Disclaimer: don't own anything from the DBZ universe, just borrowing it.
"So Nahog, is the food to your satisfaction?" Mr. Church asked as the demi-saiyan ate his seventh serving. Even though the teen had devoured massive amounts of food he made sure to keep eating politely.
"Yeah, the food's good Leonard." Nahog answered in between two spoons of rice. "Like always, your cooks really know how to cook."
"Thank you, I'll be sure to let them know you where pleased."
After that silence ruled the table again, until finally Nahog laid down his cutlery and looked directly across the table at the crime lord.
"So." He simply said as he rested his head on one hand, assuming a bored pose.
"Ah yes, the reason why I invited you over for dinner." Church said, taking a sip of his wine. "Ah, a good year indeed." With a satisfied smile on his face he placed the glass on the table again. As he looked back at Nahog, his face changed, assuming full-business mode.
"Now Nahog, I called you over because there is something I wish to talk to you about." Church started. "Would you like a drink before I start?"
"No thanks, I still have my glass of water." Nahog raised the glass for emphasis. "So please, continue."
"Very well. I wish to talk to you about your performance lately. You have been lacking both restraint and respect Nahog, and I'm afraid that I can not continue our alliance with you if do not wizen up."
"Oh really?" Nahog didn't change his expression, carefully keeping up the mask of boredom and indifference. "So far I've kept my end of the deal though: Capsule Corporation is pretty much destroyed, the morale all-over the planet hasn't been this low since Cell seven years ago, I've caused the biggest drop in stock breaks in the past two hundred years – which you have made very good use of I might add - and Hercule and Videl will never stand in your way again. How have I not kept up my end of the deal?"
"Granted, you've accomplished those goals, but you have not done as I asked of you: I wanted Hercule and Videl dead and you've wasted two perfectly good chances to kill them. As long as they're alive, there is a chance they will recover and in doing so restore some hope to the people. I can not have that." Church took another zip of his wine. "And aside from that you've shown open disrespect to my representative and, in doing so, to me. Allow me to remind you, Nahog, that you are an employee of mine just as much as my butler, assassins or policemen. And as my employee, you will follow the rules that I keep or suffer the consequences."
Now Nahog looked up, a flash of annoyance and dislike crossing his features before he finally settled on an amused look. But Mr. Church hadn't missed those flashes.
"Oh don't get me wrong, I know perfectly well no-one in my employ can hurt you. Right now, I'm willing to believe the only ones who can hurt you are your creator and Vegeta Briefs, neither of whom will be inclined to help me. However, there are other ways I can work."
"The threat of cutting my funding is getting kind of old Leonard." Nahog cut in, assuming his bored look again. He almost flinched for a second as his stomach played up, like it had been doing all day, but kept himself in check. "Before long the new clones will be ready and your only threat will become void."
"Now, now Nahog." Church leaned back in his chair, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. "There's no need to get so rude. But I must say, you look a bit pale my friend. I would almost think you are not feeling well…" his grin returned as he leaned forward. "A bad case of stomach cramps and diarrhea perhaps?"
Nahog's head shot up, his eyes locked on Mr. Church's with a look of surprise.
"As I was saying, I know very well none of my men can hurt you. however, that does not make you indestructible. I took you in half a year ago at your request when you still had the body of a nine year old. You explained your situation and desires and I agreed to them as you well know. It is because of me that you managed to grow to a full adult and can get your revenge. But even as a child I already knew you where a danger unlike any other. So I tested you one day, without you knowing. You are as weak to poisons and drugs like any normal human. Refuse to cooperate with me and you might wish to check every meal you ever take for poisons. Even the most supreme of fighters cannot win a fight against what is inside their system, a poison destroying them from within."
With another look of supreme satisfaction, Mr. Church stood up and walked across the table. Nahog was still sitting in his seat, his hands clenched into fists.
"Now that that is clear, I have another task I wish to ask of you. and you will see this finished or there will be… problems."
Reluctantly, Nahog followed Mr. Church into the next room. Even as he walked, he never unclenched his fist, frustration his prime emotion.
XxX
"Shouldn't we go and talk to Vegeta?" Yamcha was actually looking worried at the prolonged absence of the arrogant Saiyan Prince. "He's been gone for almost three days now."
"Don't worry about it." Bulma assured him once again. "It isn't the first time Vegeta's done this. He disappears for a couple of days whenever he needs to gather his thoughts, he'll be back before long. For now, let's just be glad that Gohan is almost back to himself."
