Chapter 3
Once upon a time there existed on the planet Vegitasei three races. The Tilku, the Tsufurun and the Saiyains. Each of the three had their own unique gifts. The Tilku had foresight, the Tsufurun had knowledge and the Saiyains strength. While they all remained on Vegitasei, peace, contentment rained. But soon things went awry. First the Tilku left, driven away by a disease that threaten to wipe them out. So foresight left Vegitasei and the Tsufurun used their knowledge without the wisdom that foresight brought. Succeeding in enraging the Saiyains. They were destroyed by their neighbours and the Saiyains became the sole rulers of Vegitasei. But strength without knowledge and foresight is a recipe for disaster and the Saiyains in their turn become victims of another's fear. Only the Tilku remained. Clinging to their foresight, expanding their knowledge and growing in strength. They began to believe that they had managed to break the tide of extinction that threatened to wipe out all the inhabitants of Vegitasei. But while they as a race advanced their king remained unable combine foresight, knowledge and strength. In the end a prince was born who had such great strength, such vast knowledge and the ability of brilliant foresight that the Tilku believed that he would be the greatest Tilku king to walk the universe in all of eternity but if only... if only he was not stark raving mad.
While the Price grew and fed his madness with every increase in his disjointed ability the Saiyain race was on the path of being reborn. Reborn under the greatest of their king to have ever lived, himself reborn and returned to his forgotten people. The rebirth of the Saiyain race hailed the return of the Saiyain empire but even before that the rivalry that was foretold by the ancients of the Tilku developed between the Princes of the two races. Fuelled by the love of a woman both claimed as belonging to them.
Stars stay still, planets revolve. Night gives way to day, the sun in its turn to the moon. Seasons come and seasons go. Time passes slow, time passes fast. Finally one day the time arrives. The time for the players to determine the end, the end of a tale so long in its make, it is time for the clash of the empires of Vegitasei.
When the ship neared the Wolf's Den Trunks ordered to hold a steady orbit around one of the outer planets still three planets away from the Wolf's Den. 'Marron,' he called, 'can you teleport us all to the Wolf's Den from here and into Daemon's palace?' he asked.
'Into the Wolf's Den but into Daemon's palace just the palace ground.' Marron informed him.
'That will be sufficient.' Stated Trunks. He than took a deep breath and let it out slowly to ease the tension he was feeling, 'These are your instruction.' He said to no one in particular, 'As soon as we get there everybody scatter. I will make my way to Daemon. Goten you go find Goma and once you have her get her back to the ship. Do not worry yourselves about what happens to me. Your duty is to ensure no one interrupts me and Daemon. Understood?'
'Yes, sire.' Said all with differing degrees of apprehension in their voice.
'Trunks I'll find Goma and get her back to the ship.' Stated Goten, 'But than I am returning to you.'
Knowing that arguing with Goten was futile Trunks only said, 'Do what you please but do no under any circumstances interfere with me and Daemon.'
'Understood.' Replied Goten.
'Everybody ready?' asked Marron, they all nodded, 'Good, lets go.' a bright pale yellow light engulfed them, when it parted the ship was empty.
'Uhhhhhhhhh....' Came the scream from within Goma's chamber.
The Freeza bot standing guard outside responded by running stiffly inside. She was sprawled on the floor. Her skin a deathly ash tone, her eyes glazed over. The bot checked for life signs but could find none. It's instruction on these occasion was to raise Daemon. It tried to do so on its built in communication device. But failed. With its back up programming activated the Freeza bot left the room in order to find Daemon manually. Within seconds of the Freeza bot leaving Goma sat up. The colour of her skin returned, as did her eyes. The old pretending-to-be-dead-trick worked again. There was much to be said about mindless automations. There lack of soul made them very good as killing machines but their lack of spirit at the same time meant they came at a price.
Goma wasted no time in getting out the room and blending into the shadows, literally. She could feel Trunks near and she had to get to him before one of Daemon's lackeys pick discovered that she was missing. She had not gone far when a loud explosion shook the very foundation of palace. Her super sensitive ears picked up the sound of skirmish not too far off. 'Trunks.' she whispered and headed for the area from which the sound originated.
She had not gone two steps when something dislodged her out of the shadows and landed her on the floor on her bottom fully visible. She looked up to find one of Daemon's many warlocks standing over her, 'Going some where little witch.'
