This was due to Garth's machinations to get his sibling off the Legion, by putting up some rule that a Legionnaire must have at least one unique power ability. Gohan and Pan were immune to this rule, since Pan could be a Super Saiya-jin while Gohan couldn't because of his mystical power-up. However, Garth and Ayla both had the sole power to generate electricity. Because Garth was a member first, Ayla had to go. That would have solved things, until Imra convinced Brainiac 5 to change Ayla's powers somewhat, so that instead of generating lightning, she could decrease the gravity on any person or item, making it super-light. No longer sporting the name Spark, Ayla now called herself Gosamyr. She found the power change lame, and her ordeal did not make her friendly to Garth. There would be repayment.
But seeing Gohan's insistence, Garth agreed to have both Ayla and Nura come with them. Someone he liked to have come- besides Imra- turned down the offer. Rohk felt guilty over harming Kuririn's wife the last time they came. If Juuhichagou came to the festivities, his presence would have harmed Gohan's party. So he decided to stand by for duties in this native century.
In the eighth century of Earth's time, Gohan's family was finishing the preparations for the party in the Briefs mansion. Vejita and Buruma's house was decided to be the place. The setting was more inviting than the secluded area at Mount Paozu. The wooded setting, the quiet atmosphere, the constant appearances of stray cats, dogs, and dinosaurs running around the field, showed great promise.
However, disappointment came from the lack of guests. Besides his family, Gohan could only get the Briefs and Videl to attend. Kuririn's family didn't want to party with the Legion, for obvious reasons. The only way Juuhichagou would have gone to the party was if she killed Gohan's friends. Since that couldn't happen, no go. However, that didn't keep the landlord of their home from avoiding the invitation. It didn't take a rocket scientist to understand the reason for Kame-sen'nin's appearance. Someone not expected to come was Piccolo. The Namekian wasn't a partygoer.
At that early hour, the two main hosts of this party were looking over the food. That is, one was arraying the table with food, while the other was watching it with an intent that included drooling. The table was decked with such goodies that Goku couldn't resist trying to pick at the food. And Chichi couldn't resist slapping those hands.
"Aw c'mon!" whined Goku.
"No, Goku!" Chichi was willing. "Sides, its yo'r an' Gohan's idea t' have this party. Don't ruin it."
"I know," Goku showed he had not forgotten. "But can't I just have a taste of the…"
His straying hand got another slap. In cases like this, Chichi's sensory reflexes were as sharp as her family. One such example was her eyes spotting two small arms sticking out from the table. The woman subsequently bowed under the table and made Trunks and Goten's discretion no longer one. While Trunks frowned at his discovery, Goten threw the innocent child act. It almost overthrew the mother. Her youngest kid was a mini-Goku, Chichi thought in a mixture of pleasure and despair.
"The two of ya git outta there."
Trunks and Goten resigned themselves to a mournful, "Yes Chichi/Mom."
Chichi watched the kids make their distance. She didn't need to pay attention to Goku, at least in a visual sense. "Don't even think 'bout it."
Several plates of food stacked on both hands, Goku froze.
Still did Chichi's eye remain away from Goku. "Put em back!" Only when she heard the clicking of plates against a wooden plank did she finally look at Goku again. He too was playing the innocent act. Chichi could only sigh.
"I wished ya hadn't talked me into doin' this," Chichi complained. "Ya know my feelin's 'bout the Legion." She saw her husband ignore her words. He seemed rather somber, and it wasn't because of his prohibition from the food. "Are ya lookin' right, honey?"
Goku's eyes ticked, but he made a good cover-up. "I'm fine, Chichi."
Despite a curved eyebrow, the wife decided to respect her husband's wishes. She returned to the table. Walking away, Goku breathed in belief. Nothing could escape his wife's eye, he thought. He didn't want to worry her with his problems. Problems that were surfacing ever since he agreed with Gohan to have this party. It didn't bother him at first, but the problem festered like poison as the date arrived. He had a sad case of déjà vu. The Legion of Super-Heroes weren't the first group of kids Gohan made friends with. Goku remembered the first ones. That memory chilled his warm nature. His stomach grew queasy, his nerves were being shot.
But he shrugged it aside. He was making a big deal out of nothing. According to Gohan, the Legion saw him as a hero, unlike those Mutants. And there was no sign that his Kakarrotto side was making a return before today. Besides, he and Gohan were having no trouble. It was stupid to think all those bad things that came from that first time would come back.
Besides, it was about time Gohan's friends from the future and his friends here got together on better terms. Both his family and the Legion cared about Gohan, so who knows what other similarities there could be? This party should be something to look forward to, and Goku decided to look forward to it. Feeling fine again, Goku flexed his senses. A flood of Ki told Goku of the arrival of his son and his friends.
It must be said that not all the Legionnaires could come. Someone had to stand by in case of trouble. Triad, Chameleon, Shrinking Violet, Ultra Lad, Invisible Kid, Leviathan, and Apparition volunteered to remain with Cosmic Boy. Saiya-Girl was the only one who didn't have a choice on the matter. Her appearance in front of the Son family would cause some questions to be asked. Pan took it like a trooper, saying she could always see her family in her time. It didn't make her immune to Ayla's taunts.
So, Livewire, Saturn Girl, Ferro, Inferno, M'onel, Element Lad, and Brainiac 5 came to the party, with Dreamer, Karate Kid and Sensor. As they met, Imra, as leader, presented the greetings and introductions. Goku accepted them with a smile. Kame-sen'nin fired all eye power on the female part of this group, his nose at a breaking point to bleed. It was his good fortune that the two white-haired girls wore what looked like bathing suits as their uniforms. A definite improvement to the body-suited girls (though the leotard was very tight, revealing the size of certain body parts).
"Let's party!" cried Videl. Her delivery almost staggered Brainiac 5.
The Legionnaire kept quiet about the inadequacies this party entailed.
In the fortieth district, a farmer named Lizer was ending the first part of his daily ritual in farming. His was a hard life. At an early age he became the main support of his parents' farm. It was unexpected, but he took on the responsibility. Fifteen years transformed a role thrust upon him into his natural work. The debts had all been paid, the state with the crops have been good for years, the farm could pretty much stand on its own feet rather than the help of others. Fulfillment had been reached. Now could be a perfect time to have a family.
The tranquility of thought was now broken by chaotic sounds. Livestock were making cries. Almost screams. Then came a shrill sound that over threw all the other cries. Lizer ran to the scene.
Wariness enveloped him. The memory of his father's death was a valid cause. Daddy had been murdered. A bullet wound through the head. No one knew who did it, though the huge crater nearby gave clues that it was something not of this world. Would that mean another strange thing was there?
Lizer abandoned that idea. It was stupid. He now passed the corner of the barn. His eyes spotted the bloody remains of torn animals. The intense view increased with his fear as the farmer searched further.
His search reached its limit. So did his courage. So did his life.
Strangely, the old-fashioned party failed to give the Legion guests the disaster they expected. Sure, there wasn't any holo-games or music by the Xordians, but the food was good, and the atmosphere actually soothing. It was very inviting.
That conclusion wasn't for everyone. Projectra wandered from the party, gazing upon the setting. The forest area was like her home, but the city outside was very much like the universe she left, which increased her awkward feelings.
A voice broke her worry. "Princess!"
"Sir Armorr," Projectra anxiously greeted the approaching companion. "Forgive my ignorance. It is just this place…frightens me so."
Val assuredly responded to her fears. His face betrayed no anxiety. It gave little emotion either. "Being in this alien time must be so."
