REASON
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of the Dragonball Z characters, they belong to Akira Toriyama. I'm not making any money off writing this stuff so to all those fanfic readers who were planning on suing me (as you do), tough luck.
Authors notes: You are all granted a sigh of relief, something happens.
Sorry about the length though, I'm trying my best to keep these chapters short, but it's hard. You have no idea how much I cut out of this.
Reason transformed into prejudice is the worst form of prejudice, because reason is the only instrument for liberation from prejudice.
-Allan Bloom
Chapter 4: Divide and Conquer
In the middle of a desert with the sun long gone and the horizon stretching out Gohan stopped. He stopped with such haste that Piccolo had travelled a good hundred metres before he could react and do the same.
"Do you feel that Piccolo?"
"Sure do, but it feels like your Dad to me kid."
"That's what I thought, but it can't be. He's still healing. That power is at least a Super Saiyan."
Without further discussion the two changed their course and headed towards the strange power emanating from somewhere in the desert they were about to leave. Neither knew what they were running into, but both knew that it was serious. Gohan was probably the worst affected by the whole situation because he hated being in the dark, especially when his father was involved. That wasn't all though, there was still one thing nagging at the back of his mind, it could also be Goten.
A few moments later Piccolo and Gohan quietly dropped to the ground and pushed their power levels down.
"Gohan, you can't feel anything, can you?"
"Are you kidding, Dad's power is rising by the minute."
"Yeah, but think about it. Who is he fighting? Can you even detect the slightest presence of an enemy?"
"Well, no, but..."
"Then I think we can be fairly sure of what we are up against."
Gohan didn't bother asking what Piccolo was talking about, each acknowledged the desire not to bring up memories of the androids or any past battle for that matter. Instead Gohan slightly nodded and followed Piccolo towards the power.
"Piccolo, if that's my Dad, then surely it'll be OK. If he's up to fighting then he can just go to Super Saiyan Three, then he'll be able to handle whatever this is."
"We don't know that he's fully healed, the others may have just run out of alternatives. Besides, they took him down once..." Piccolo trailed off and indicated to Gohan to be quiet.
Gohan froze and peered at the horizon hoping to see what his trainer had, but to no avail. "What?" Piccolo shot Gohan a warning glance and he wisely shrunk back. Piccolo's brow creased with concentration. Gohan's eyes flicked about looking for what could have Piccolo so ruffled.
Without warning Piccolo's eyes snapped open and he started to yell, "Gohan, go! It's not your father, it's so..." The words were cut off by a huge blast aimed straight at the pair. Piccolo leapt to block the attack, shielding Gohan in the process.
Manouvering the blast Piccolo managed to send it heavenward. Gohan frowned as he listened to the laboured breathing as he instinctively dropped to a fighting position, but he had no idea what he was meant to be defending himself from. He could still feel his father's power, but now it was way too high. "Piccolo, he's gone Super Saiyan Three."
"NO!"
Gohan was surprised by Piccolo's harsh tone, something he wasn't used to when there was nobody else around. Normally, even with others around, there was a slight touch of compassion in his words even if the words themselves sounded harsh. However this time Piccolo was really worked up over something. Gohan looked at his face seeking an explanation for his strange behaviour.
"Gohan, that is not your father. I don't know who it is, but either someone is imitating his power, or I've gone completely insane."
Gohan still scanned Piccolo's face searching for answers. "Piccolo, you aren't making any sense."
"Can't you sense that emptiness? There is something missing in that power, something that you probably notice without even realising it. I don't really know what it is, but there is something in Goku's power that advertises his nature, it's in yours too. However, it's not in that power. That is not Goku."
Gohan stared at his master, in complete awe. Gohan knew that without Piccolo he would have rushed into this battle headfirst. Although he may out-power him a hundred times Piccolo always had a small edge that emerged from his scepticism and experience. "Then what is it?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is it just attacked us. Can you see your father doing that?"
Gohan could not fault the logic and dropped his head.
"Head up! We are in a battlefield!"
Gohan instantly returned his attention to the task at hand dodging yet another ball of power heading towards him.
*
Soft whimpers echoed through the empty room. The door cracked open and Chichi crept in to comfort her youngest son.
"Dad, no, no, no. NOOO!" Goten sat up in the bed with a start, his eyes wide open.
"Goten dear, it's alright." Chichi adjusted her weight on the edge of the bed and took her son's head in her arms and held it to her chest. "It's OK, it was just a nightmare. Dad's fine."
Goten pushed his mother away and looked into her eyes, "No he's not. I can feel him." Goten let out a slow breath. "Mum, he's fighting."
"Goten, it's alright. You just had a bad dream. Dad's still sleeping."
"No Mum. I can feel it."
Chichi stopped for a second letting the words sink in. She knew better than to doubt Goten on such matters, but still something told her that Goku wouldn't have crept out to face some nameless enemy without even consulting the others. Needing some confirmation of Goten's claims she jumped to her feet and rushed off leaving him alone in the darkness bewildered and confused. He called out to her, but she was long gone. "There's something else Mum, something's missing." His words fell on the silent walls.
In the medical sector Chichi rested her gaze on her husband. She withheld a sigh of relief for fear of waking any of the room's inhabitants. Goku's body was illuminated by the faint glow of all the medical equipment in the room and his chest rose and fell steadily. Somehow this sight didn't comfort Chichi entirely. Goten had spoken with such conviction. Needing a little more assurance she decided to get a second opinion.
"Trunks, wake up." Chichi prodded at the youth's side causing him only to stir in his sleep. Impatiently she began to shake Trunks violently and he awoke.
"Mmm, what?"
"Wake up!"
"I am awake." Trunks said his eyes still closed and his head still resting on his forearms.
"No you're not."
