Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball or Dragonball Z
A/N: All right, y'all are getting a good one for Christmas! It's a Gohan chapter with quite a bit of action in the second half. When reading this bear just one thing in mind. Gohan is young but smart so he is easily manipulated. He would be able to understand advanced actions and short term plans much better than most kids, but the long-term effects would be dulled in his mind. Vegeta's arrival on Earth will be soon as will more updates to Gohan. Just a reminder, due to cyro sleep and difference in what qualifies as a year on different planets, the different story-lines won't always be happening in synch. Thank you, enjoy your holidays if you celebrate any, and read, review, and enjoy!
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Gohan was standing next to Iza just outside of door that lead into the mess hall. Directly across from him was a bathroom. It was the morning of the third day since his punishment was decreed. He had quickly learned to answer to "Saiyan" when spoken to. Showing nothing more then indifference had proved to be much harder.
The punishment had proved effective with time, however. The first time he couldn't hold it any longer, his face was red with embarrassment and his punishment was extended. The fourth, and final time due to lack of food and water, had been shrugged off. Being stationed to stand right outside the door from food had been an even harder test. His stomach had been roaring. The only thing he'd been given was a single, small cup of water each morning. Just enough to keep him from dropping dead.
Eventually, he had figured out that drooling and holding his belly would only worsen his future. Now, with stomach still groaning and his legs feeling like jello, he stood and stared at the wall. He wanted to look, just look, at the food, but the constant presence of Iza kept his eyes straight forward as he'd been told.
Suddenly the smell of food was stronger, almost hitting him in the face. A single intake of breath was the only reaction that escaped him. Iza tutted from beside him and said, "I heard that."
Gohan kept staring forward. He didn't argue. He didn't bargain. Not even a sigh of defeat. Then a chunk of something was shoved in his face. A lump of strange meat, dark brown with a sweet smell.
"Here, you've earned it," she said. He looked up, fighting his facial expressions to stay calm. She bobbed it again in his face and explained, "I'm serious. I was put in charge of your punishment. I'm saying you've done enough. I know grown warriors who would be begging for a bite to eat by now. Not mention some clean clothes, you stink, Saiyan. Now, eat this and then resume your job."
Gohan went to take the meat just as she yanked it back with a frown. She snapped, "You're smiling. Stop it. There's no rule about being happy off-duty, but when you're on it's all calm and collected. We do not lose our heads. That's why we're better. Now, eat up."
He hadn't even realized he was grinning, but he made sure to snatch the meat as soon as it was offered. Hot grease coated his face on the first bite but he didn't care. It wasn't until he had gnawed the last scrap of meat off the bone that he wiped his face.
"You said you're better. Better than who?" he asked hesitantly as he dropped the bone onto Iza's own empty plate on the floor.
"Get it right, Saiyan, I said we're better. You are included, like it or not. As for who, we are better than Frieza's soldiers. We may be forced to fight but Cooler treats us well once we learn to behave. Lord Cooler is better than Frieza so we must be better than Frieza's armies. Got that?" she corrected.
"I want…" A single look from her was all it took to dry his words up. He realized then and there, it didn't matter that he wanted to go home. That he did not want to fight for anyone. What mattered was that he understood his new place.
"I got it," he said simply.
"Good."
It was hours later, the lights in the base dimming to signify the late hour when he was finally ordered to rest. Iza led him to down a long hall, twisting and winding through the numerous halls when she stopped and opened a door seemingly at random. Inside were two fully made cots, each with an aclove next to it that held several undersuits, boots, gloves, and a spare set of armor. A third cot barren of sheets or blankets and along with an empty aclove sat in comparison.
"Clothes and armor will be here first thing in the morning. I'll order your bedding while you get cleaned. Go down two more doors on this side of the hall and you'll find a washroom. Hurry back, if you wake our bunkmate then you have to deal with her," Iza ordered brusquely.
Gohan fought hard to repress the shudder and almost succeeded as he asked, "Is she scary?"
"You're off duty, remember it's fine now. Just be respectful. As for your question, hell yeah she's scary. As a matter of fact, she terrifies me. Which means, you better get a move on," Iza grinned at the end. Not a friendly grin. Her lips barely parted to show the barest hint of her teeth. Gohan quickly ducked out of the room and hurried off, away from the wolfish smile.
True to orders, he stripped down, unconcerned about the others in the room and his a button with a red water drop on it. Instantly, scalding hot water poured out on his head. He frantically hit the other buttons and soon had a jet of water coming from every angle except behind him. Some were ice-cold, some lukewarm, the rest scalding hot.