"No," Projectra shut her eyes in disdain. "There is more. This foreign time, the era we came from, they are filled with so much advancement in technology. It makes my home planet so much a novice. We Orandians do not possess ships that travel through the stars. The most we can travel is by creature of harness, and that is only in our world. We have no weaponry that can destroy whole cities. We fight by lance and sword. We even lack this special power that make day in your indoor houses. Our magicks are our only special properties, but it is so feeble against the power our universal neighbors possess."
"Right now," she continued, each word marked by anxiety. "My father the King is finally opening trade between my planet and the rest of the universe, but he wishes to make a slow passage in allowing the advancements that will make Orando like the other planets. Such primitive power makes me and my world so vulnerable."
"Your feelings don't make sense," Val waved his hand. It was a perfect gesture, for one skilled in such hand movements. He then stared at Projectra, his eyes lacking intimidation. "Orando's now under protection by the United Planets. And you have the Legion to support you."
This conviction from this teammate amazed Projectra. From his strong face and face, it appeared that Val wasn't promising just the team's protection for her. And Val seemed to understand that as well, so much so that a flustering atmosphere came to his cheeks. He backed away. "Yes, the Legion has your support." He then departed in haste, unaware of the quality of his words.
Projectra smiled. Despite the abrupt retreat, Val's words had succeeded in their ambition. She was pleased, in the Legion's promises, as well as Val's. She returned to the party.
Making his awkward departure, Val made a look back. Projectra was a unique girl, he considered. Such thoughts, however, led to a blind sense to the warrior before him. It led to him bumping into Gohan's father. Val was in a new trance for this historical master of martial arts. He felt disrespectful.
"So they call you Karate Kid," Goku asked with interest.
"It is," Val spoke slowly.
Goku gave a skeptical look. "That don't promise much."
Val's eyebrow arched. "But the martial arts have advanced in a thousand years," he sternly replied. "I promise you."
The skepticism died off, Goku now had surprise on his face. "'Kay, so ya wanna show me it?"
"Well," Val pondered his choice. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!"
Still taking that approval with reluctance, Val finally decided. "Sure. I bet I can locate your weak point."
This peaked Goku's curiosity. "I don't think I have any weak point. Not that I didn't want to find it out. Ya think ya can find it? Go ahead." The Saiya-jin refused nothing, beating his thick stomach.
This brought everyone's attention. They watched as Val arched his legs before Goku, swaying back and forth. His eyes focused on his target, his mind swiftly capturing his knowledge about his opponent. The moment he hit upon that knowledge, he flung his hand like a dagger. His source of impact was the lower part of Goku's spinal cord.
Goku froze, unable to move from this crippling blow. Fortunately, this numb feeling was brief, though it led to a rush of pain too great to overcome. Blackness almost shadowed him, but he fought for consciousness. Temporarily senseless, it took Goku a minute to realize that he was on the floor. His ears, deaf for the moment, picked up his friends and families' cries of sympathy.
Goku got back up. He would not be so easily felled. He rubbed his butt, feeling it as the sorest of spots. "Ow," he breathed the word again and again. "What…did ya do?"
Karate Kid kept a calm demeanor to his action. "Why I hit your weak spot."
Vejita noted the target where this young fighter hit Goku. "You rammed your hand into where Kakarrotto's tail once appeared."
"Kakarrotto?" asked Ferro.
"Goku's Saiya-jin name," explained Brainiac 5.
"I read about a Saiya-jin's weaknesses being their tails," explained Val. "Even though he lacks one now, Goku still has the stump above his buttocks. I figured it was a very sensitive spot."
"And it was," Goku groaned, his standing assisted by M'onel and Gohan. That was brief. "First big hit I've had since Vejita knocked me senseless."
Val bowed. "I apologize for the attack."
Despite the exhausted demeanor, Goku bore no hard feelings. "Don't think of it. Is there any other tricks ya know?"
"I'm afraid anything more is secret," Garth intervened. "Some of what Val learned has not yet been created yet. You learning it beforehand would kinda wreck the timeline."
Disappointment fell on Goku. He was reminded about Trunks' warning about keeping some timeline alone. "I guess y'r right. Wait 'till next time."
Once Goku quickly recovered thanks to a Senzu Seed Videl had ("Always be prepared," she said), the party continued. Taking his pick like an expert of taste, Kame-sen'nin saw the blond girl in the red suit. She was a worthy target. It helped that she was talking to that hot chick Videl. Looking around, the old man confirmed Gohan's absence. He made his move. Twitching with excitement, his spidery hands glided above the girl's firm posterior.
Muten Roshi, the old man's brain received a stranger's words, stopping his advance. Stop thinking about it, or I'll psychically numb your sense of touch. Okay?
The hands made a quick retreat, their owner shuddering. A telepathic babe, the old man realized with a salty view. What a horrible concept!
His roving eyes then fell upon the more scantily clad silver-haired chick. She didn't seem any trouble.
A first step forward to Nura, and Roshi made an incredible leap into the air. Not of his own ability.
"Sorry old fart!" Ayla snickered with a sinister glee. "I think it's a safe idea to have you floating in the air for awhile."
It made him an object of amusement to everyone at the party. Buruma was truly impressed. "How long will you keep the dirty old man up there?"
"Don't know," Ayla played innocent. "I haven't found out my power's limit yet."
"Hope it's very long," thanked Buruma in gratitude.
Data: Feeling alienated by this scientifically primitive setting. Feeling of interest dropping to a descent. In short, I am bored.
The spectacle caused by Garth's sister failed to interest Querl. There was little to do here. He reveled in science, his science. Not these toys.
His dulled thoughts left him open to Videl. "So you're Brainy."
"Eh?" Querl's mind lost all boredom. "Actually, it's Brainiac 5." Despite his green complexion, the Colulan's cheeks showed a dark red. Not even his habit of keeping cool could calm the flustering emotions exploding, all caused by his glance on who would be Pan's mother. Her resemblance was striking.
"You kinda remind me of Piccolo," Videl spoke without knowledge of her influence. "Green an' grim."
Querl could barely contain his mirth on the coincidence. Pan had said the same thing. Before he could laugh, Gohan entered the scene. The Colulan quickly moved away, enforcing discretion. Since Gohan knew about his crush for Pan, Querl theorized, seeing him blush at Videl might cause some suspicion.
As could be expected, Gohan was confused by Brainiac 5's behavior. Despite that, the boy found it good that the party was going without any major problem. Not that minor problems were absent. One was Ayla's sudden interest in Vejita, throwing her full power of flirtation on the Prince. She wasn't the only one, as Nura was equally attracted to the warrior. But Vejita was above either girl's womanly wiles, finding them both annoying. His ignorance wasn't shared by the two fans, nor did they ignore each other.
"Go away," Nura slurred with a face that displaced her beauty.
"No you go away!" Ayla spoke through her teeth.
The girls' voices, no matter how low they tried to make them, failed to hide them from the attention of their target's spouse. "Get your hands off my man!" shouted Buruma.
"Go away, grandma!"
Thus the two Legionnaires saw the true form of the wife of Vejita. This promised a conclusion they could not win, even together. They backed off. This happened despite Kame-sen'nin's cries. "Fight, girls, fight! Pull hair!" He ended up getting crushed to the ceiling.
Ayla then wandered by Imra, who was talking to Videl. This version didn't really interest her. Rather than have the Videl who was Gohan's girlfriend in this era, the girl wished it was Videl the mother of that annoying bitch Pan. That way, she could have learned a million embarrassing things to bug Pan. Oh, the possibilities she could get from that!