She stood up, gathering as much of her dignity as she could, 'What concern is that of yours?' she wondered.
He smirked, 'My master has left strict instruction for you not to leave your room. I am obliged to take you back, with or without your consent.' His smirk took on an unpleasant demeanour, 'I hope it is against your consent for I have always wanted to take on a real Saiyain witch.'
Goma's face too split into a smile as savage as she could manage. 'It would be mean I suppose for me to deny you the pleasure of being turned into a frog by a real Saiyain witch.' With that she tossed a ball of magic energy.
He of course easily dodged it. But found that she was no longer present to receive his counter. Cursing he opened his senses just in time to detect a blast of Ki directed aimed at his head. He spun away becoming invisible as he did so. But he did not full Goma who used all her senses all the time. Even in his invisible state no spell originating from him caught her by surprise. She countered them all and kept his defences busy at the same time. Than a masterful strategy came to her mind she dodged one of his attacks and at the same time let loose rolling ball of thunder. In did not catch him surprise. But the change spelling that followed it did. For all his boost when he fell out of invisibility he found himself transformed into a frog.
'Those to seek out a Saiyain to battle, seek out shame and defeat.' She said with a smile as she once again took off towards the sounds of the continuing skirmish.
As soon as they landed on the palace ground Trunks took off like a man possessed. Striking down anyone foolish enough stand in his way. Already transformed up to Super Saiyain level five Trunks left no doubt that he was through playing, he was through waiting. He was here for the kill and nothing else. Goten did not stand around long, taking off to execute the duty assigned to him. The guards too busied themselves in taking out as many of the Tilku guards as they could. Only Marron stood thinking for a moment with Pan fighting to protect them both from the onslaught of guards. Unaccustomed to battles she was finding the task difficult but on the hand Pan had to admit to herself that she had never before felt so alive. Soon, very soon she was able to beat down the guards involved in the immediate assault and buy her and Marron some respite time. 'Marron, what's the hell is the matter?' she demanded first, 'Why aren't you fighting?' she wondered.
'O I am sorry.' Marron apologised than she became thoughtful again, 'Pan I have to do something.'
'Like what?' asked Pan.
Marron closed her eyes. After a moment to gather her thoughts she decided to tell her, 'There is a... well an embryo, the child of Daemon and Goma.'
Pan's eyes widened, 'Goma as in Trunks mate.'
Marron nodded, 'Daemon raped her and its the product.' She took in a deep breath, 'Pan that thing is evil. I have been instructed by the witches council to destroy it. But...' she looked away.
'But?' prompted Pan.
'But Drasis is determine to save it. You see he believes that no child is born evil. He thinks he... we can stir the child right.' Marron's eyes moistened, 'He would kill me to stop me. He would kill his child that resides within my womb.' She whispered.
Pan looked totally shocked, 'Are you so sure this child is evil? Are you so sure he isn't right?' she asked.
Marron nodded, 'But it doesn't matter. We have to do what we have to do. Pan I need you to clear a path for me to Drasis and the... the thing. I will need all my energy to fight him.'
'Understood.' Said Pan after a moments thought, 'You are right we all have to do what we have to.'
It was far difficult for Goten to find Goma than he would care to admit. He had never gotten a good fix on her Ki and his sight was going crazy. Showing him flashes of what the Saiyain warriors were doing, where the Tilku guards were stationed. So far they failed to show him her location. But he was determined to change that. Simultaneously trying to focus and navigate his way through an unknown palace Goten suddenly found himself smack bang in the middle of area in which apparently the Freeza bots where kept during the night. As soon as he entered the Freeza bots came to life and Goten found himself face to face with about a dozen or so clones of Freeza. All of them hell bent on eliminating the intruder. Well it had been a while since he had had a real challenge.
The fight was frantic to say the least. Ki blasts here and there, frantic hand to hand combat with Goten taking on several bots at the same time. At one point he tried to take them all out with one massive blast. He succeeded in creating a massive explosion and to take three of them out. He sort of expected more success than that but success was success. The fight continued another explosion and only four bots remained. Just when Goten thought he had them beat a bunch of other Freeza bots came into the room. 'Crap.' Uttered Goten, his eyes widened in surprise, 'Goma!' he screamed as Goma too ran into the room and into the path of a Ki blast that she did not have the Ki protect herself from. 'No!' screamed Goten's mind.
