Chapter 22: Hooked

A/N: There's little I can say at the moment, but another colleague died pointlessly in a standoff. A young kid only 24 years old passed on 1/18/21 barely lived a life before someone shoots him for no reason.

Our time is limited on this Earth, take time to enjoy it, do things and experience life before its done.

Gohan's reprieve from others was short-lived as his old mentor arrived quickly. He didn't bother turning around to address him. His focus on the strange person Babadi, there was no way he was accepting some crazy deal despite how good it sounded. He wasn't that ignorant or naieve like the shit who helped spawn him. 'There pound of flesh…' Those words Babadi used were mildly troubling. 'I wonder how much he knows, because he sure as hell spoke like he knew who I was and I never have ever seen anyone like him before.'

The older Namek had come the moment he'd sensed that ripple, there had been something that had arrived near Gohan. As it masked it's own presence and his student's within moments. It was such a clear signal or something had befallen the demi saiyan. Yet his concerns were reduced as he saw the teen unaffected and alone. Perhaps trickery? Or something else? "Gohan, did something happen?"

"I guess." He shrugged. "What's with the visit?" Casting him a glance over the shoulder.

Piccolo shook his head, "Guess another dead end. I was concerned something had happened to you when your ki signal vanished for a few minutes." Taking a moment, the Namek noticed the surrounding area. "Was there a fight here Gohan?" There was a lot of destruction surrounding the saiyan. However, there was a clear lack of any other opponent or energy prior. I didn't even feel anything happening. Gohan's ki had been building up brightly but he hadn't imagined this was somehow the result.

"Pfft, like there's anyone besides Vegeta who can actually fight me on the planet." He didn't understand this derision he was feeling. Is it because he showed up? Why don't I just tell him? Gohan squinted his eyes for a second feeling a painful headache stabbing him quickly. His eyes looked towards Piccolo who gave him a hard stare. "Sorry."

"It's alright I can feel that you're not in the best of places at the moment. I can only assume things are getting worse?" Gohan nodded his head. "I see, Gohan. Perhaps you should come to the lookout. There is a blight on this planet and clearly having an effect on everyone on this world. I had imagined there was some type of influence affecting you more than anyone else."

"Everything in my life is just going to shit Piccolo." Gohan fell back onto his haunches in the ground.

"Sounds like an Earthling problem, you don't seem that worse for wear, but your ki is wild and fluctuating." It wasn't like a pulsing rhythm but more akin to a wild spike or scratch off a record. "Is there something more serious you need to talk with me about?"

He hung his head, "Where do I even begin? How do I explain my life to yours Piccolo?" Would a Namekian really understand Gohan's dilemma? They were complete opposites in terms of physiology and a lot in anatomy… plus explaining his sex life and accusation probably wouldn't really resonate with how removed his teacher was from human life.

"Talking would be a good step." Piccolo replied," let's go to the lookout you can talk along the way." Motioning for him to follow. "Whatever is occurring it clearly has it's claws in you along with everyone else."

"Wait…" Gohan said, stopping him. "There was someone here. Strange… thing, it wasn't human and it wanted my help." Speaking about what he encountered helped him realize just how bizarre the thing was.

"So nothing human?" Piccolo inquired as he slowly lifted into the air. He received a nod in response. "Well that certainly helps how we have no real good leads as to what is affecting the whole damn planet and it wants you? Well at least we know what it's after now."

"Probably some old enemy of Goku's 'Out seeking revenge because of something he did out in space and not handling the problem then so others could suffer for it later.' " His tone is poor mockery of his own father's voice.

"You still haven't changed your opinion about his decision have you?" Piccolo asked, shifting topics as he could feel the thick resentment boiling over. "You know you yourself haven't always made the perfect choice every time. You had to learn and grow from your experiences."

Gohan shot a burning look towards his teacher as if that was a massive insult. "Yes… if only I would've had the choice back then, I probably would've never had to really make anything from those experiences." It seemed everyone wanted to defend him, "For crying out loud you hated his guts and killed him and because of me you quit trying, not because of him, it was me. So again remind me who is lecturing who?"

"Those are entirely separate issues. Gohan you're acting like the child I had to train years ago, what is going on with you?"

'Here they are lecturing you? Speaking down to you. Why don't they understand? All you've done, everything you've given. Still they think less of you.'