Elsewhere, Gohan was pleased at the scene. Garth and Dirk were talking with his mother (who looked calm about it, which was the best thing Gohan could hope for). Imra and Videl were in a heavy conversation, and a friendly one at that. Val was watching M'onel having arm wrestling matches with Goku, with Trunks and Goten looking on.
Then his eye fell upon Ferro. His friend sat alone. This isolation effected Gohan, who realized a solution should be made. Tapping his finger upon the Legionnaire's helmet-mask, Gohan greeted his friend. "Penny for your thoughts, Andrew?"
"No," Ferro's kind eyes sparkled. "It's just that parties aren't for me."
Gohan avoided the sad implications of that remark. It was apparent that Andrew couldn't get much out of the festivities. He couldn't eat or drink without taking off his mask, and he didn't want to expose his features. What was really inside that mask, Gohan wondered. Would his face really be a difference from those soulful eyes? Gohan wanted to find out. But it would only be through his friend's allowance, and nothing else. Since the guy didn't seem like giving that permission, it wouldn't be a problem to him.
What was a problem was Ferro's seclusion. Gohan grabbed his friend's hand and pulled him. "C'mon, Andrew. I want you to meet my mom."
Unfortunately, the courteous introduction was stopped by the shouts of Vejita. Gohan couldn't help but cringe at the reason. Jan was getting into an ethical argument with Vejita. The Element manipulator had decided to preach ethics to Vejita. That had disastrous results. One part of that argument concerned the Prince's life as a warrior. Jan was a pacifist, fighting with the Legion, but only for a higher cause. He disagreed with the Prince's statements. "All this violence, Vejita. How would it all end?"
"There will be no end," Vejita spoke in pride. "It's a Saiya-jin's second nature to fight. A fighter he was born. A fighter he will die."
"Forgive me, but I feel that there must be better ways of resolution."
"A fool's hope." Vejita smiled. "It's either kill or be killed."
"Sounds like Freeza," M'onel could not resist the attraction to this quarrel.
Vejita flinched at that comparison. Swiftly did the eyes of the Saiya-jin Prince snap toward the eavesdropper. But the Daxamite only continued with his views. "If I'm not mistaken, Freeza did destroy your planet." He was restraining his voice, though not with much effort. "Perhaps you haven't learned, but I too suffered the destruction of my planet by that tyrant. Like you, I also served under that monster."
"I know," replied Vejita. "Trunks told me. And I see it created nothing in you but weakness."
M'onel had his words as weapon. "My race evolved differently than yours. If it wasn't for Goku and his family, I would consider that your side of the family tree never evolved."
"Is that a threat?" Vejita's frown returned into a smile.
Gohan intervened. "That's enough you two. This is supposed to be a party."
"C'mon Gohan," Goku interfered in his own way. "Let the two fight!"
"Dad!" Gohan made his shock with protest.
"Listen to your father, kid!" Vejita emphasized the seniority, even if it meant the utterly embarrassing action of taking Kakarrotto's side.
Gohan looked on at his father, hoping for assistance. But Goku kept that excited look on his face. This did not appeal to the teenager.
"Peace, brethren!" Jan joined Gohan's support.
The protest was ephemeral to Vejita's battle-lusting face. "Back off coward."
At this intense moment, there was a scream. Videl's voice soon followed. "Something's wrong with Nura!"
With instant precision did the Legionnaire members of this quarrel abandon Vejita for one of their own. Nura was lying in Videl's arms, unconscious.
"Did something hit her?" Gohan attempted to analyze the situation. "Some psychic attack?"
"No," Imra confirmed, caressing her own forehead only to sense nothing.
Except for Vejita, the group surrounded the tranquil girl with their presence. Nura did not appear dead. She looked like she was sleeping. But this was no peaceful rest. There came a somnambulistic panic. For the less informed, it appeared that Nura was unpredictably suffering from some nightmare. The panic in her face pulled and strained, then softened like a piece of elastic relaxed. Her eyes opened. Her mouth spoke. "I had a dream."
"Really?" asked Goku, totally oblivious to this girl's power.
Imra kneeled before her with a wish for knowledge. "What did you see?"
Nura regained her bearings, growing in strength. "I saw a city breaking apart," her hands pantomimed. "A great creature with a spot of light in the center, parent and child fighting."
These cryptic messages seemed invulnerable to understanding, as portrayed by Goku's scratching his temple.
"Whatever Nura dreams comes true," explained Garth. "Like it or not."
"Is it something in this era?" said Gohan.
"Yes," Dreamer replied. "I dreamt it here."
Her "yes" was enough to shudder the Saiya-jin part of this group. The vibrations and twitching that affected Goku, Vejita, Goten, Trunks, and Gohan were based not on fear. Excitement had bewitched them. If Dreamer's prediction proved to be accurate, there would be dangers to this Earth. And wouldn't that mean there was a menace that caused it?
With this question in mind, Goku increased his psychic abilities. His determined look mixed with happiness. "I sense somethin'," he yelled in a smile. Vejita and Gohan were equally precognitive to an anomaly nearby.
Vejita sighed. "Nothing worth my time."
"C'mon, Vejita," persuaded Goku. "Whatever's out there might be fun."
"Fun or not, if it's a threat," said Gohan with a different interest. "Me and the Legionnaires will go." He transformed into Saiya-Man.
"What do you mean you and the Legionnaires?" said Ayla. "You're as much a member in this group as I am. Do you hear me crying Gosamyr and the Legion of Super-Heroes?"
Livewire pointed a finger to his lip. "Well, actually..."
"Shaddup, bro," she whispered.
Videl pressed her wristwatch. The Great Saiya-Man II would assist.
Buruma and Chichi saw the party being emptied of its members. Soon, the party was empty, leaving two women, and an old man in the air. It was at this time that Gosamr's gravity-defying influence had reached its end, best portrayed by Roshi's screaming fall to the ground.
"Darn it," the old man cursed. "I hate these super heroines, flying off to the battle, leaving the poor defenseless old man all by their lonesome…"
Buruma made a punch to the old man's head.
The majority of party guests were off into the air. Unfortunately, most of the Legionnaires lacked their predecessor's speed. Only M'onel was able to catch up, but he remained with the group. This did not escape notice from the leading company.
"What's taking your friends so long, Gohan?" Goku cried.
"Guess they're not as super as you believe," Vejita made his own deductions.
"Wait and see!" Saiya-Man's faith was unshakable.
The laughter of Trunks presented his appearance. "Whatever, Gohan!" Vejita's son cried. "Me and Goten will waste this creature before your friends come!"
"Yeah!" Goten duplicated his friend's excitement. The same could not be said about his brother. In fact, the boys' fervor brought a chill to Saiya-Man, a good opponent to his fervor to fight. This was the first battle he had in his time since he joined the Legion. The punishment his family was going to inflict on the threat, something that was no problem to the young man before, now concerned him very much.
Goku's mind, meanwhile, was on other things. For probably the first time in months was there the promise of a battle. He swelled in excitement to this anomaly. His mind picked up an optimism that verged to overflow. Could this threat lead to a bigger threat, the same way Dr. Gero led to Cell, and Babidi led to Buu? He sure hoped so.
Except for Saiya-Man, the expectations of the Saiya-jin members equaled Goku's hope. They began to wonder what the threat looked like. Would it be a humanoid appearance of head, arms, and legs?
They kept with this idea as they approached the area that pinpointed their Ki detections. It was a small town, hardly ten years old.