Things moved too fast for him to realise what was going on. There was a bright flash of light, Goma screamed but when the light cleared Goma was on the ground, alive and unhurt, just stunned and over her with his hands crossed in front of him stood Vegeta. Extending out his arms Vegeta blasted the Freeza bot to kingdom come, 'No one messes with my son's mate.' He stated. Goma smiled at that.
But there was no time for leisure. There were Freeza bots that needed dispatching. But between the three of them it was only a work of minutes. 'Vegeta what are you doing here?' asked Goten when things have died down.
Vegeta shrugged, 'Bra told me about what was going to happen. So I used the Dragonballs to wish myself here.' he smirked, 'I can't let you brats have all the fun can I.'
Goten smiled. Turning to Goma he said, 'I have to take you back to the ship. Trunks' order.'
Goma shook her head, 'Forget it. I wouldn't miss this fight for the universe. Besides like I ever listen to the hybrid.' With that she took off towards Daemon's throne room.
Vegeta's smirk widened, 'Yes, she is the perfect mate for him.' He said as he began to follow her.
'Yes, the perfect mate for Trunks and the perfect pain in the ass for me.' Drawled Goten tailing after the two, determine to discharge his duty by keeping her safe.
He was sitting on his throne, his eyes fixed intently on the view outside his window. There were no guards in the throne room. Daemon had ordered them all away. It they could stop Trunks before he came into the throne room than Trunks would have proved himself unworthy as an adversary. But if Trunks managed to make it to the throne room, beating down his elite soldiers that Trunks would have proven himself worthy to die at the hands of the Tilku King. He senses gave him the earliest knowledge of Trunks' arrival and Daemon sat expecting Trunks to step through the door any time now. He did not have to wait long. Trunks rarely disappointed.
He flung open the door with his Ki, transforming into Super Saiyain level VI as he entered. His hair took on the form of golden metal, his eyes looked like well cut emeralds glittering with fury and rage and his power... his power was of the charts. Daemon had never felt anything like it before on anyone but himself. But the fact remained that Trunks was still not a match for him. Which put Daemon in a far more casual attitude than Trunks would have liked. 'So,' asked Daemon, 'had any difficulty finding me?'
'Not really.' Replied Trunks as he unsheathed his sword slowly, 'Waited long?' he wondered.
Daemon smiled, 'All my life.' He responded, 'So shall we get started or did you have a long dramatic utterly predictable speech planned?'
'Not really. I think I have said all that needs to be said.' Trunks replied.
Daemon's smile broadened, 'Eager for death?' he wondered.
'I thought we weren't going to make speeches.' Trunks threw back.
'As you wish.' With that Daemon attacked.
Finding the infirmary where Daemon's child was kept wasn't hard. There were exactly three passages that were heavily guarded. One lead to Goma's chamber, the other to the throne room and the last one to the infirmary. Kiwi had spent enough time in the palace to know where what was and with the help of her memory Marron was soon there. The room with the embryo was curiously empty save for the tube in which the thing resided. The tube was set in the middle of the room on a platform about two steps high. She wasted no time in traversing the distance between that and the door. Only when she had reached that bottom step of the platform that she became aware of the other presence in the room.
'Marron.' Came Drasis's voice from the shadows. She wired about to come face to face with him. His eyes snapping a silent warning.
'I have to do this.' She insisted.
'No you don't.' he told her. 'Please don't. It's just a child.'
'No, its a spawn of pure evil and must be destroyed.' Utterly unexpected for she had hitherto remained totally unmoved she flung a Ki sphere that shattered the tube and incinerated the bundle of cells inside.
'NO!' screamed Drasis. Before he could stop himself, he was squeezing the life out of her with his bare hands. When he finally realised what he was doing it was too late. The body in his arms had gone limp. Her eyes were glazed over, her skin an ashen hue. He had snapped her neck without even realising. Shaking with emotions he sank down to the floor. What had he done? What had he done! Screamed his mind as his heart pounded uncontrollably in his chest. A overwhelming emptiness filled him up as Drasis raised his head to bury it in her soft, silky black hair?