The words in his mind were mixing with his own thoughts. He stopped mid flight as as a surge of anger began to start leaking out of him. The shift in his aura was rapid, normal waves began to shift and almost become red around him. "Why?" His voice a low growl. His head slowly dropped. "Why must everyone treat me like this?" Balling up his fists at his side.

Piccolo stopped, his concern growing as he saw what Gohan could not. Perhaps he had been a little rash in speaking to him that way. Whatever was afflicting the planet was having some impact on him. "Gohan it-"

"Everyone has a comment, you, my freinds, my-my own fucking family." He began to pant rapidly through his nose almost like an animal. "I-I I am so-SO Fucking tired of beign treated like I'm that little boy!" Gohan's fists raised up from his sides to his chest. "I- Won't stand for this- ANYMORE-!" Gohan's aura exploded. He released His own ki in an explosion, his hair flashing to gold.

'YES-! YESS-!' Gohan didn't hear it as his golden aura was surrounded by red rings as he released a guttural scream, his teeth grinding together. 'Become mine, oh yes Gohan, oh yes!' The wicked laughter echoed but he didn't care. He was just wanting to let it all go, just like everyone kept poking him to do.

Yet from across the plane's through time and space a voice called out. "Gohan Stop!" It had been years since he'd heard it, and despite his disdain and outright hatred for it's sound. The power it had was still there. Gohan's ki stopped, his anger plummeting as if he had a fog lifted from his eyes and was able to think clearly for a moment.

Breathing in slow heavy breathes, the shock showing on his face. He turned to the left, then to the right. Surely he hadn't? No… he had. But, that was impossible. "D-Dad?" It just couldn't be. But that had been his voice. It wasn't a trick-!

Yet his head moved around looking for the source only to be left wanting, there was no father. No other person aside from him and Piccolo. Just like so many times before Gohan was tricked by his mind once again. Shaking his head, Gohan grabbed the sides of his face and was trembling.

Piccolo hadn't heard the voice. Perhaps distracted by the pure malice that just seconds ago had been consuming Gohan. So many negative emotions, thoughts, and a dark presence that was mixing itself within the saiyan's essence until it just popped in an instant. The taint remained, but a slow burn compared to the roaring fire that had just been moments before.

Piccolo stopped and called out Gohan's name, but there was no reaction, no hint of acknowledgement. He repeated it, but still after several more moments nothing. He paused then reached out to touch Gohan, as his palm made contact with Gohan's shoulder. A sharp pain shot through him. The red rings that had once been around his student shot outwards and made the veteran warrior pull back, his teeth shut tightly as he fought through the streaking pain coursing through his limb. "Damnit, Gohan!" He shouted trying to snap him out of it, and snap he did.

He didn't have a chance to react. Gohan lashed outwards striking Piccolo straight across the face with one hard punch. So unprepared, Piccolo was sent into momentary darkness as he lost his ability to hold himself in flight. Dropping from the air about fifty feet before recovering.

In that short few seconds Piccolo regained his senses and looked, but found himself alone. His pupil was gone, but his ki was spiking wildly and making a B-line for the only person on the planet who could hopefully have a chance at helping him in his mind. Someone who wasn't judgmental about his humanity, uncaring of his personal feelings, and wanted him to be what the planet never would understand.

He headed for Vegeta, becoming more of a wreck as he felt himself losing all semblance of control. He needed someone to listen-understand- Something! His mind telling him to go, his heart to stay, his instincts to flee elsewhere, and everything in between pulling him in any direction that it could.

Piccolo hesitated for a moment watching as Gohan continued to rocket away only to be stopped as someone else reached out to him for help and this friend was desperately looking for him.

[***]

Chi-Chi was still angry, but not to the level of fury she had been before. Her now less than favored first born had screwed up royally, which was out of character but he had broken her trust which was causing a huge ache in her heart. Gohan had always been her golden child, the biggest source of personal pride and motherly feelings that she wished to have been able to bottle.

But now her son had begun to fall off the rails, no doubt the influence of his saiyan side taking a more prominent role in his upbringing… 'I wish there was a guide on dealing with saiyan's. I certainly shouldn't be trying to be the only expert in this field.' Chi-Chi while empathetic to her son's situation also had so many more responsibilities and this was only confounding all of her plans.