What this town was before that decade brought a pause to Goku. "Hey, Gohan!" Goku cried. "Don'tcha r'member where we are?"
Saiya-Man duplicated his father's realization, but not the cheer. It was then that Goku found out his mistake. This was where Raditz kidnapped Gohan, where Goku died for the first time. The poor kid than spent a year in the wilderness right after. It was a painful experience for both father and son, although Goku didn't suffer from it as much as his son did. From the somber look of Gohan's face, Goku saw no recovery in him.
"Hey, Gohan!" Goku attempted a remedy to get his son's mind off this memory. "Hurry up! We've got a menace to take him down." Indeed, the monster's path of destruction was present, but not the monster. Fortunately, a trail was formed, beyond the town and into the mountains.
Splitting up, Goku, Saiya-Man, Vejita, and the pair of Trunks and Goten, looked around the area beyond the town. The trail they covered, as well as Ki signatures they felt, led to the other side of the peak. Both parties surrounded the mount at both sides. They closed their advance. There would be no way to miss the threat. And they did meet it. Every expectation collapsed with the recognition of the threat's true form. This was no humanoid being facing them. It had no shape where arms and legs could come from. It was a giant blob.
"This has got to be some jest!" the Saiya-jin Prince growled his disappointment. With a bored look, Vejita came closer to the creature. He spotted a small circle on its otherwise shapeless form. It began to blink before the prince. Not amused, the bored Saiya-jin aimed his fingers at the creature and fired. A huge hole was created within the blob, but it swallowed up like a mouth. Damage no longer existed.
His interest peaked (a little), Vejita charged at the creature, ignoring Saiya-Man's cries of withdrawal. Two large pillars erupted from the blob, cornering the Prince like a pair tweezers. They came together, its combined force smashing into Vejita as if he was a walnut. A Ki-En-Zan fired by Goku severed the two tentacles, freeing Vejita, who hit the ground. This received the attention of Trunks, who moved to his father's side. Grabbing his hand, the boy found it alive. It smacked him back. The young demi-Saiya-jin felt relatively unhurt by his father's hit. His expression of pain melted into pleasure at the sight he beheld. His father was getting to his feet, his anger as great as his son's joy.
Fool! Vejita's thoughts battered himself. It was stupid of him to attack in his non-SSJ form. He quickly forgot about it, transforming into a Super Saiya-jin. He fired a barrage of energy bolts. None proved more destructible than the previous attack. The only response the creature made was the flickering of that circle.
The blob threw its form for another tweezer-like attack. Vejita quickly blocked the two, the collision almost tearing his arms off. The creature had increased its strength. Vejita made a leap into the air, allowing his wit to overcome his battle lust. Evidently this creature was absorbing his attacks.
While Trunks and Goten stared at the battle they enjoyed, Goku and Saiya-Man were making Vejita's conclusion. To Goku, this challenge was a welcome change from the disappointing creature. Meanwhile, his son was speaking to his flight ring. "Got that, Saturn Girl?"
By now, the Legionnaires had reached the battle area, spotting the light of explosions appearing on the mountain. The fight before them was the feast for historians. Even though they lacked Cosmic Boy's amateur credentials, the Legion's impressions fired up at seeing these historical figures in action.
"I feel sorry for that creature!" Ayla joked.
Ferro saw the greater picture. "I'm more worried about the residents of that town!" Indeed, the great battle was sending aftershocks upon the mountaintop, causing small stones that increased into boulders, all hurtling to the city below.
Element Lad lost some color. He thought about the city, and if these Saiya-jin battles were as cataclysmic as history foretold…
He didn't have to answer. He charged to the scene. Saturn Girl shared his regard. "Livewire, send the Legion down to the town!"
The lightning prone Legionnaire did as ordered. Saiya-Man II, also present, followed as well. Only the leader and Brainiac 5 isolated themselves from this directive. They had to learn more about this creature.
By the time the Legionnaires started their descent, the avalanche had already rained its first solid drops upon the city. So far, the retreating populace's early evacuation spared them from these early hits. But the avalanche would increase in ferocity and scope.
The Legionnaires came to the rescue. Element Lad created a sheet of Kibitonium and thrust it upon the mountainside before the landslide. In a repetitious move from left to right and vice versa, M'onel super-sped across the sheet to give it support at all sides. And it was needed, as this dam blocked and contained the full avalanche. Livewire and Inferno than got busy disintegrating this contained supply, while Element Lad changed their rocky properties into nonviolate gas.
But an army of smaller boulders missed both the dam and the variety of power.
At the town, Projectra flew around the scene, wondering how she could best affect the danger. Inanimate objects could not be convinced of her illusions. A sad inability that proved true as a boulder came close.
Over her flew this strong figure, tearing the solid threats apart with his skillful hands and feet. He turned before the Princess, who was now thinking of the Orandian Knights of her kingdom's order. Val was like them.
"Thank you, Val."
Val turned away. "No problem, Princess."
"Please, call me Jeckie."
After blasting a few boulders with her Ki attacks, Great Saiya-Man II spotted a building, seeing people evacuate it. Their way was an iron staircase. However, the great weight that all the people were putting on this stairway caused a strain, soon to break it free from the building. Saiya-Man II swooped under the main part of the staircase, pressing her strength as support. Her arms strained upon this heavy burden, but it lessened as the weight began to lighten. Eventually, only a few were left going down the case, making it safe to stand on its own. It was only because of that did Videl abandon the stairs. She flew to the building's roof, looking back down on the panic below.
What she failed to notice was the stone debris falling in the air above her. A turn of the head to see it coming was not enough for her to counteract. There was a heavy crash.
Though she was nowhere in harm's way (thanks to the distance and Brainy's shield), Saturn Girl still acted like she was. Her mind was busy resisting the hundred screams coming from the thoughts of every inhabitant in that town. Since none of the citizens had a volume control in their brains, the psychic cries came to the telepath like screams. So much shouting, Imra thought amid the chaotic flood of strange ideas. With straining difficulty, she had to enforce a wall that protected her inner brain, and devote all her energies on the creature.
She succeeded, although it was like walking a path between screaming crowds. At the end of this trail was the blob's mind, and she probed deeply into it. The images she found were confusing, but she was able to start an attempt to decipher them. She saw more of these creatures. From a different dimension unlike this one. Ambitions of destruction and conquest. A desire to inform its brethren. The picture of a circular spot, the one constant form in an otherwise chaotic being.
Then she saw herself, or rather what the creature saw of Imra. A degree of information coursed upon this self-image. The creature now knew her power. Shortly after, all these images vanished from her viewing. It was as if a door was sealed before her mind's eye. Back to reality, Saturn Girl pondered what information she got, understanding its meaning. Somehow the blob is able to examine its opponents, learning their abilities and adapting to it.
Though he lacked Saturn Girl's psionic skills, Brainiac 5 was able to make a study of the creature. The creature was alone, but it had to come somewhere. It wasn't here though, nor was it from this universe, or else he would know what it was. The creature was able to record an attack, then adapt to the attack.
He found very little to contrast between the creature and the Saiya-jins fighting it. He saw Gohan's brother and Vejita's son take on the act of fusion, becoming one person, one of Super Saiya-jin 3 power. Only Gohan appeared to be holding back his inner self. It must have been difficult.
Saiya-Man was trailing the creature, watching his family give their shots at it, waiting impatiently to give his own. Gotenks was already in the battle, though he was practically breaking every rule a fighter should not do. The kid (or was that kids?) should learn some self-control. Still, Gotenks was having fun, an expression his father shared. And it was fun! It was about time he joined in.