Ever since Gohan sudden breakdown into tears – having apparently reached his breaking point – he had been somewhat restored. The crying had lasted for almost five hours, after which Gohan had been too exhausted and dehydrated to stay conscious. Piccolo had carried him upstairs and Chichi had tucked her eldest son in. After sleeping for nearly twenty hours straight, Gohan had woken up as nearly his old self.
He had made it clear that he was still determined to kill Nahog – giving dark glares to anyone who would dare mention him, but on the plus side he wasn't stalking around the entire day, glaring at everyone and hardly sleeping.
At that moment, Gohan was outside with Goten and Piccolo, doing some training. Trunks had been outside until a few minutes ago when Bulma had called him back inside.
"So, mom what did you want?" the lavender-haired boy asked, a grin on his face as he was covered in sweat. "Gohan was having me and Goten fight him, it was waaay cool! Why'd you have to call me back inside?"
"Because we're going home for a few minutes and I need you to fly me there." Bulma simply said, folding the newspaper she had been reading and picking up her bag.
"But mom…" Trunks was instantly shut up by the look his mother send his way. "Ok, fine, just don't take too long. I want to do some more training when I get back, Gohan's training is way different from dad's!"
"Don't let your father hear how happy you are with those trainings." Bulma warned with a smile on her face. "But we're only going to go pick up a few things. The mail, some movies, toys, a computer and some other things. We won't be gone long."
Once outside she put her arms around her son's neck, who in turn had to embrace his mother – much to his annoyance – before taking off. Despite the training Trunks had just done, he was still faster then any plane Bulma had ever flown. His energy – like his father had been sure to teach him – created a large field around him to reduce the wind to nearly nothing. Bulma hardly felt a breeze as her son flew at supersonic speeds. They reached their fake address no ten minutes after departing.
It was a large mansion, though nothing like the Capsule Corporation Main Building had been. Of course, they didn't actually live here – it was their vacation residence – but they had given this as their temporary new address since their home was destroyed. Bulma unlocked the door and immediately Trunks rushed in, going to collect the toys that he kept in this house. It would provide him, Goten and Marron some more variation, since they had been getting tired of always playing tag or hide-and-seek. Not to mention that Goten was far too good at the later, frequently playing the game with mountain animals.
Bulma pulled the pile of mail out of the mailbox, moved to the living room and dropped the pile on the table. First, she needed some coffee. A few minutes later Bulma returned to the table, armed with a cup of the strong black liquid, and sat down to sort the mail. The newspapers where removed first. Most of them where out-dated already and she had kept up with the news while at Oolong's.
Next came the fan mail, consolation-mail for loosing her home, commercials and other useless mail. The pile that remained after this splitting – which had lasted well over half an hour – was only a tenth of the original pile. These last twelve letters where actually worth reading, Bulma had concluded. So, after refilling her cup, she tore open the first one. It was a contract that required her personal attention. She set it aside from the moment.
After going through three more letters – another multi-billion zenni contract and two offers to reconstruct CC's main building – Bulma raised the fourth envelope to eye level. Once she saw the seal placed atop it, she tore it open. This kind of mail was important, no matter what it said. Her eyes quickly scanned over the content.
'This is…' Bulma realized. 'I've got to tell the others!'
"TRUNKS! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" she yelled up the stairs. Her son was at her side at once, his hands still holding a racecar and horse that he had been playing with. "We have to get back, now! As fast as you can!"
Trunks had no idea what was going on, but he could tell that his mother was in a near panic, so he transformed into a Super Saiyan at once, grabbed his mom and flew back towards the mansion.
They got in two minutes flat, but the others where already waiting outside for them to arrive. Vegeta suddenly appeared behind them as well, having sensed his son's sudden transformation.
"Woman, what's going on?!" he yelled.
"Later!"
As soon as they landed, the others where upon them with questions.
"What happened?" Piccolo demanded, silencing the sudden rain of questions that was fired. "We could sense Trunks transforming into a Super Saiyan and flying over here like he had the devil himself on his toes. What's going on?"
Bulma couldn't control herself, immediately shouting out.
"I know where Nahog is going to strike next!" There was a collective gasp of surprise. "I know his next target!"
XxX
It was dark in the hospital room. Videl preferred it that way; no-one would see the dark circles around her red and puffy eyes. The darkness was comforting, when all she wanted was to be alone. Yet at the same time she was scared of the darkness and even more so at being alone. Maybe that's why she sat there.
In the bed next to her, a barely recognizable Hercule looked like he was fast asleep. She knew that he wasn't: the doctors had put him into a chemically induced coma so he wouldn't feel most of the pain. The injuries that Gohan had inflicted upon him where severe enough to cause intense and chronicle pain, but they wouldn't kill him.