Howls of laughter could be heard from the other occupants. He stopped trying to fight the water and instead just let the jetsons spray the filth off of him. At last, he was able to get everything to stop as he clambered out. Between the wide eyes and his mop of black hair hanging down in soaking wet mats, he must've resembled a half-drowned rat. The assortment of strange beings only renewed their laughter.
He snatched a towel and ran off with it wrapped around him. He slammed into the room again to see Iza sitting on her cot alongside another woman. The new woman stared onwards harshly. Her face had a naturally occurring intimidation factor. High cheekbones and a sharp jawline only increased her slightly slanted black eyes set amongst bronze, almost golden skin.
Gohan halted in his tracks, caught like a mouse before a cat. Then everything shifted. The harsh look was gone. Her face had a more friendly aspect as she gave a slight smirk.
"So, this is the new blood, eh? You don't look like much, Saiyan," the newcomer teased. There was no hostility in her voice but it was still enough to set Gohan off. He had squished his emotions for days. His belly was still rumbling, his feet ache, and his pride was already wounded enough.
"My name is Gohan!" he yelled. Before he could even flinch, the back of Iza's hand cracked across his face. The new woman gave a low whistle and said, "Alright, that was a bit more Saiyan-ish of you. Really, though, you're going to have to remember that you're name is Saiyan for now. Speaking of names, I'm Tris."
Gohan worked his jaw a few times as tears started to brim over. One blubbering look at Tris made him freeze once more. The harshness was back once more. She arched a brow and said, "None of that, I hate listening to sobbing. It's so damn pathetic."
Once it was obvious that Gohan was startled out of his sorrow the fear left again. He took a shaky breath and asked, "How'd you do that?"
"Killing intent, to an extreme. I take my energy and focus it all on the single act of ill-intent. It doesn't actually make me any tougher but people subconsciously pick up on things like that and normally back off pretty quick. It's gotten me out of several sticky situations," she explained.
Before either of them could continue Iza cut in, "Okay, enough introductions. Lights out, Tris, you've got to be exhausted still, you just got back. Gohan, you're on duty with me again bright and early."
The next morning found Gohan forced to kneel before Cooler once more. The lizard stood behind a desk appraising him and Iza both. Windows allowed more than enough natural lighting into the room. Guards stood just inside the door and just outside. Though, Gohan had the gut feeling they were for show and privacy more than actual security.
Almost silently, Cooler approached and stood in front of him. His clammy tail raised his head by the chin and forced him to met his stare. At last, Cooler asked, "Tell me your name."
Gohan hesitated but ultimately gave in under the cold gaze and calmly answered, "Saiyan."
"Very good," Cooler said appreciatively before removing his tail and gesturing for the pair to stand. He continued, "Iza, you have done well. Continue to teach and correct our youngest recruit, if you will."
"It would be an honor, Lord Cooler," Iza answered. Even Gohan knew it wasn't actually a request. He also knew that when it was all said and done, Iza had no wish to anger her, their, boss.
"Great, I want you two to go to Planet CL-207 and settle some unrest issues. A group of rebels has been giving the forces stationed there a good deal of trouble. Take Tris with you. Show this child the ropes and make him put in his own share of work. Any questions so far?" Cooler asked.
Iza was quick to speak and cut off Gohan, "You wish for me to train him as a peace-keeper, my lord?"
"Yes and no. All of you serve as my peace-keepers in a sense. I want this boy, though, to learn how to properly execute the undesirables of my domain. After all, the former Saiyans were an admirable group of warriors with hardly any proper structure or training. Imagine what one of them with a true education on the art of killing could achieve," Cooler suggested proudly.
"I don't want to kill," Gohan said numbly. Cooler smirked and said, "There it is again. Let's say this once more, it does not matter what you want. I like the deadened tone, though, keep it up. You're dismissed."
Gohan stumbled out behind Iza as she all but dragged him by the arm. They headed straight for the main hangar, passing the emergency landing pad where he had first crashed. For a few moments, thoughts of home, of his smiling and smart mother, flashed through his mind. Then came thoughts of his caring and powerful father, except he hadn't been powerful enough, had he?
Suddenly a blue lensed scouter was shoved in his face. Iza had her brows raised, her wild eyes moving impatiently as the irises swirled. He hadn't even realized they had reached the mission desk. He slowly moved to take the device before she lost her patience and crammed it over his ear.
It crackled to life and began running scans on him and his surroundings, orienting itself as well as him. All the while he had to pay attention to Iza as she showed him to his own space pod and walked him through setting it up in connection with his scouter.