"This was supposed to be it, going out with one big bang and sending all of this crap into my memoirs. But how am I supposed to just stop now that there's a potential scandal involving my eldest son…" She was stuck in a position and while she had more than enough money to just call it quits, she wasn't going to just let her family's reputation be dragged through the gutters because of some blonde hussy. "I knew that girl was no good." Grabbing a glass of wine to attempt to calm her nerves Chi-Chi walked back and forth in her room. Though she'd used it scarcely since 'moving in' with Hercule. It had been a mess but she hadn't imagined that it would cause Gohan this much distress.

His dislike of the man, while almost commendable as everyone kissed the ground he walked on was just far out of character. Hercule had offered to try and talk with Gohan knowing that the boy was having some serious issues at home but Chi-Chi had politely yet sternly declined that.

Hercule knew how to put on the charm - not really on her, she was more than capable of kicking his ass- but to smooth talk and convince people. Charisma was the man's specialty more than fighting, but there was little good that could come from Hercule trying to talk to her son, if he had tried now after this bombshell he'd probably be lucky to walk away unscathed.

"Oh, Goku I wish you were here, of all the people who Gohan plus me need right now it would have to be you." Chi-Chi poured herself another full glass as she remained standing in Gohan's empty room. No doubt being grounded meant little to him, and she had no way of calling him back as his phone was still clearly laying on his bed. She knew he was probably blowing off steam, good but not the best as he had disobeyed her. But that punishment could come later. Looking back at the half finished bottle of wine on his school desk Chi-Chi felt such conflicting feelings inside of her as she saw the numerous papers, writings, and works for school. He'd been giving it his all as usual. To her everything on the surface looked just like normal, his temporary room had all the usual clutter and markings of her genius if not naive son. The latter part obviously coming from his father.

"Perhaps just a little too used to everything working out, that the world can be fixed so easily." It was so evident now to her, the complete lack of Gohan's childhood and social skills were now bearing fruit. He may have been smart but he just couldn't cope with things he didn't like. Sighing she just shook her head. But as she remained in Gohan's room she felt the distinct soft footsteps of another saiyan. Setting her glass down on the edge of the table she turned and saw a little trotting Goten. He was looking around, clearly just as confused and upset by his brother's departure as would be expected.

"Where's big brother?" He asked, his childlike innocence making his mother's own heart crack a little as she bent down to pick him up. His small frame sticking to her like it always had. Though the pounds were starting to show as she held him with one arm.

"Big brother Gohan is just out, he'll be back." Chi-Chi forced herself to smile and reassure him that it wasn't any big deal. Though for her it wasn't like Gohan to disobey her, that and it had been several hours since she'd last seen him and his phone was still here. His phone being locked also didn't help her in possibly deciphering what was going on with him. Perhaps he went to confront the hussy or perhaps blow off steam.

As she stood around and made small talk with her little boy, letting him start babbling about the things he was doing with his private tutors at home and how things were going in their current residence as she'd only seen him twice in the past several months aside from video calls and messages she left for his nannies two new presences entered the room.

"Gohan? Gohan are you here?" It was Videl and then a second form being dragged along. The first was welcomed, the second was meant with an immediate look of pure scorn.

Chi-Chi set down her son before asking him, "Sweetie can you go to your room, I'll be right there. I have to talk with Videl and the witch with her okay?" She said gently patting him on the back. Goten looked at her confused but missed the visible tension before making his way out. She walked up and closed the door and gave it another thirty seconds as Goten's super human hearing would no doubt have him running back if she laid into this girl immediately.

"Chi-Chi please, give me a chance to talk to you. I know what's going on and I know you're upset but please I'm helping to right this wrong." Videl started approaching the mother who turned towards her slowly and menacingly.

Raising up her arm slowly extended out on finger. "The only reason I'm not throwing her out of this house is because I respect you Videl and the work your father does. For that reason alone I'm tolerating this no good lying whore." If she could sprout venomous fangs to spit more poison at Erasa she would've welcomed it. "You have quite the nerve to come here, the damage you did to my son and how you seduced him is downright disgusting!" Her eyes focused on the blonde but Videl stepped in front of her vision.

"It's not like that, she was blackmailed. It was stupid on her part I'll admit but she was caught off guard by an old ex and he manipulated her into signing the allegation. She didn't write it up, that was all him, everything was consensual."