'Oh dad.' Videl thought to herself. 'I need you. I need you more then I've ever thought I would.' She wouldn't ever say it to anyone, but Videl was hurting. A hurting that was far worse then any physical pain she had ever suffered.
'Why did this have to happen to us?' her train of thought continued. 'Why do I always have such rotten luck? First mom left us, going to live with some other guy, Erasa dates the first boy I ever like, the second boy I've ever liked turns into that… that… pure evil.' Of course Videl had never told Erasa that she had also liked Sharpener – which was probably a good thing in the long run – but nevertheless the raven-haired fighter had been hurting whenever she saw her two blond friends make out. And Gohan… Gohan was a special case all together.
Again tears broke free from Videl's eyes as she curled up in her chair again. Whenever she thought of Gohan she managed to burst into fresh tears. It was a miracle she hadn't dehydrated yet from all the crying she had done.
'Dad…. I need you.' Videl said to herself again. 'I want you to hold me again, yell at me for being so soft-hearted and tell me everything is going to be alright.' The wish may have been childish, but never before did Videl realize just how much she had always depended on her father, even though she was considered an adult and responsible teenagers, who hadn't asked her father for help in years.
She didn't care about being childish anymore. She wanted her father back.
XxX
"Look at this!" Bulma said as she laid the letter over the table where everyone had rushed for the emergency meeting. "I'll read it up aloud. 'Dear Mrs. Briefs. Allow us to express our consolations for the sudden lose of your home before anything else. The content of this letter is directly related to the destruction of your home, which is the reason that we wish to send you this invitation. As you are no doubt aware, a string of world-wide events have been happening that greatly affect the inhabitants of this world. We believe that these events need to be brought to a stop and actions on a global level must be taken to achieve this. For this reason, it is our wish to invite you, along with Mr. Hercule Satan and the seventy-seven ruling classes to a meeting on the fifth of april, this year, to be held at the royal palace. Please let us know if you will be available to attend at that date. With regards, His Royal Majesty, World King Renard Furry, World King.'"
There was a deafening silence when Bulma finished. She let the information sink in for several minutes before speaking up again.
"Think about it, it's the perfect target. So far, everything Nahog did served two purposes: discrediting Gohan and terrorizing the people of earth. By destroying Capsule Corp, he brought the world's leader on science down. With Hercule, it was strength. The World King is the political leader of the world, the highest possible authority! If Nahog strikes him as well, there will be nothing to give people hope. It'll be complete chaos. You two probably have similar letters waiting for you back home." She motioned towards the Ox King and Chiaotzu.
"I don't get it." Goten suddenly said. "This Mr. Furry is the king right? But Mr. Chiaotzu is an emperor! How can he be and emperor, when there's a king above him? Shouldn't emperors be above kings? And… and Grandpa is also a king!"
"Allow me to explain." Chiaotzu chuckled. Next to him, the Ox King suddenly realized that he had never really explained the system of rulers to his youngest grandson. Gohan had already learned of the system by age 5, courtesy of the books that Chichi practically made the boy eat.
"There is one World King who has the highest political authority." The small emperor started. "However, since the world is such a large and busy place, he can't oversee everything that's happening. For that reason, there are seventy-seven other rulers, who bear various royal titles like King, Queen, Emperor and several others. They all report to the World King concerning the larger events, so he keeps control, but this system ensures that the World King can focus his attention on other matters."
"And, unlike what it may sound like, the title of World King isn't inherited by family like a normal King's title is. Instead, upon the passing or resignation of a World King, the remaining seventy-seven rulers hold a vote and decide upon a new king. This way, the power remains balanced instead of one family holding all power."
"And Bulma is right. Right now, the World King is the only leader the world has left that has been untouched. Not just that, but he's calling all seventy-seven sub-leaders there as well. Nahog can wipe out the world leaders in one blow if he wanted to. And if that happens… there will be utter chaos."
"Then it's simple." Gohan announced, raising from the table. "We kill Nahog at the summit, showing everyone that there are two versions of me."
"But guys…" Yamcha had pulled over a calendar and looked extremely worried. "The date that the king has specified… it's exactly two months and a week after Nahog attacked Bulma, Trunks and Vegeta. He'll have his clones done by then."
XxX
It was a bit later in the evening, after having send Goten, Marron and Trunks to bed, that Gohan was still walking around the corridors of Oolong's mansion. Exiting the mansion and walking into what remained of the garden – courtesy of his insane bout of training – Gohan found the one he had been looking for.