Footsteps... behind him. Slowly Drasis turned to she Marron come up behind him. Her eyes fixed on the lifeless body of Pan that he held in his arms. 'She was dying.' She explained, 'Within a week she would have been bedridden, another week and she would be dying slowly in a hospital bed somewhere. Weak and pathetic. She didn't want that.' tears started rolling down her cheek, 'More importantly than that she didn't see why both of us needed to die. So she made me cast an illusion spell on her. She would die serving the Universe.' Sob, 'She would die in my place...' Marron sunk down to the floor crying, 'so that the child in my womb... our child will live to see the sun.' Shocked to his core Drasis pulled her into his arms. Holding her tight, grateful for all eternity to the Saiyain spirit of bravery of which Pan possessed no mean share.
Dear Uubu,
There is no easy was to tell you this so I am going to just say it. I have a Tumour in my head, right behind my left eye. The doctors have never seen anything like the tumour I have before, they have no cure. They could operate, that might prolong my life but successful or not the operation will take away much of my brain function. I won't be able to walk, to talk and who knows what else I won't be able to do. It would be like having a life but not living. I can't bare the thought of it. It is no choice at all. Marron took me to all the best healer and doctors the universe can offer but they too are at a lose on how to help me. We already asked the Dragon but there are things even the Dragon can't do.
O please don't be angry. I didn't tell you because I wanted to spend the little time we had remaining as per normal. I did not want anyone fusing over me or the children being sad and dejected because their mother was dying. I just wanted everything to be normal so I could forget, even if only for a little while, what was really happening. By the time you get this letter I should have left already. Left for a battle in which I hope I will meet my end. I know this is not what you want to here. But would you rather see me utterly changed, a frail creature dying slowly, painfully in a hospital bed. No I think not. At least I don't want that for myself. Let me die the way my Grandfather died so many times. In the heat of battle, fighting for a cause that was worth the shedding of his noble blood.
*tear stains marked the paper*
I love you so much. I think I have always loved you. Even when I loved Trunks I had a image of Trunks in my head that was not quiet him but fitted you perfectly. I'll miss you dearly. You and the kids when I am in the other dimension and I know you will miss me too. But don't worry too much about me. I'll be with Grandpa and Grandma and they will be taking good care of me and I them till its time for all of you to join me. Till that day... explain to my parents things as best as you can. Tell them I love them. I don't know what else to say. So till we meet again, good bye.
-Pan
If only words were adequate to describe the battle being fought between the King of the Tilku and of the Saiyains. Ki fire destroyed the throne room and surrounding the wings within seconds of the battle beginning. The two matched each other blow for blow, kick for kick, neither managed to land a punch that was not blocked. Neither managing to execute a kick that was not interrupted. Each tried to gain advantage over the other with ingenious attack combinations and backed up by brilliant defence skills. At one stage Trunks slit himself in two while distracting Daemon and while one half of Trunks fought teeth and nail trying to snap Daemon's neck in two the other Trunks tried to sneak up behind him but Daemon say him coming. Courtesy of a shattered mirror behind Trunks. Turning he grabbed the other Trunks and slammed them both together, ending the split state. For a second Trunks found on himself on the floor. Flat on his back. Seeing his chance Daemon pounced. But Trunks recovered just as a Daemon tried to land an axe kick on Trunks' neck.
It was Daemon's turn to put his genius to work. He focused his energy in making the floor under Trunks' feet turn into something like quick stand. Suddenly Trunks found his legs stuck in the floor, literally. He should have been able to rip the floor out but his legs was being held there by an unseen force. Grinning Daemon raised a hand and held his palm flat and straight out but just before he could let loose a Ki strike that would have turned Trunks' into a Ki fried crisp Trunks slammed his sword into the ground and literally curved out a piece of the floor. In the process of doing so he disrupted the Ki force that was holding in place. Than it was a matter of twisting out of the way of the oncoming Ki strike.