"Where's the remote? Raditz checked for one when he took me," he asked. Iza chuckled and answered, "I already told you, we're better. Ours is completely voice-operated, or there's a menu you can pull up on the lense. In case of a faulty scouter, though, the emergency remote is clipped right there."
The small device nearly melded into the interior seamlessly, only someone who knew what to look for would be able to easily find it. While he finished setting up his gear and familiarizing himself, Iza radioed in to let Tris know to report in. All the while, a sick feeling began to grow in the back of Gohan's throat.
His conscience didn't have long to make itself known before he was practically forced into his pod and sealed inside. A briefing started playing almost immediately. Claustrophobia set in slightly and he didn't realize what the computer was telling him as the first round of gas was released. Not that it mattered, he was out before the first freezing drop in temperature could even be felt.
"Final approach to Planet CL-207 imminent, wake and prepare. Final approach to Pl…"
"Mmhmm," he groaned and shook himself, the repeating message drilled into his head.
"Hey, Iza, he's up."
Gohan noticed his screen was lit up and split to show an image of his two companions. Iza focused on him, her face growing on the screen before she flopped back and asked, "How are you feeling there, Saiyan?"
"I think I'm going to puke," he mumbled. Iza snickered and said, "Good luck with that, the supplements the pod feeds you aren't much to puke up and you barely had anything on you at take off. Still, first-time cyro is always a b-i-tch."
The pod must have entered the atmosphere as he noticed the air inside heat up a bit and a violent shaking took over the tiny craft. Iza yelled the rest, "When we get there, we flush out the trouble makers and put them down. No questions asked, no prisoners taken, Lord Cooler has had enough with this mess. We attack as a force. Tris and I will take care of whatever muscle they have, the rest is your responsibility, Saiyan. Find a way and make it work."
The comm-link was cut off before he could respond, or refuse. Moments later, he experienced his second-ever landing. The safety straps dug into him and the sudden yank instantly gave him a headache. The pod wasn't programmed to give him a moment's rest, however, as the latch started dropping nearly right away.
He scrambled out with no other choice to find the other two already on their feet and stretching. Iza clicked her scouter as she spoke, "All righty then, let's hope this intel is still good. Tris, you take point. Gohan, center and right. I'll fly rear and left."
Gohan silently thanked Mr. Piccolo for all the secret lessons as he flew with them as best he could. The pit in his stomach just kept growing, but he didn't know what to do about it for the time being. Below them, the industrial planet rolled by. The inhabitants a strange human-like being all with ashen, cracked looking skin that looked up fearfully as they flew overhead. The buildings were all tall and narrow, not very similar to earth with their strange proportions.
Soon they were flying over an old, abandoned-looking portion of the massive city they had landed in. It was several minutes of slow searching by Iza before she pointed down and landed directly in front of a noticeably better-kept building. Still faded and stained by weather and time, it was absent the holes and nearly collapsed walls and roof.
"Tris, get back in the air, we don't want anyone escaping from another route. Saiyan, be ready. We're going to try to capture the leaders for proper execution. A live example broadcast across Lord Cooler's domain will serve as an ample reminder," Iza instructed.
Tris shot back up, no questions asked. Gohan's protests were simply ignored as she strode towards the door and gave it a couple of sharp knocks. Once the scouters registered someone on just the other side, she lifted a hand and blasted straight through it.
Gohan's scouter beeped as she fired. Two-thousand-five-hundred. He took a shaky breath, already understanding the basics of how the scouters worked. His own reading only a couple hundred high. She nodded to him and rushed in. Not knowing the planet, the possible language barriers, or really anything else, he had no option except follow her.
The first couple of rooms proved fruitless as it led them further in and up. The third room proved more difficult as she rushed in and ducked under a surprise punch. Gohan narrowly avoided a blast that had whizzed past her. In a blur, she had knocked the first attacker to the ground. A single stomp down saw her boot covered in blood and brain matter.
The second attacker was not a fighter. Instead, it was a single woman holding a blaster. A single beam of energy from Iza saw the weapon in ruins. Gohan's scouter beeped in at fifty. Iza relaxed a bit and gestured towards the woman while speaking to Gohan, "Go on, Saiyan. Time for you to dirty those little hands and pull your share."
Gohan shook his head, his eyes flicking between the woman and the man with a caved-in skull. His face grew pale and he pleaded not to. Iza sighed and raised a hand. The woman had begun begging as well. Gohan looked at her, knowing what was coming and hating it.