Chi-Chi ignored Videl sidestepping her and unloading further upon the other teen who could do nothing but stare at the floor as she justly took the verbal barrage. "Do you have any idea what you did to my son!? Letting him be announced as a predator, someone who cared about you did one of the most horrific things a man can do and you show up here looking for forgiveness?"

Erasa remained quiet, she knew she deserved it, even if she hadn't intended for this. It was still her actions, rash, and emotional state that caused her boyfriend so much pain. She'd been manipulated and used, she was as much to blame and there wasn't anything she could say that would undo what had already been done.

"Chi-Chi." Videl tried to redirect her to the more pressing issue of righting this wrong but Chi-Chi hadn't said enough.

She continued to lambast Erasa, refusing to let all of her previous motherly instincts that she had pushed down come to the top. "My son did so much for you and this is how you treat him, I even knew you were no good for him and the moment I'm proven right you've already drove the dagger straight through his back and into his heart! I should've stepped up and told him no, Videl is the only proper woman who understands and respects my son, I should've made him go out with her but of course I let myself believe that you would do right by him, that he would be happy dating and experiencing the world. What a fool I was!"

"CHI-CHI!" VIdel shouted loudly pushing in front of her friend. "Will you stop! She knows she did wrong and were trying to fix things, but we have to make things right with Gohan. Erasa needs to apologize and then we'll talk to the right people and try and right this wrong, but screaming at her isn't going to fix anything." She was a little red faced as she raised her voice, but Erasa was still her friend, and while she might deserve some verbal lashing later this was not the time nor the place for it.

Perhaps the wine had gotten the better of her in the moment, but Chi-Chi stared Videl down who did not waver under the mother's gaze. "I don't know where Gohan is," She spoke sternly to Videl, respecting her enough to not begin shouting at her. Yet she gave Erasa some parting words. " But there will never be a day that I let that girl near him. Mark my words on that, my baby deserves the best." With that Chi-Chi grabbed her glass of wine and made her way out of her son's room. She had another little boy to take care of until his big brother got home.

Videl watched her leave and wanted to go after her but let it go. "Whatever, we'll just have to start looking and making some calls." She tried to sound upbeat but Erasa looked ready to break down and start bawling.

Stifling a sniffle, Erasa excused herself and went into Gohan's bathroom. Not because she needed it but because she wanted to just cover her face and wish that she wasn't even alive. Sitting on the toilet wishing that she could just make her heart swirl away with the water in the bowl.

If Gohan's mother was this furious then no doubt Gohan was ten times worse. 'Is there anything I can do… what can I say… Kami what is left…'

[***]

Gohan's entire body was slowly being consumed with pain, not in the sense that his body was hurting from injury, but like an addict suffering withdrawal. He was sweating profusely finding his heart beating faster and faster in his chest, his skin crawling with goosebumps and his mouth starved for hydration. What did it matter if anyone saw him, they didn't matter anymore, just like so many others who had turned their back on him he felt no reason to justify any form of subtlety.

'Forget my mother! Forget Erasa! Piccolo! Dad! There's only one person who can help me. He won't turn me down, he can stop all of this.'

Exhaustion was the last thing on his mind, right now he needed to get this desire to hurt and fight out of him desperately. His body was already illuminated in the golden glow of a super-saiyan as he streaked straight towards the primary center hub in west city.

Capsule Corp. HQ.

His arrival wasn't unnoticed as the prince was already outside. Looking towards the direction he was coming, Gohan wasn't attempting to be subtle. His ki was sparking and flickering as he dropped down low almost thirty feet above the ground before coming to a hard stop. Landing and kicking up dust and dirt as he stopped in front of the prince. Blue sparks flickering around his wrists and body. "Fi-Fight me…" The demi saiyan said in a low rumble rising up from the ground.

Vegeta remained solid, his face the perfected mask of concealed emotion. "I don't do requests boy, nor am I your designated ass kicker…" He gave the teen a full once over, his eyes looking up every subtle nuisance before a look of disgust showed on his lips. "You look like a mad dog, do you not have any pride in yourself? Do you not see how you appear before me right now?"

Gohan's head twitched slightly, rising up his ki sparking even more rapidly. "Are you afraid?"

'He doesn't have the strength to face you. You thought he would understand, he might want to help you. I bet your mother already spoke with him. Condemned you to be weak in his eyes.'