In the same motion in which he dodged the strike Trunks spun and using his Ki as thrust kicked Daemon square in the chest. Trunks staggered back but taking advantage of Trunks' awkward position he slammed a huge ball of Ki on Trunks' side. Trunks experienced a brief moment of vertigo but quickly regulated his Ki to summersault backwards, simultaneously dropping the Ki ball and righting himself. Slamming his fist on the ground Trunks made the floor under Daemon's feet crack. Forcing Daemon to take to the air. Calculating for this Trunks disappeared and appeared overhead and hammer punched Daemon through the floor. Stopping his fall Daemon corkscrewed through the floor attempting also to go through Trunks. Trunks slashed with his sword it was Daemon's turn to do fancy manoeuvring to get out the path of a blade that could slice through his Ki and him. That accomplished Daemon wasted no time in counter attacking. But Trunks was ready for him. The battle continued.
Watching from a distance Goma commented, 'This is not going well.'
'For who?' wondered Vegeta. Pride making him blind to the advantage Daemon possessed over his son.
Goma did not reply. But Goten, 'I was afraid of this. Trunks still isn't strong enough. We have to fuse.' He said as he began to power up.
'I don't think Trunks will let you fuse with him.' Goma reminded him, 'I think he wants to do this on his own.'
Goten opened his mouth to protest but realised she was right. 'But he can't win other wise. Any minute Daemon's going to get bored of this game and than...' he couldn't complete the sentence. The thought was too horrible.
Silence, 'My son,' began Goma, 'did many horrible things at the bidding of Daemon. Perhaps its time he made up for them by helping his father defeat Daemon.'
'You are not talking about the soul eating thing are you?' groaned Goten. Goma and Vegeta both blinked. 'What did you have in mind?' he asked.
The game was getting old. The Saiyain King was good. But not good enough but even as they fought he improved. The Saiyains unique ability to improve by increments during battles coming into play. Normally this would not have bothered Daemon but if by some chance Trunks managed to break the barrier and become a Super Saiyain level seven all would be lost. No, no he could not have that. He would not have himself defeated because of his callousness. No this would end now.
Twisting out the way of Trunks' attack Daemon manoeuvred himself behind Trunks. Trunks tried to back kick but Daemon caught his leg. Bend the leg Daemon held Trunks brought his other leg up and tried to kick Daemon's head. Daemon let go of the leg he was holding. Trunks spun and landed on his feet but did not see Daemon's kick when it landed in his gut. Just as he was trying to recover from that Daemon landed karate chop on his neck that would have taken his head off if only it had been a tad stronger. It would have been stronger had Daemon at that very moment wasn't startled by a flash of light. It was a momentary distraction but the cause of it was more far reaching. For the next moment Daemon swore he saw the spirit of Chibi Trunks' spirit enter his father and become Ki.
'Shit.' Swore Daemon. The freaking witch cast a soul transformation spell. She sacrificed the soul of her son to give Trunks a Ki boost that... Daemon's eyes widened as the Trunks' golden aura recoiled on him and began to fuse with his very skin, transforming it to gold. Slowly Trunks stood, he looked more like a statue made of gold than a living person. But more importantly than that, the Ki, the Ki Daemon was reading from him was totally off the chart. This truly was nothing like he had ever experience before. Suddenly the Saiyain Prince was much, much stronger than him.
When the witch cast the spell the battle was decided. It went on for sometime after. Punches and kicks, Ki blasts here, Ki blasts there. The battle would have ended long ago but the Saiyain King was not above toying with his prey. So he toyed with the Tilku King. Letting him believe that the battle could still be won but than when the Tilku's hope was the highest the Saiyain dashed it to pieces. In a final burst of gold the Tilku Kings chest was ripped to pieces and the future of the universe decided. It would be will of the Saiyain King that would decide its course.
The final moments of the battle had been too frantic for anyone to grasp what had actually happened till they saw Daemon lying flat on his back. A massive hole in his chest, lying at the foot of his broken throne. Trunks gazed down at his dying enemy. For a moment Trunks contemplated putting Daemon out of his misery shiftily. The grip on his sword tightened but it seemed to Trunks that Daemon had something to say. 'So it ends.' Daemon coughed out.
'Were you expecting it to end otherwise?' wondered Trunks indifferently.
Daemon shrugged, 'What does it matter what I thought?' he demanded.
'I suppose it doesn't.' agreed Trunks.
Daemon sighed, 'All my cleaver plans to mess with your head...' he remembered sadly.
'O rest assured you messed with my head.' Trunks informed him, 'You messed with my head really, really well. But messing with a Saiyains head is not a very smart thing to do. It only gets us mad and when we are mad...'