"Hey Gohan!" Gotenks' cry made the point clear. "What are you waiting for?"
What indeed? Gohan called upon his Mystic powers, growing strong without the signs of a Super Saiya-jin. But something overcame this progress. He felt a great dread. Realization led to his abandoning his post, flying at great speed to the city, his voice straining with a name. "Videl!"
His abandonment was ignored by the other fighters, all having equal difficulty (not to mention excitement) in dealing with this blob.
It was even more problematic that Gotenks' attack had given the creature adaptation to Ki blasts from a Super Saiya-jin 3.
Goku came to a decision. "Looks like I gotta waste this creature with somethin' big!" He soared into the air, raising both his hands skyward. Energy soon traveled through his body, projecting from his palms into the composition of a small ball.
"Gotenks, Vejita, Gohan," cried Goku. "Give me your energy!"
"Do it yourself, Kakarrotto!" Vejita gave his predictable refusal. Fortunately, Gotenks took his/their father's advice with acceptance. It was a hasty move, considering they only had minutes before their SSJ3 form ended the period Goten and Trunks remained fused. The fused demi-Saiya-jin quickly acted, funneling their energy into Goku.
But the energy amasser found something missing.
"Gohan?" he cried, then repeated the name louder. His word got no result. Where could he be?
The pile of rubble that supplanted Great Saiya-Man II gained the attention of Gosamyr, Projectra, and Karate Kid. They heard the crash, remembering where their female ally was at the moment. It sent them to the scene. With frantic hands tearing rock after rock, Karate Kid would have made a slow rescue if Gosamyr hadn't interrupted. "This is quicker!" Suddenly, the debris her influence touched was freed of their chains of gravity. They floated upwards. If only the intense pressure to her heart was as easy to make super-light. Sure, Gosamyr was concerned for Videl, but she also worried about what this danger might do to Pan. Who would she make fun of then?
The lower parts of the rock pile began to shake, causing some of the debris to rebel from Gosamyr's power. As the rubble became less, something flat was rising upon it. It was a body, the two Legionnaires discovered. But it was not Videl. In fact, she was the one lifting Ferro's indestructible body from the stone pile.
"Ferro?" Gosamyr identified.
"Videl, are you all right!" Karate Kid was the one who made the concern.
The metal mask turned to them. "Looks like I was the one who needed the rescuing."
"Are you kidding?" Saiya-Man II placed the Legionnaire back to his own feet, thankful for his intervention. "I might've been crushed if you hadn't covered me with your iron-hard body. Thanks a lot!"
If Ferro's mask could show anything, it would be red. "Well, I didn't want anything to happen to Gohan's girl!"
This valiant declaration sent Gosamyr moaning. "How corny can you get?"
The rescue was ignored by the scream "Saiya-Man II!" It was Saiya-Man coming in full speed. This flight came to an abrupt halt when he saw his target relatively unhurt.
Saiya-Man II ensured her safety. "It's okay Gohan. Ferro saved me."
His fears relaxing, Saiya-Man viewed Ferro with his usual friendliness. "Thanks, Andrew."
"Anytime."
"Good Grife!" Gosamyr shouted for an end. "I'm drowning in this dewy-eyed sentimentalism! Can we return to the big picture here?"
"She's right," Val obeyed the priority. "How's your family faring with the creature?"
"Having their fun," answered Gohan looked around the area. His relief faded. The town was in near ruins, probably with a lot of casualties. And where was he when this happened?
Gohan…
As a Legionnaire, Saiya-Man was a protector as well as a fighter.
Gohan!
The demi-Saiya-jin's thoughts broke with that message. "Dad?"
I need your energy for a Genki Dama! Goku's voice spoke to his son's brain.
Repeating the method of communication, Gohan gave his choice. No.
Gohan! This ain't the time.
No, dad. Gohan threw his thought-words in strength. I won't help you kill that creature.
This monster is gonna hurt people!
Sorry dad, thought Gohan. But Legionnaires don't kill.
Can we talk about this later? Just give me your energy!
Rather than repeat his answer to his father, Gohan turned to his comrades. "Got any ideas to stop the monster?"
Saiya-Man II and the Legionnaires raised their shoulders in failure.
I got one, said a female telepathic voice.
Unable to get the needed power, Goku dispelled the Genki Dama, returning its energy. He couldn't risk throwing its half-made power on the creature. In case it survived, the monster might absorb that power as well. The chance was gone, now that Gotenks returned back to Goten and Trunks. Goku rued the ruined plan. Why couldn't Gohan help him? He wouldn't do that before…before he met the Legion.
Just then, the people he thought about came. Riled over the lost chance, Goku asked his son for a repetition. "Now can ya help me destroy that creature?"
"Yes, dad," smiled Gohan.
Pleased, Goku then threw his arms into the air again. "Give me your power! Yours and M'onel's, combined with Trunks and Goten, will be enough."
But again did Gohan refuse the offer. "Not this way, dad. There's a better way to defeat this creature without completely resorting to the power-against-power tactic."
Goku stared at his son in disbelief. "Gohan, are you feeling well?"
Gohan was nonchalant. "I've just mind-spoke with Imra and Brainy. They got an idea."
"I see disaster," commented Vejita.
"Well, how about this deal?" Element Lad added to the prince. "If we stop this creature, will you agree not to destroy it?"
That was a paradox to Vejita. "Then how are we supposed to stop it?"
"Just let us do it," said Livewire. "Okay?"
An answer was not quick. Goku, Vejita, and their two sons kept their silence, not looking pleased at the offer.
"So be it," Vejita turned away, like a child tired of a game. The others joined in.
Getting positive agreements, Element Lad spoke to the Princess. "We're going to need your help, Sensor."
"By all means." The royal lady bowed her head. She concentrated. Suddenly certain laws of reality were broken, the individual physical shapes of each member shifted under the fields created by Sensor. The visual forms of features, ethnicities, even genders were now under the Orandian Princess' control.
Wearing these new forms, the Legionnaires attacked. "Goku" and "Trunks" stood at both sides of the monstrous mass. "Goku's" mouth projected a great blast of air, solidifying the air before it. At his own side, "Trunks" unleashed a flurry of sub-zero nitrogen upon the creature. The extreme cold from both sides proved too strong for the blob. Its life signs slowed down. It stilled. Frozen, the blob now resembled some weird art statue.
The group hovered before their prize. As Brainiac 5 explained, the blob would have adapted itself to any threat it saw. Having seen the Saiya-jins before, it would have withstood their attacks. It would have also recognized the Legion's powers once they attacked as well. Hence, through Sensor's powers, their disguised forms confused the blob, leaving it off guard.
"Okay, enough with the scientific mumbo jumbo!" "Gosamyr" growled in a very masculine tone. "Now can someone please remove this weakling's disguise off of me!"
"What did you say!" screeched "Vejita" in a female voice.
"Maybe you should keep that form, Ayla," remarked the unaltered Dreamer. "You got breasts this time."
"Hold it sis!" Livewire stopped "Vejita" from attacking. Fortunately, the masks of illusion faded from all, revealing everyone's true shape and form, ending any chance of confusion. The forms of Goku and Trunks dispersed into the actual appearances of M'onel and Element Lad. This matter settled, the next one dealt with the creature.
"So what do we do with it?" Inferno asked the next question.
"Kill it." Said Goku.
"Nope," said Livewire. "Its our business not to destroy it."
"Do the history books tell of this monster, Brainy?" asked Saiya-Man.
"It's not specified in Earth's history," Brainiac 5 nonchalantly verified. "In fact, this being's existence hasn't been recognized in our era."