Dende was sitting in between the remains of the plants, lost in his own thoughts. When Gohan arrived, the Namek's eyes slowly opened to look at his friend. He didn't need to speak to invite Gohan to come and sit next to him. As Gohan sat down he made the request he had been thinking off all day.
"Hey Dende, do you think you can heal Hercule's injuries, without him or anyone knowing about it?"
"Shouldn't be too difficult." The young guardian said, but he didn't smile. "I can easily sneak into his hospital room and fix him in a jiffy, but Gohan… I can only heal his physical injuries, not the ones he suffered on the inside. The same applies to Videl. Even with my healing powers, I can't affect someone's psych."
Gohan looked down at the ground, avoiding eyecontact with his longtime friend, but his voice didn't change when he spoke again.
"I knew that. it's just that, if Hercule gets healed from his injuries, maybe it'll help restore some hope to the people, give them something to cling on too while there's such chaos."
"Oh really?" A third voice cut in. Vegeta and Bulma appeared behind the two, having apparently taken some time alone. "It sounds like your trying to get some redemption for what your clone did."
"Of course I do." Gohan started. "If I ever want to get rid of the blame, I have to prove that I'm nothing like Nahog."
"Are you really?"
"What!" Gohan's face immediately changed to one of pure fury. "What the hell do you mean, I'm nothing like that… that…"
"Save it." Vegeta interrupted. "I'm not interested in hearing what sort of attempt at an insult you'll use. But I'm talking about you claiming to have killed all those other clones."
"What about it?"
"You claim you've killed them, but you look almost indifferent when talking about it. it's the sole reason that your clone desires your death, just like you desire his death over what he did to the girl. But there is something that doesn't make sense."
By now Gohan was grinding his teeth together in frustration.
"The way I remember it, you where always reluctant to fight, let alone kill an enemy. You had nearly unmatched power when you finally decided to fight, but you always had difficulty finishing someone off. How exactly did you kill a large group of clones when killing is such a major problem? And since that lies at the very heart of our current dilemma I will have some answers!"
Gohan's eyes flashed from Bulma to Vegeta's a few times, until finally Bulma gave a solemn nod. Taking a deep breath, Gohan began speaking.
"We knew the clones where to dangerous, especially the ones that where copied by my DNA. Their power and intellect where the same as ours, but for the most part they had little love for us. Before long they would rebel against us and an army of me running around the planet intending on killing all of us would have the job done in two minutes flat. In order to prevent that, Bulma and I decided that they needed to be destroyed before they could reach the height of their power. And since we were the ones who started the experiment, we would have to be the ones to see it finished."
"But, we knew that Gohan had difficulty killing others." Bulma supplied, also sitting down. "Especially when they hadn't done anything to actually be killed. It was a preventive matter, not a last-change defensive fight. And that's not even talking about what kind of effects it might have on him to kill so many versions of himself."
"So we needed to find a solution." Gohan continued, almost lost in a trance as he spoke. "I have the ability and experience needed to kill, but my emotions get in the way and stop me, making me doubt about what I was doing. So Bulma gave me a drug that subdued my emotions for some time. I took the drug, waited for a few hours for it to really activate and proceeded to the cloning facility. I transformed just outside the door, going to my full power right away. I didn't feel anything, no fear, no anger, no hatred, no repulsion, nothing, as I stepped in and destroyed all the clones."
"All except one." Vegeta harshly reminded him
"Yeah, all except one." Gohan agreed.
"Then why not take the drug again, now that your emotions threaten everything?" Vegeta asked, for once not taunting but seemingly genuinely interested. "If you take that drug, your emotions will not hinder you any longer and we can move to destroy that pathetic excuse of a Saiyan."
"Because of the side-effects." Bulma immediately answered, before Gohan could even consider the idea. "Gohan took just one dose of the drug, but from what he described it was far more potent then it should have been for humans. We don't know what continued usage might do to him. And aside from that, after the drug had worn out, Gohan was ph't know what continued usage might do to him. And aside from that, after the drug had worn out, Gohan was physically weakened, he had to stay in bed all day. I've never heard Chichi so nervous on the phone as when Gohan had claimed he was too ill to get out of bed."
"Shame. You might actually turn into a decent Saiyan Warrior if you could have kept taking that drug. Your emotions are far too prominent in you, messing up your ability to fight."
With that, the Prince of all Saiyan reached out for Bulma's hand and, turning, left the garden with his wife, leaving Gohan to wonder about new questions that had popped up in his head.
Unfortunately, this chapter is unbeta'd due to Kushin eX being a bit busy this week, so any mistakes are my miss.
As always, please leave a review telling me what you think.