Daemon laughed, 'Yes, the Saiyain rage. The bane of my existence.' He said glancing at Goma who, along with Vegeta and Goten were just coming up to them, 'What of my people?' asked Daemon with more concern than he had ever felt for them while being their king.
'Your brother...' began Trunks but was interrupted.
'My brother does not want the throne. He just want's peace and quiet and Marron.' Daemon told him.
Trunks looked out of the destroyed wall out on to the city of the Tilku, 'Perhaps its time for does of Vegitasei to return to Vegitasei.'
Daemon nodded and closed his eyes and waited for death. Than he felt it. The cold touch of death fingering his heart, the pulse of his life. He opened his eyes briefly and took one last look at Goma, 'Enjoy her company while you can.' He said softly, the spirit left him. Trunks had won. Putting a hand flat on Daemon's chest Trunks incinerated the body. Buying himself some security that Daemon would not be resurrected.
Goma laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. 'I thought I left instructions for you to be taken to the ship.' Said Trunks without turning.
Vegeta snorted, 'Feh, have you learnt nothing from me and your mother?' he questioned. 'Women never listen to what their mates tell them. Even when its for there own good.'
Trunks smiled. Turning he drew her into his arms, 'You didn't have to come here daddy.' He told his father.
Vegeta shrugged, 'As I told the other brat, I couldn't let you brats have all the fun.'
'Ironic isn't it.' said Goten, 'Here we are saving the universe, ruling planets and you as far as Vegeta's concerned we are still brats.'
'Absolutely.' Vegeta responded without pause.
They all laughed. Goma nuzzled her head into Trunks' chest. 'I missed you so much.'
'Me too.' Trunks said as he kissed her head. 'But its okay now. We will forever be together.'
'Of course we will.' She replied, smiling against his chest.
Trunks pulled back and kissed her slowly, ardently as Vegeta and Goten both found something fascinating on their shoes. 'I am sorry.' Trunks whispered as he hugged her again, tightly.
'For what?' she wondered.
'I had to kill....' he trailed off.
'I know.' She informed him, 'But its okay. Things happened the way it was meant to happen. We will have another son and he really will be our son.'
'Yes, yes we will.' Agreed Trunks. Than he pulled a face, 'But not anytime soon.' Goma looked at him questioning, 'I mean I don't want to share you with an annoying brat at least for another fifty years.'
'Trunks!' screamed Goma as she slapped him playfully on the arms. 'What is it with you and possessiveness?'
Vegeta laughed at that, 'I think he gets that from me. I didn't want any brats either. But...' he looked at Trunks, 'if she is anything like your mother,' Vegeta told his son, 'you'll have a brat as soon as possible.'
Trunks pulled a comical face. Goten rolled his eyes, 'O don't look like that.' he scowled, 'You'll probably palm the heir off to me like you palm all you responsibilities that you don't want to deal with.'
Trunks was about to reply but decided to wait till they were alone for it was than that the other Saiyain warriors began to file into the room. Which abruptly reminded Trunks that he could not relax just yet. 'Any casualties?' He asked.
'Just one.' Came Marron's hollow voice as she and Drasis entered holding Marron's body, her eyes drenched with tears.
The shock ran through Trunks and Vegeta like a jolt of lightening. Goten didn't seem surprise. 'Well,' he said with the usual Son look-at-the-bright-side attitude, 'At least she didn't die in a hospital bed somewhere withering in pain.' A single tear rolled down his cheek as he took the body from Drasis.
Marron's eyes widened, 'You knew.'
Goten nodded as he adjusted the body in his arms, 'Long before she did. But I couldn't do anything so I just let things run their course.' He explained. Than he sighed, 'What the hell am I going to tell Gohan?' he wondered.
'She told me she left a letter.' Said Marron, 'Maybe you don't have to tell Gohan anything. Anything except that she did for the greater good, just like she wanted.' Goten agreed.
'Come on.' said Trunks after a moment. 'Let's just go home. I'll deal with... everything tomorrow.'
Goma laughed, 'Yes.' She said as she let Trunks pick her up into his arms, 'Everything can wait till tomorrow...'
That concludes Part 8 of Second Coming titled the clash of empires.
What did you think? Leave a review and tell me.