Iza's blast tore across the room and slammed the woman against the far wall. Her clothes were nearly burned away and she was gasping like a fish out of water through the pain. Large burns were already covering her body, her body a wreck, and her breathing coming out as a rattle.
Iza pointed at the woman, so broken she couldn't even scream through her crushed lungs. She took the opportunity to teach a lesson and said, "What now, Saiyan? You can put her out of her misery and kill her, or you can stand by and do nothing while she suffers. Either way, she's dead, but you can at least decide how it happens. So?"
Gohan looked between the two, unable to decide. His scouter started going off as did Iza's. More powers were approaching them. No one was stronger than Iza, but it still limited time and options.
"Please, sir," the woman wheezed, "Let it end."
Gohan bit his quivering lip as tears quickly and freely overflowed from his eyes. Iza nudged him forward until he was right in front of the suffering woman. She kept her eyes on the other door into the room, but she never rushed him.
Gohan raised a shaky hand and formed a single weak blast. In his rush, he fired too soon. The woman jerked and moaned again, her burns worsening along with the rattling and wheezing sounds coming from her throat and chest.
"No, please no. Please, just die, just die, no. Please," Gohan pleaded, another blast formed and fired. The next one did the job. The one after that was to be certain. Iza grabbed him and turned him back towards the door. A crowd could be heard rushing towards them.
"Dry your eyes and blast everything that comes through that door. Don't think about what you're hitting. We'll talk more after," her last instructions were rushed as the door burst open.
It took a moment for him to follow orders but once he realized that he was already committed he forced himself to help. After all, other options didn't exist. Even if he ran, he was still on a planet controlled by Cooler. Lord Cooler.
His weaker blast didn't have the killing impact that Iza's did but he pushed himself nonetheless. It wasn't long before they advanced through the door. Iza rushed forward to engage close-up while he hung back and continued firing off, the few physical altercations he had with his father or Piccolo not giving him much confidence.
Somewhere throughout the action, they had found themselves heading down, their scouters notifying them of the building's layout and when they went below ground level. Not much longer and Tris was at their side. Her approach was much different than Iza's straightforward method.
The golden killer would utilize her blasts, waves, and actual walls of energy to isolate small groups or powerful individuals. From there she'd pick them apart in her own private arena. Then she'd start over with a new target. The three made sickeningly quick work of the supposed trouble-makers.
At the bottom-most floor, the remaining guards were massed for one final push. Gathered in the main meeting room, their supposed leaders taking cover at the very back. Iza and Gohan kept the few fighters busy while Tris made short work of knocking out and incapacitating the leaders.
After that final room of bloodshed, the three paused for a moment to regroup. Tris noticed the look on Gohan's face first and was already ripping a piece of fabric free from a table cover as he puked what little bit he had in him and dry heaved until he was red in the face and hoarse. Once he was completely done, she shoved it at him and walked away.
By the time he had cleaned himself up once more, she and Iza had gathered up and roused the prisoners and were marching them back out. He hurried to catch up. One of them must have called ahead since a large transport was already awaiting them when they exited the building to the evening gloom that settled over the planet.
A well-dressed woman was bowing to them as he finally regained his focused. He tuned in to hear Iza say, "Lord Cooler is most displeased that you let things get this far, Warden Shiri. I'll have to report on this and the number of rebels hiding away here was substantially more than your reports suggested. I would recommend that you go ahead and prepare for a rather severe meeting in the future."
Warden Shiri stayed bowed and asked, "I understand."
Iza nodded and Tris asked, "I hope you've got a stage ready for us. I'd like to be on my way back home before it gets too late."
"Of course, Second Vanquishers Iza and Tris, and…" Shiri trailed off staring at Gohan. Iza spoke up and said, "This is Saiyan, a new recruit and recent addition to Cooler's personal Station. He's operating as a Third Vanquisher at this time, and is to be shown equal respect as any member of my team."
Shiri's eyes had widened at the word Saiyan but she still nodded and made it clear that she understood, "Yes, Iza. Welcome to Planet CL-207 Third Vanquisher Saiyan."
"Yeah, thanks," Gohan replied glumly. The crowd gathered around gave him a strange look at the word of appreciation but thought better than to say anything else. Pushing his meager amount of power to its limit after the fight, Gohan lifted into the air alongside his companions and slowly made their way back towards the heart of the massive city.
Alone and in the air, Iza sidled up next to him and said, "You did well. I know you're not all guts and glory, but you'll get used to it."
Tris had fallen back to listen in as well. Both of the women waited as he said, "I don't want to get used to it. I don't want to do it. I don't want to be here."
