Apocalypse
Chapter two
Authors notes: First of all, I wanted to thank my beta, Jedi_vegeta_18, for doing
such a great job beta-ing. About the story: the previous chapter was told from
Gohan's point of view, this chapter is going to be from both Vegeta's and Goku's
point of view, as indicated by the GOKU or VEGETA above the text. ;-)
VEGETA
I think it was Bra's crying that woke me up. "Woman, your brat is crying," I
grumble to her. I silently smirk. That always infuriates her. Last time I'd said
something like that she'd blown up and gone on and on about how Bra's my daughter
too, and why Bra's only her brat when she needs attention, and why I never take
care of Bra. "For heavens sake, Vegeta," she'd say, " even YOU must be able to
heat up one of the bottles in the fridge' and so on. Nothing of the sort happens
though. Bulma just continues sleeping. I smirk once again; I must have really
worn her out tonight. I scowl as Bra's crying is getting louder. I grab the
blanket and pull it away from Bulma, that should eventually wake her up! After
all, it's very cold. Still, nothing happens. I growl and try to go back to sleep,
but Bra's crying is too annoying. " Damn my Saiyan hearing!" I mutter aloud. Of
course I COULD get out of bed and feed my little princess myself, but why should
I when the woman is here? After all, I'm the prince of all Saiyans and she's only
a low class weak earthling. I thought we had a deal: she takes care of the brats,
I ignore them. A fine deal if you ask me. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable; I
don't like to hear my little princess crying, but I'll be damned if I get out of
the bed! "Woman, are you deaf? Feed the brat!" I yell at her. Still nothing. This
is getting ridiculous; I was yelling at twenty centimeters distance from her, she
must have heard me that last time.
I turn around and face her. She's looking beautiful as always, but something is
not right. "Bulma?" I hesitantly say as I reach towards her. When I touch her
face, it's cold. Too cold. It suddenly seems to get very quiet; all I can hear is
the steady sound of my heartbeat and my breathing... Then it dawns on me: I can't
hear her! She's not making any sound at all. I gripe her shoulder and try to turn
her around, which is scarily too easy. She's as easily moved as a rag doll.
I frantically try to find a pulse, but in my heart, I know it's useless. She's
dead. My mate has passed away, and I wonder how in the world could I not have
noticed? I shake my head, trying to get rid of all these confusing feelings. It's
no use; my thoughts won't be silenced that easily. She's only 38 years old, this
is impossible! She can't have died already, even humans live to be over one
hundred years of age. I keep reasoning like this until I look at her again, then
reality strikes. I've seen dead people countless times before, but those were
people I had killed myself, or at least people I had seen killed in battle. I've
never actually seen a person who had died a natural nonviolent death, but there
was no denying it. She has died in her sleep. And because she died in her sleep,
she can't be wished back with the Dragonballs. At this point my thoughts become
as incoherent as my emotions.
Bulma... No! It can't be. She can't be dead. We had been arguing the night before
and I can't get the last thing she said out of my head: "You can deny it just as
much as you want, but I swear Vegeta, one day I'll hear you say that you love me
and your kids, in public!" And I had smirked and said: "Not in your lifetime!",
just before I kissed her.
I touch her cold, cold face, and whisper: "Of course I love you woman, you know
that, don't you? I love you more then anything in this world."
Too little, too late.
She can't hear me now. Something wet is rolling down my cheek, and startled I
realize it's a tear. I haven't cried since I was taken from my father (not
counting the time I was dying at Frieza's hands), and I honestly though I'd never
cry again. But there is no denying it. Bulma, who was to be my mate for life, has
died, and I feel worse than I've ever felt before. I angrily wipe the tear away,
but many others follow it. An agonized scream is building up deep inside of me,
it keeps getting stronger and stronger until I can no longer keep it in.
"BULMAAAAA!"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
GOKU
My eyes snap open when I felt an enormous ki flare up out of no where. When I try
to pinpoint it, I realize it's coming from Capsule Corp. "Trunks? Vegeta?" I
mumble to myself. They could be in danger. Or maybe Vegeta has just lost his
temper again, but I'd better check it out in case it's a new enemy. When I think
about it, I realize I can't feel any unknown Ki, so it's probably just Vegeta's
bad temper, but then again, I couldn't sense the androids Ki either. Anyways, it
won't hurt to check it out.
I place my fingers to my head ready to teleport using the Shunkan Idou
(Instantanious movement), when I realize I should tell Chi Chi that I'm going
away, she always freaks out when I leave without telling her.
I gently poke her back. "Chi Chi?" No response, except for some choking sounds.
'Ha', I think, 'I should tape this. She always denies that she snores, but this
proves it!' I poke her again. "Chi Chi?" Still nothing. Odd… She's usually such a
light sleeper. I put my hand on her shoulder and make her turn over, now facing
me. I move my hand over to her face, and startled I realize her temperature is
way up! When I turn on the light, I can see her cheeks are very red, but the rest
of her face is pale. She's so pale that her face seems to have a blue-ish tint to
it. She again makes choking noises, and startled I realize she's not snoring;
she's almost choking! I panic. I've never dealt with ill people before, but this
seems serious. I have to get her over to Bulma, she'll know what to do!