"But I got enough from its mind," Saturn Girl gave her answer. "It's a race that travels from place to place, its millions destroying one habitat than traveling to another."
Everyone trembled. For some, fear. Not in others.
"So there's more of them?" cried Goku, his question based not on frustration.
"This creature is kinda like a scout, surveying the area and contacting the real force to arrive."
"Where is the real force?" Goku curiously asked, his face lacking concern. It held great expectations. Vejita had a similar expression as well.
"It isn't from this dimension I can tell you that," Saturn Girl's brow grew heavier. "From that place they teleport their scouts through different dimensions, guiding the rest after they're done with their inspection." She pressed her temple as if in pain. This brought her into Livewire's caring arms.
"I-I'm all right," Saturn Girl strained her words. "I'm trying to block the creature's communications to its brethren…It's using an advanced form of telepathy."
"So where is its communicator?" Inferno hovered around the creature.
"The circle," pointed Dreamer in remembrance of her visions. "It's the circle that's the source."
All eyes pointed to that declared spot. Those whose physiology was completely Saiya-jin saw the circle like a harbinger of excitement.
Quickly! Saturn Girl's psychic voice buzzed to the point of torture. I can't suppress the scout's telepathy for long! Someone destroy the spot!
"Got it!" Livewire's electron-swirling fingers pointed to the circle on the creature's head.
"No you don't!" Goku blocked Livewire's open projection. He felt tingly from this electrical charge, but either thanks to his invulnerability or the Legionnaire's decision to go half-power, he wasn't harmed. Actually, Goku was too busy being happy about protecting the communicator.
"Goku, what are you doing?" The burning form of Inferno shouted his warning.
"Don'cha see?" Goku admitted with no fear. "We'll fight more o' these!"
"Uh," Gosamyr threw the obvious question. "Isn't that what we're supposed to be preventing?"
"This is the best thing 'n 'while!" Goku was on another plane of ecstasy, his hands grappling with anticipation. "I wanna fight more of 'em!"
The Legionnaires and Videl stared on. On Goku's side were Vejita and their sons. "Right on!" cried Trunks. "I can't wait!"
"But what about the people?" Ferro protested as he flew beneath Goku.
"Don't worry 'bout em!" Goku shrugged off the dire consequences. "We'll protect em, an there's always the Dragon Balls."
"Gohan, is your old man cracked?!" Gosymar asked that question. Gohan remained silent.
"It's their Saiya-jin pride talking," explained Karate Kid. He too felt tempted by the idea of battle, but he had no right to act upon it.
"Oh," understood Gosymar. This explained why Pan was so weird.
No…don't! Saturn Girl's voice became desperate.
"Saturn Girl's right!" Dreamer threw her conviction. "My dream showed what happened to that town," she pointed below. "Are you going to give the rest of your world the experience?"
But Goku remained unmoved. "Like I said, we'll protect them."
"We already saw how you protected that town," Gosamyr had a skepticism that her teammates all shared.
"Don't worry!" Goku cried out, his calming the arguers was without success.
While Goku spoke with friendliness, Vejita responded with arrogance. "We can handle this without you Legionnaires."
"Dad's right!" said Saiya-Man, moving behind his father. "This has the makings of a great battle!" Such words, and the cheerful expression that followed it, shocked his fellow Legionnaires.
"Glad ya see it my way, Gohan!" Goku smiled at his son. Saiya-Man nodded, than aimed his hand for the spot, throwing a power wave of such intensity and skill that it destroyed the communicator without harm to the creature's containment.
Relief fell on the Legionnaires who saw or sensed this. To Goku, Vejita and their party, it was a different story. Goku stared hypnotically at the remnants of that spot. Its destruction was beyond belief. But reality came true for him, as well as anger.
Vejita was ready to grab the boy by the neck and declare the errors he had made. Goku beat him to it, though he was less physical about it.
"Gohan!" the father tried to contain his words, growing with rage. "What have you done!?"
"Saved the world."
Such noble words fell deaf to Goku's ears. His black locks were beginning to shine. His quiet words increased in sound. "But not like that! How could ya do such a thing?"
"Dad, didn't you hear what Saturn Girl said?" Saiya-Man made his defense. "By taking away that tracer, there won't be anymore monsters coming here!"
"But that's what we wanted!"
"Not me. I wasn't going to let people die if I had anything to do about it!"
Goku composed himself. "We would've still saved them!"
The promise didn't work on his son. "What I did made it easier."
"Then what about our fight?" Goku was fast losing his composition.
"There was no reason for it," Saiya-Man's words were calmer to his father's shouting.
His restraints cracking apart, Goku spoke louder. "Yes there was!"
"Why?" Gohan attempted to find the sanity behind his father's disapproval. "You're telling me that you wanted more of these monsters to come, leading to the deaths of thousands? All for a fight?"
"Yes!" Composition shattered, Goku's answer was loud and to the point. It hit the Legionnaires like a battering ram, including those who idolized Goku as something more than a fighter. The idol was now broken.
Saiya-Man saw this, studying the sinking disappointment on his Legionnaire comrades. Ferro's eyes gave enough proof of that. This stung Saiya-Man with embarrassment. "Well too bad. I won't let people suffer because of your pride!"
"You weakling!" Vejita joined Goku's side with accusation. "The Legion business is worse than your studies. Your Saiya-jin nature has been pampered by those wimps."
"Hey!" cried Gosamyr, wishing her electrical powers were hers again.
"Hold it sis," Livewire restrained her, despite having similar feelings. The whole team did. But it was best that Saiya-Man spoke for them.
"You have no right to speak to my friends that way, Vejita!" The volume of the demi-Saiya-jin's voice was heightened.
"I'm glad I'm not around in the future," growled Vejita. "I would rather die then see the cowards and weaklings descended from us."
"I wonder how Earth survived with you violent primitives!" Element Lad let it out.
Vejita transformed into a Super Saiya-jin for the second time. "I'll show you a violent primitive!" He fired at the frozen creature. An explosion was everyone's next sight on that direction, along with feelings that the monster was now free again. However, the debris was all that was left.
"Evidently the creature's comatose state rendered it vulnerable to that massive attack," Brainiac 5 was the only voice in the silent group. Not for long. This vacancy bulged eyes upon Livewire. Electricity crackled from his optical nerves. He turned straight for the prince. "That was a sentient being!"
"So?" Vejita smiled with intent. "It was hurting people."
Reading the sarcasm of that line, Element Lad called upon self-control. "It doesn't matter. Destroying another life is wrong."
"Your code shows cowardice." Vejita showed no shame in his actions. "Well, my code is to destroy all who challenge or threaten me."
"Interesting code," Brainiac 5 gave his analytical look. "Destroy the threat. If that is true, then Freeza was in the right that all of you Saiya-jins must be destroyed. No offense Gohan."
"None taken," added Saiya-Man. But others took it too hard. Vejita looked like he had been kicked in the stomach. That wasn't a good sign for those who knew this warrior. "How dare you twist my words to your benefit!"
"Hold it Vejita!" Saiya-Man threw his hand forward. "Any action against my friends is an action against me. Attack at your own risk."
"Gladly!" But the strong SSJ arm of Vejita was grabbed by the SSJ3 form of Goku. Not that the peacemaker was on the opposing side, however. "He's right, son," Goku was now the softer speaker. "Listen to Vejita. These kids have been havin' some bad effect on ya."
Gohan shrugged off his father's words. He would not hear of it.