It was Tris that answered him this time, "Listen, life sucks and people die every day. You really don't want to be a part of this then say the word and either of us will blow your head off. Not because we enjoy it, but because its what we do. If you refuse then either you're punished and then made to kill your targets anyway, or you're executed and someone else is sent to do it. That someone else could also be a nutcase that enjoys torturing and drawing out his victims' deaths. You really want to put that off on someone who has to die anyway?"
With her piece said, she sped up and took point again. Iza sighed and said, "That's not pretty to hear or comforting, but it's true. While we're speaking ugly truths, you know that when we get to this stage, you will be the one to execute the prisoners on an intergalactic broadcast. What better way to prove you understand your job to Lord Cooler, right?"
Gohan nodded slowly, Tris's words turning over his head. Iza was right, it wasn't pretty and it wasn't what he wanted to hear, but it was true. He wanted to live and he still had a chance. Those people, the ones he had helped kill, didn't. Why throw his own hope away, right? That's what his Mom and Dad and Videl would want, right?
The stage was drawing insight. The prisoner transport sped up from where it was driving below them along the roads and reached the platform first. Unmanned, hovering cameras zipped all around. Some focused on the stage already. Others showed the transport positioning to unload. A few even zoomed up close to show their little trio flying in. All of this was broadcast on screens and hologram-projectors all around the large courtyard type area, and presumably, on nearly every planet Lord Cooler controlled.
Stadium seats were already filled to maximum capacity. Every walk-way filled to the brim. People could even be spied peering off the roofs of the nearby buildings. All gathered to see the show. Even to Gohan, it was obvious that this had been a long-anticipated spectacle.
The three landed on the back of the stage. They stood behind the kneeling prisoners, who were bound and forced to their knees. The last of the planet's normal force of peace-keepers stepped aside and lined around the stage on all sides.
Iza stepped forward into full view of the tens of thousands of eyes and dozens of cameras. She gave a small cough and started her speech, "Loyal subjects of Lord Cooler and the Cold Empire, give me your attention."
The general murmuring died as she continued, "Rebels, traitors, deserters, and troublesome beings of all kinds, I would ask the same of you. Spread out behind me is all that remains of the leadership of the rebel movement on Planet CL-207. They had the chance to integrate into civilized society, and they spit on the offer repeatedly. Today, my team and I went in and cleared them all out down to the last weak, sniveling low-life. The only survivors are these cretins you see behind me!"
A light round of cheers went up that she let die before she pointed towards Gohan and said, "My comrade will make sure they are not long for this life! Heed this warning if this is the path you currently tread. Rejoice in this justice if you strive to live in a well-ordered and maintained society. Today you will all bear witness as the newest and youngest member of Lord Cooler's personal station puts an end to this!"
Gohan ears thrummed with their cheers as Iza finished, "Pay attention, as our young Saiyan proves that even a being known for their violence in battle can help maintain order in our society!"
He could feel the vibrations of stomping feet, clapping hands, and screaming voices as he approached. The blood pounded in his ears. His conscience screamed one final, dying cry for him to correct his path, but it was lost to him as the cheers and cries for him to enact Lord Cooler's will drowned out anything else.
He started to approach the back of the first prisoner in line before changing course. He had to be a monster, the people even cheered for a monster, but he could still be brave and upfront about it. He turned to meet the prisoner face to face. The man's eyes were bloodshot with strain and exhaustion. His lips pressed tight together.
Gohan studied the face for a moment before Iza yelled, "Come on, everyone! This is his first proper public event. How about another round of encouragement!"
Another thunderous wave of cheers assaulted his ears and washed away any doubt. Iza had started to lean in to quietly prod him along but his arm was already raising. She halted and watched as he dispatched the first prisoner. The second one went quicker. The third even quicker. By the sixth and final one, he studied the face just long enough to remember the general look of the person before taking care of them.
The cheering had renewed with each successful execution. Gohan turned to face Iza who turned him the rest of the way around to face the crowd and cameras.
"Let me be the first to officially welcome you into the fold, Saiyan," she said softly from the side of her mouth before saying much louder, "Thank you all, and thank you, Lord Cooler, for giving us this chance to help maintain our hard work!"
When Gohan was sealed away in his pod once again late that night, after a lavish meal between the three vanquishers, he settled in with a sigh as he took off. He didn't fight the cyro as it took effect. For the first time since he had been taken, his thoughts weren't of home, or his parents, or how scared he was. Instead, he sat there peacefully, convinced that he had contributed to something bigger than himself.