I gather Chi Chi in my arms and use Shunkan Idou, instantly teleporting myself to
Capsule Corp.
I arrive in the dining room, but no one is there. I yell from the top of my lungs: "Bulma, wake up!
Chi Chi is very ill and I need your help!"
No answer. I can hear soft crying sounds coming from up the stairs, that must be
little Bra. I feel a little awkward, being here without Bulma knowing I'm inside her house, but I really need help.
Chi chi's condition seems to be deteriorating, her breaths are uneven and shallow
and her face is starting to look even more blue-ish. Suddenly a desperate scream
snaps me out of my thoughts.
"BULMA!!!"
VEGETA
I had her head cradled in my lap, and I was gently stroking her hair. So soft and
beautiful... She always loved it when I touched her hair like this. I'd only do
it rarely; it comes very close to actually showing affection and I didn't want
her to get used to that. From a distance I can hear someone calling out her name.
The voice seems familiar. What in the... Is that Kakarot? What the hell is he
doing here? I can hear someone come up the stairs, and moments later I can hear
someone is knocking on our bedroom door. I quickly get up and rest Bulma's head
on the pillow again, but I don't say anything. Slowly the door opens, revealing
Kakarot carrying his mate.
Yes, it was he all right. What's HE doing here? I want him to leave. "What are
you doing here?" I ask him as unfriendly as possible.
"Uhm... I was looking for help... Chi Chi is very ill and I thought Bulma could
probably help her..."
"Who cares what's wrong with your mate? Bulma can't help her." I fall silent
again, and turn around. Now he'll go away and leave me alone.
"Why not? I don't understand..." He walks towards the bed and stares at the still
unmoving form of my mate. When he gently touches her face he comes to the
inevitable conclusion. "Bulma, no... This can't be true. We need you..."
"Well," I say sarcastically, "I know it must come as a terrible shock to you, but
she's DEAD!" I practically scream the last part. My throat tightens painfully and
it's a good thing I didn't want to say more, because I couldn't have. I quickly
turn around to hide the tears I can feel burning behind my eyes again. I try to
choke them back, but it's no use. The despair must have been audible in my voice,
because Kakarot moves to stand behind me and puts his hand on my shoulder.
"Oh Vegeta, I'm so sorry for you... This is horrible, I don't know what to say."
"Then just say nothing and leave me alone! I don't need your goddamned sympathy!"
I try to shrug off his hand, but it firmly remains on my shoulder.
"Don't be like that Vegeta, I'm your friend and you do need sympathy right now."
"No, I don't." I say, ignoring the fact that he just called himself my friend.
I'm telling the truth. I don't need his sympathy; all I need is Bulma's arms
around me, her lips on mine, her sweet voice saying that she loves me... Nothing
else is important. "Just go away and do as you will. Leave us alone."
He takes back his hand and I hope he will leave now, but he doesn't. "Snap out of
it! What about your children? They'll need you now, more then ever!" Kakarot
angrily shouts at me, and for a moment he actually sounds like a Saiyan. I wonder
what could have gotten him so mad, but then I realize that if he cares for his
mate as much as I cared for Bulma, he must be worried sick. It takes a while
before I process WHAT he has said to me.
My children... Oh my god, Bra! Her crying can still be heard, so at least she's
still alive. I rush to her bedroom, leaving Kakarot behind. "You go downstairs
and wait there," I yell at him while I run down the hall. When I arrive I blast
the bedroom door to bits on my way in. I rush to the side of the cradle and pick
up my daughter. She feels way too hot and her face is all red and swollen. I
gently hold her in my arms and walk over to Trunks' room, slowly this time
because of Bra. I open his door to find him sprawled in his bed, still breathing,
but with the same half-choking sounds Kakarot's mate was making. When I place my
hand on his forehead I can feel he's burning up too. There's no doubt possible:
whatever killed my mate has also infected my children!
With some difficulty I carry my two children down the stairs, where Kakarot is
obediently waiting for me. When he takes a look at my children, his cursed
ever-present smile falters.
"So, they have it too, huh?"
Give the idiot credit. "Yes. And if my brats have it, yours probably have it
too. We both aren't ill, so I guess it's got something to do with our being
Sayains." I say. Bowing my head I close my eyes. 'Bulma would have known what to
do, but I'm totally lost without her.' I think angrily. I look back up at Kakarot
for an reaction.
His face suddenly takes on a shocked expression and he is silent for a bit,
letting what I had just said sink in. When he speaks, he sounds like he's trying
to force himself to sound like his usual cheerful carefree self, but he's not
succeeding. His voice is laced with worry.
"Yeah, you're right. I hadn't thought of that. My children probably have it too...
But hey, don't worry! We'll just get them over to Dende and he'll heal them, and
when they're all well again, we'll wish Bulma back with the Dragonballs."