This was until Goku spoke about one of the Legionnaires. "Imra's been doin' some stuff t' y'r mind! Telepaths like her can do that."
Now it was finally Livewire's turn to break loose. "Why you son of a Khund!" He screamed, his eyes exploding with crackling lightning. "Watch your Grife-damned mouth!"
"Hold it, Garth!" Saturn Girl shouted for restraint. "It's not a problem."
"Right," said Saiya-Man.
Goku smiled at the possibility that his son was taking his advice.
Gohan's cruel face proved that hope was temporary. "I can't believe you would be so cruel, dad!" His eyes, his mouth, were ready for battle. "Apologize to Imra now!"
Surprised by this setback, Goku felt angrier. "No!" Goku flung his hand forward in forsaken gesture. "You've changed Gohan. What happened t' the boy who wanted t' fight the Androids?"
To give his answer, Gohan made a deep slant-eyed glare. "He grew up. Unlike his dad."
Of all the non-Legion witnesses, Goten watched with an upset mood. He had never seen his father look so angry before. Why was he so angry with Gohan? Even worse, why was his brother so angry with his father? It was wrong. It was wrong. "Both of you stop please!" The boy was at the verge of tears. "Don't fight!"
"Fine!" cried Goku, but with no real acceptance. He floated in the center of the Legionnaires. "All o' ya are welcome here no more."
"No, dad!" Saiya-Man was in full protest. "You have no right!"
"It's okay, Gohan!" Livewire accepted the growing hostility to his team.
"It is?" asked Gosamyr.
"The party's over, team." Livewire confirmed it. "Let's go."
"As my guy said, Gohan," Saturn Girl explained. "Its okay."
Sorrow beheld the demi-Saiya-jin, feeling defeated. "But we all were actually getting along!"
"Think again!" said Vejita, calming his aggressiveness but not his hatred. Goku remained grim in his exterior.
Dreamer looked on this with a predicted concern. Parent and child fighting…
At Kami's palace, Dende-sama beheld the gaunt faces of the Legionnaires whose time journey he was setting.
Gohan and Videl, back to their civilian clothes, provided their best poker faces, a good effort considering the circumstances. Gohan needed to improve the situation. "I'm sorry that things didn't work out."
His sincere apologies were ignored. "No apology is needed," Ferro's eyes blinked soulfully through the eyeholes.
His comrades shared this ignorance to Gohan's plead. "None of this was your fault," said Garth. "In fact, you did a great job."
"But my family…"
Saturn Girl interrupted the bad feeling. "You want to know why we chose you for membership instead of your father or anyone else?" she asked with believing eyes. "It's because you are different from them."
"Different?" Gohan wondered. "You mean my mixed blood?"
"No. Goku and Vejita and everyone else here strive to fight evil because they're looking for a good fight. You, along with Videl, fight evil because you want to protect people."
Those words moved Gohan. Despite his sad mood, he was able to make a smile. Only problem with Imra's words was it put his father in a bad light. Not that he needed conviction, much to his regret.
"She's right," Videl wound arms with her boy. "You're a real hero, more than both our fathers put together."
"You left the future with a shining example, Gohan," said Ferro. "In no way today did you disappoint us. Don't ever doubt yourself."
After seeing the team off, Gohan and Videl departed the palace. The female companion to this flying duo was affected by her boyfriend's grim demeanor. He was silent.
"Gohan?" Videl asked for an answer.
Like a mood swing, Gohan exposed the girl to a smiling face. "Videl, would you mind if you just went home?" He then proceeded to kiss her. "I'll meet you later."
But the tender come-on failed to convince Videl. "I'm going back to Buruma's with you. Don't talk me outta it."
"Like I could succeed," Gohan did his best with a joke.
Buruma and Chichi saw only their families return. No Legionnaires was in sight (much to Kame-sen'nin's regret). Worse, they saw a grim-looking Saiya-jin, and it was Goku. That worried Chichi.
"Where's Gohan?" she asked. Goku said nothing.
Seeing her friend getting nothing from her husband, Buruma tried her luck on her own husband. "What happened?" her question calm and nonchalant. Vejita then gruffly explained that they fought this blob, who was going to bring more of its kind to their world, until Gohan wrecked that chance.
"And?" Buruma wanted the true reason, not realizing that Vejita's story was over.
"And Gohan blew our chance of a huge battle!" Vejita made the point clear with his loud voice.
Buruma shrugged off her husband's rage. She then remembered a previous situation with a different outcome. "I'm impressed."
Chichi, however, became more worried about how Goku was dealing with it, and if Gohan had something to do with his problem. She saw Goten sharing her troubles. His tactic was to run away from it. He ran out of the room, followed by Trunks.
Ten minutes passed. Goku took his time eating, to calm his raddled nature. It didn't work. Vejita sulked. Chichi looked out the window. She then spotted Gohan. Soon after, her first-born son arrived at the scene, with Videl. He matched his father in looks, a great resemblance.
Gohan threw his own grim feelings toward his father. "Dad." He spoke without warmth or sympathy.
A raised hand stopped his voice without contact. "Please don't talk," Goku's voice was cold. "I really don't wanna talk t' ya right now."
"Well, I'm sorry," Gohan refused orders. "But you embarrassed my friends. They looked up to you as a hero. Didn't see much of that today. They almost showed their disappointment."
"It's you who are the disappointment," said Vejita. "You've grown soft over the years."
Gohan did nothing to respond. Instead he continued speaking to his father, a direction that infuriated the prince with its audacity. "Dad, I think I did the right thing. If I let things be, our world would have suffered through another Cell or Buu."
"So what?" cried Vejita. "We have the Dragon Balls."
Finally did Gohan turn an eye to the Prince. Cold eyes. "Maybe we should stop relying on the Dragon Balls to solve our problems, and see about stopping the causes to those problems."
Vejita shrugged this with a groan.
"Every big battle we fought, we endangered the Dragon Balls. When we fought you, we were lucky to know about the Dragon Balls in Namek. When we fought Cell, we were lucky that Dende offered to help. When we fought Buu, we were lucky Dende didn't become a candy bar. How long can this luck go on?"
Vejita kept his glare. As frustrated he was by Gohan's audacity, there was some pleasure that Gohan's weak actions were hardly a metaphor of the boy himself. What a waste.
Gohan continued. "There's going to be one day when a lot of innocent people will die, and there won't be any Dragon Balls to bring them back. Some victory."
"That's enough!" Goku didn't want to hear those words. Sure, there was some truth to his son's actions. But if it meant that he was wrong to search for a battle, then it was Gohan who was wrong. However, the father was still reluctant about getting into a problem with Gohan. With every feeling not to, he struggled for reconciliation. "This ain't like you, son."
"If you really think that," Gohan shouted. "Then you don't really know me that much."
The chance gone, Goku let go. "How can I then, if y're always flying off t' the future! How 'bout that?"
Gohan fell silent, but it would not be for long.
"Gohan," Goku spoke with restraint. "As your father, I wish ya don't ever meet with the Legion again."
"As my father?" Gohan repeated that line with a smug confusion. "Now's the time you decide to play father?"
Those words were like a glove struck upon Goku's face. It hit him deeply than Karate Kid's attack. All shards of control were gone. Let the hostility begin. "What d'ya mean by that?" his words were calm, but the face that spoke it was not.
Seeing the storm warnings, Chichi walked between her husband and son. "Both of ya quiet down."
Neither retreated, especially the son. "You know what I mean…dad!"
"Gohan!" snapped Chichi.