The prince remained where he was but his hands moved from their crossed position over his chest to down at his sides. He was being given a chance to break Kakarot's first born again, but he could see there was something clearly wrong. This wasn't Gohan, this wasn't the warrior he recognized. While a blow to the head might fix the screws loose, this did nothing for him and he wouldn't do anything out of the good kind hearted nature of his heart.

As the two remained in standoff, Vegeta refused to make a move and Gohan resisted the urge to swing and force the saiyan into a full brawl as something kept holding him from letting go. More mental urges and whispers flowed into his mind as he took a slow step forward. "PleAsE." Gohan rasped. "I-I must, Vegeta!"

His pleading was ignored as Vegeta refused to make a move. His semi opponent could sense the deteriorating situation, with a twitch his hair flashed to gold matching that of his opponent. His fingers curled into fists. The prince remained vigilant, his focus and concentration all on what would be a foe… not Gohan.

The moment broke apart as Bulma who had been sitting in the main lobby while Trunks played noticed Gohan's arrival and missed the subtle warning signs. Knowing that Gohan and Vegeta were sparring more and more, she assumed it was another one of these meetings. She came to the window and called out. "Hey Gohan, long time-"

"Damnit woman!" Vegeta shouted his head turning for a split second.

'NOW!'

A hard cross to the face sent Vegeta backwards, skidding along the ground for several meters before stopping himself from crashing into the wall.

Gohan froze looking at his hand, his eyes widening in shock at what he had just done. 'Don't stop! Don't stop!' But he powered down, from within his heart the last few strings told him plainly this was wrong. This entire thing was completely wrong, he shouldn't hit Vegeta. But he didn't know why he had? Losing control of everything Gohan dropped to his knees and grabbed at the sides of his head. "No-! No, I don't want this! I DON'T WANT THIS-!" He screamed loudly. His stupor lasted long enough as Vegeta phased behind him with both hands raised together in a double axe handle.

The only thing that occurred next was total darkness as Vegeta clubbed the teen hard sending him face first into a pain induced state of unconsciousness. Vegeta remained overtop Gohan ignoring his own malicious thoughts in his mind to beat this boy senseless. He would take revenge if needed, but now wasn't the time and certainly not in front of his woman and son. Speaking of…

"What the hell is going on Vegeta?" She came out looking for answers.

Vegeta rubbed his cheek, "I get punched in the face by this weakling and you ask what is going on? Do you not have eyes woman?" He wouldn't admit there was a light string that lingered. "The damn boy attacked me and I luckily didn't cave the back of his skull in." Although he was shocked that Gohan had just lashed out at him, it was a reckless but brutal strike. Nothing but raw power and far less tact than he knew the demi saiyan had.

If the bizarre behavior wasn't a clear giveaway that something was wrong. The obvious swing was also telling more to the prince than anyone else. A person in control of themselves fought with some measure of finesse.

'The boy is spiraling out of control, far more than I had ever seen him before.' Vegeta thought looking him over.

She looked at him before shaking her head. "Considering you're made of stone half the time I'm not worried about your pretty face Vegeta. I thought you guys would be sparring? That's what you do most of the time don't you?"

Ignoring his woman's stupidity for a moment he reached down and grabbed Gohan by the back of the neck. "The boy didn't come for sparring, there's something wrong with him, you don't break down and begin screaming like a mad man after hitting your opponent in the face." Recalling how the teen had collapsed to his knees.

"Take him up to the infirmary, I'll call his mother and see what's going on." But upon the suggestion Vegeta dropped him back on his face. "Vegeta!"

"I am not carrying this idiot to any infirmary, he can learn why not to strike his betters in the face by waking up in the dirt." The boy was unconscious, not dying.

"Stop being dramatic, you're the reason he's knocked out." Bulma came up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Besides, if you don't you'll be sparring alone tonight." Giving him a knowing wink.

"Fucking vulgar wench. Fine I'll carry the idiot up to the damn infirmary." He spat at her but she smiled and patted him on the cheek.

"That's my loveable husband, so caring." Her mocking tone only made him bare his fangs at her but she was numb to his threats and walked inside with him slung over his shoulder. Neither party privy to the further mental torture he suffered as Babadi took the unconcious Gohan into further darkness as the unfortunate half-saiyan was met with the worst nightmares yet and would not awaken until his future master was ready to fully take control.

He was putting up an amicable fight… but Babadi would have his future champion soon.

R&R