I never thought I'd see the day, but Kakarot's idea is good! Going to Dende won't
do anything to help Bulma now, but it's not too late for Trunks and Bra. When I
think about it some more, I come to realize that if it's some sort of disease
that killed Bulma, it might not have been a natural death after all, meaning she
can be wished back! "You're right, get us to Dende's lookout immediately!" I
order him.
"No Vegeta, I must go now to check on Gohan, Videl and Pan. Goten too." He
gently laid down Chi Chi on the big sofa in the living room. "When I come back,
I'll use Shunkan Idou to get all of us to Dende's lookout. I'll be back soon."
I bite back a smart-ass remark and nod. In a flash he is gone, leaving me with my
two ill children and his mate. I don't know what to do, how to help them. I put
Trunks on the couch with a pillow under his head so that he can breathe more
easily, all the while holding Bra in my arms. I sit down next to Trunks and wait
for what seems like hours. I've never felt this helpless in my life. Of course I
could easily fly to Dende's lookout myself, but it would take me too long, I must
wait for Kakarot to return. I need to get a hold of myself, I still can barely
concentrate. My father was right; love makes one weak. Still, I'd rather be weak
with her than strong without her. Bulma...
GOKU
My world has been turned upside down. First my wife, now Trunks and Bra... I
deliberately try not to think of Bulma; but it's no use, her death has come as an
enormous shock to me. She was my first and best friend, besides Krillin perhaps,
and I keep finding myself thinking about all the adventures we had together, what
a good friend she really was, all the times she'd organize something just to
reunite the gang... When I re-appear inside my house I push all thoughts of her
aside and I quickly run over to Goten's room. It is as I had feared: whatever it
is that infected Chichi has gotten to my son too. No matter how I try, I can't
wake him. I decide to leave him here for a while; first I'll go check on Gohan
and his family.
When I arrive in Gohan's house, I do a quick Ki-scan. There's no one there. I
broaden the Ki-scan, and startled I realize the usual interference is gone.
Normally when I try to pinpoint a specific ki, it takes a lot of concentration
because I need to ignore the static of all the other humans on the planet. There
is hardly any interference now, and I shiver when I realize that probably means
that almost the entire human race is dead or dying. I notice with great relief
that Gohan's Ki still exists, although it is very week. I once again use Shunkan
Idou to get to his location. I appear in the middle of a hospital and dead people
are lying everywhere. The only ones alive are, to my great relief, Gohan and Pan.
They are both lying on the ground, next to Videl. I don't sense anything from
Videl, and when I touch her face it's cold. First Bulma, now Videl. Pan is lying
on the ground next to her father and she looks horrible, pretty much like Bra did.
I pick her up, place my two fingers on Gohan's head and I teleport them both
directly to Dende's lookout.
When I get there, I saw Mr. Popo standing on the edge, looking around with a
concerned look on his face. "This is an emergency Mr. Popo, we need Dende's help,
you must warn him immediately!"
In a sad tone of voice Mr. Popo nodded. "He already knows Goku. I found him lying
on the ground four hours ago, unconscious, screaming that all people on Earth
were dying. I've sat by his side for hours. He reached consciousness two minutes
ago and told me you would come here, so I left him to wait for you. Quickly, come
inside."
I follow him to the insides of the lookout. Dende is lying on his bed, shaking
all over.
"Did you know I could feel it all?" he says to me. "All the pain... Goku, billions
and billions of people are dead, the few still alive are dying as we speak, and
there's nothing I can do about it!" He looks terrible, and I can only imagine how
he must feel.
"Dende," I say, "we need your healing capabilities. Please, try to heal Gohan and
Pan!" Time is of the essence, so I abruptly turn around and use Shunkan Idou to
get Goten. Seconds later I'm back again, and I carefully lay Goten on the ground.
Dende is still shaking, but he seems to have regained his composure a little.
"Yes, you're right, I'll do the best I can."
He puts his hands on Pan, and although I'd rather stay there and watch his
progress, I know I must go get Chi Chi, Vegeta and his kids. In a flash I'm gone
again, leaving my two sons and grandchild behind.
VEGETA
When he returns there's no one with him. 'Are they all dead?' I ask myself. As if
he had heard my thoughts, Goku turns and gives me a dark look. "Videl is dead;
Gohan, Goten and Pan are infected but still alive, and I've already brought them
to Dende's lookout."
I coldly regard him. Too bad. I didn't particularly care for any of the people he
just mentioned, but the woman had spunk, and that's rather rare in Earthlings. On
the rare occasions I met her she had reminded me a lot of Bulma.
I pick up my son and daughter, he picks up Chi Chi, puts his hand on my forehead
and we're gone, off to Dende's lookout, hopefully finding a way to save my
children.
End of this chapter.
In the next chapter, Dende attempts to heal his friends and we find out more
about the origin of the virus that caused all this. And yeah, there are more
characters in DBZ than just all those handsome Saiyans, so some of them will be
in here too. Heck, eventually practically everyone will be in this fic!