For a change, Goku's voice was louder than Chichi's. "Oh, again I'm the bad guy! The awful father!" He rebelled against this idea, waving his arms in rejection. "No way! Not this time!"
"Stop this now!" cried Chichi, her tone bearing fear over a line that might be crossed.
"I don't have to obey anything you say!" Gohan hollered to his father. "I'm a Legionnaire. Take it or leave it."
Goku's angry face remained frozen. "Then git out!"
"Goku!" Chichi's voice finally exploded. She turned to her son, "Gohan, he didn't mean it." But the blow was returned. Gohan's eyes widened in shock, so he shut them. He kept a stoic demeanor, despite what was happening inside. It hurt to see his father like this. It always hurt. Why couldn't his father stop hurting him? "I understand." He turned around, walking past Videl.
"I'll never forgive ya for this," added Goku.
Hearing that, Gohan posted himself to that spot. "That makes two of us." He uprooted and left despite Chichi's cries.
No fight had taken place between father and son, but Chichi had an uneasy feeling that the lack of violence was worse.
"Goku," she shouted. "What have ya done!?"
Goku did not answer. He walked to the table. He did it again, Goku thought. Why couldn't his son stop hurting him? His frustration found a victim. With a scream, Goku kicked the table, upsetting the food. It was another regretful action.
Chichi went silent, only looking at the scene with sorrow. Her family was breaking apart.
Vejita and Buruma watched this grim play. Vejita found little to be affected. Gohan was the insolent one. If Trunks ever gave him such problems, he would smack him (and he hoped Trunks fought back). Buruma, however, was stunned. She never seen Goku or Gohan in such violent moods. Then again, she wasn't really sure she would disagree with Gohan. Not that such support made this conflict easier to cope with. "I hate what's gonna happen when we deal with a teenage Trunks," She said to her husband.
"I won't." Vejita smiled.
Again did Videl fly with a silent and grim Gohan. This was a side of her boyfriend never witnessed by her before. Even when he became grimmer-looking because of that Kaioshin magic, it was only an outside appearance. Now, it was there in and out.
Nor did she expect a fight between Gohan and Goku. Something was really eating at Gohan, and it was apparent his father had something to do with it. This pretty much trivialized the problems she had with her own dad.
Unafraid of speaking, Videl again tried to break Gohan's silence. "Gohan?"
"What Videl?!" Gohan snapped with a loud voice, with eyes blazing. "You think I did a stupid thing too?!"
"Of course not!" she countered with a stern counterattack. "So don't scream at me!"
The intense mask broke, showing a sadder Gohan. "I'm sorry, Videl. I really didn't want you to see that."
Videl calmed down. "It's okay, love," she smiled. "If it counts for anything, I think you really did the right thing."
"Too bad my dad doesn't think so."
"Now, don't let that bug you!" Videl's words returned to stern advice. "Just do what you want to do! Don't listen to anybody else."
Gohan's sad lips lifted somewhat. Not a smile. The advice eased his resolve, if not the heart that made it. "Would you mind helping me for something?"
As night fell at Legion Plaza on that day of 1775, Imra and Garth looked above the giant statue of Goku. The sense of pride they felt whenever they walked passed it had dwindled somewhat.
"I don't know if we should trash this," Garth was pessimistic, "seeing what happened."
Hearing the low voice, Imra didn't need to read her boyfriend's mind to know his feelings. "Oh, there's no reason to be disillusioned. Just because Goku isn't the protector his son is doesn't mean his significance for this group is gone."
"You think?"
"Goku taught us that no matter the color of skin, race, or habitat, everyone can work together for a noble cause. Besides, just because Goku cares about fights more than saving lives doesn't make him a Cell or a Freeza. I really think he wouldn't want to see innocents hurt, as much as he wanted to fight. I think those are worthy reasons for his significance to us."
As usual, Garth fell to his girl's wisdom. "Guess you're right. Still, I'm worried about Gohan. Wonder what he's doing right now?"
As night fell at Mount Paozu on that day of 775, Chichi and Goku returned to their home. A wary Goten convinced his parents to let him spend the night with Trunks. The two returned to see Gohan moving out with Pan's help. Both were shocked by this decision, but Goku departed from the scene, leaving Chichi to do her best to change her son's mind. She embraced her boy, who was holding heavy baggage over his shoulders, though their weight had no effect on him. "Don't go Gohan! Please don't go!"
"Uh, mom," a stoic Gohan saw his mother's action as over the top. "I'm just going to Great-grandpa's old hut. It's not even two minutes away!"
"But…still…however," Chichi cried every contradiction, albeit with any continuation. "Ya just can't move away 'cause a this!"
"Mom, there isn't a solution with this." Gohan was devoted to his reasons, an eye to his mother but a gaze to the large silent figure in the background. "Dad and me aren't seeing this eye to eye. I don't want to live with him right now. If I stay, he'll leave, and I don't want that to happen to you or Goten. Maybe it'll work out. Maybe not."
Chichi released her hold. She began a return to her hard-as-nail persona. "I know, I know, but what about Goten?"
"He'll get by," he calmly answered. "All he has to do is leap from the house and he'll see me."
Chichi had an amazing ability to keep her tears, not that the cause for it helped her restraint. "Maybe I should've told you earlier, but I'm proud of ya. As much as I don't like your friends, I see that they've had a good influence on ya."
That remark was something the poker face of Gohan couldn't resist. Was this mother an impostor? "But it's not just the Legion, mom. I've seen a lot of stuff, some of it before the Legion. It made me think a lot. Remember when we learned about the androids coming in the near future? Buruma gave us some advice. She said we should stop Dr. Gero before he created the androids. But we turned her down. We all wanted to fight." Gohan paused for a moment, the memory cutting him like a knife. "W-When I think about what happened, I realize that Buruma was right."
As if a transfer had taken place, Chichi's emotional state became stronger than her son. "I understand dear." She touched her son's cheek. The softness and warmth strengthened him. It was a rare thing to see Mom acting out of character, replacing her hard-as-nails authority with a less aggressive persona. "Promise t' write t' us everyday."
"Mom!" Gohan hid the pain with a smile. "I'm going to be a shouting distance away." He kissed his mother's forehead. "Bye."
Thus, those steps were made. The alternative was to not leave and remain wrong in his father's eyes. That thought strengthened his resolve. He walked the path to his great-grandfather's hut. He stopped for a moment, but only for a moment. He looked to his right, than returned to his path.
At the area of which Gohan so briefly gazed upon, Goku sat on a tree stump. He exchanged eyes with his son, but said nothing. Any decision to come to him was contained. Not again. He was tired of always being in the wrong to his son's eyes, always being the one to apologize. It was Gohan who did the bad thing this time. He was going to apologize for it. If not, then let him stay at Grandpa's hut!
The father took a deep breath, than released it with two words. "Oh well."
To be continued
Thus ends my first Legion chapter in a year. I am very sorry for the long wait. A lot of things had happened, with school, writing other fanfics, and being downright lazy, that I shirked the responsibilities of my role as writer.
I don't think I'm portraying Goku or Gohan as out-of-character. I do believe that Gohan has always been a protector first, fighter second. And Goku's priorities have always been centered on fighting, so to see a chance ruined by his son of all people, would be an anathema to him. If you don't like this dark side of Goku that I've portrayed in this fic, too bad. Future chapters of The Kakarrotto Saga and its sequel Twilight will venture more on this side of Goku (I am in no way meaning that Carrot Guy will be back. That was a different personality, not Goku's dark side).
Next Time: A Legionnaire dies, and Gohan is destroyed by it. No help from daddy this time…