"Fine." Trunks took in a deep breath and laboriously lifted his head and forced his eyes open. "Chichi? What's up?"
"Can you feel Goku's power?"
Trunks's head shot up. His eyes flicked towards Goku's heart monitor expecting to find a flat line. Then the faint recognition of a powerful fighter emerged in his consciousness and his head sank a little lower and he rubbed a hand over his face. "Chichi, he-" Trunks stopped mid-sentence and Chichi could see the familiar marks of confusion set into the naturally hard lines of his face. "Chichi, we need to get the others." Not bothering to question Trunks, Chichi took a final look at Goku and hurried off to wake up, but Trunks stopped her before she left.
"Oh, and don't forget Goten. We may need Gotenks for this one."
Chichi was clearly not excited about the idea but said nothing.
As she strode down the corridor she glanced at a clock. It read 1.15. She began to wonder where Gohan was, but not allowing panic to set she decided to concentrate on one thing at a time. With that in mind she set off down the hall.
*
"Mr Mancoff, I need to know that you are absolutely sure the androids are ready. If we are going to destroy Son Goku it's going to take everything they've got. This is a once off chance. If we foul this up then we have lost. Goku will figure out the few weaknesses that ou-"
"Weaknesses? Sir, I think you underestimate what we have done here."
"No! If I've learnt one thing over these years, it's that Son Goku knows about weaknesses. He can find a weakness that the enemy themselves didn't know existed."
"Trust me Sir, we are going to do some serious damage here."
"Is that a guess or a certainty?"
"It's certain." The slight hesitation before answering did not go unnoticed.
"Need I remind you that these robots are not replaceable, nor is the plan. It's now or never. If you aren't sure about this then I need to know about it."
Paul knew that it was not really an option. Had he actually said that he had his doubts he would probably find himself facing a very angry mob despite the fact that all of Jaques's followers had been told to meet in the park so as not to give away their point of command. "It will work Sir." Paul just hoped that Jaques didn't detect the slight crack in his voice, the sharp swallow and the uncertainty in his eyes. Trying to hide these telltale signs he began to punch various codes and instructions onto the computer. After twenty seconds he turned and looked up at his boss, "Awaiting your command."
*
A tall yet solid figure stepped into view as if from nothing. Gohan and Piccolo fixed their eyes on the opponent, but kept looking out for any other foes. There could be no debate about it now - this was an android. Although the figure looked perfectly human, there was something very wrong. His eyes were empty, his power non-existent. Instead Goku's sense of being emanated through his every pore. However, both Gohan and Piccolo knew that this conception was very wrong and dangerous. Beneath the guise this was a very serious threat. The heavy black hair was cut fairly short, but somehow managed to stir in an intangible breeze. For a second he and Gohan locked eyes, but neither was willing to break the gaze, almost like two children caught in a staring contest.
Suddenly, the power that had resembled Goku's turned off. There was no sign of it fading or being pushed down. It just disappeared. Each of the warriors paused for a second, dumbfound and Gohan began to flick his eyes about once more. Their concentration was broken by a war cry shooting out from behind them. Gohan spun around in enough time to catch a metal boot in his face. Recovering from the blow he leapt back and resumed his fighting stance. Piccolo swung his head back and forward trying to gain a grasp of the situation. Basically their senses were being toyed with throwing each of them severely off balance. Still, their vision was fine and it didn't take long for them to realise that there were actually two identical men standing on either side of them. The wordless agreement was settled on as Gohan locked his eyes on his original opponent as Piccolo claimed the second android.
There were no words exchanged, no threats, taunts or final offers. The android did not even seem interested in Gohan. It would just dodge attacks and use fairly simple tactics to avoid being blasted into the next dimension. This alone was enough to put Gohan out, but Piccolo was unperturbed. He noticed Gohan's hestitation and called out to him.
"Gohan, focus!"
Gohan wasn't the type that needed to be told twice. There was something very odd about this android and that made him very nervous. When Gohan was nervous he tended to keep his guard up.
As if taking some unheard cue the two twins charged up some type of attack and hurled it at their respective opponents. The sudden change of heart on the enemies' behalf confused Piccolo, but already Gohan was learning from their behaviour, knowing that if this is what defeated his father then they were going to need to have a good plan to stop them.
Gohan decided to once more take the offensive to test the limits of his opponent. His hands and feet blurred in a quick series of strikes, few of which landed. The reactions of each proved to be fairly evenly matched as Gohan wove about and ducked the retaliations. It seemed that each of the parties involved were interesting in a swift fight as they separated for a second causing a pause in the battle. Taking full advantage of this opportunity Gohan began to power up. Sparks of electricity began to weave in his aura pulsing in time with his heartbeat. Probably realising the implications of this the android once more began to gather his power, collecting it into a huge swirling mass about twice the size of Gohan. Launching it towards Gohan with unrivalled speed it seemed to hang for a second taking advantage of its momentum, but giving Gohan a vital instant to prepare.
Had Gohan's concentration not been so fiercely undivided on the battle at hand he would have heard the desperate cries of his trainer, "Don't block it!"
Instead Gohan reached his hands out to gain control of the fiery ball. The surprise on his face was not able to be disguised when no power met his hands. Instead it penetrated Gohan's fingertips and worked its way through his body causing his muscles to tense rapidly. Momentarily Gohan stood in the silent battlefield, all actions paused by the unusual change of events. His eyes glazed over, then his body dropped and broke out into spasms before loosening entirely.
Piccolo stared at his young student for a second, unable to comprehend the events that had just taken place. His feet left the ground as he flew to Gohans side. However, he had barely left the ground when the two twins put themselves between Piccolo and Gohan. Coming to a quick stop Piccolo glared at his opponents. The hatred that resided in his eyes barely compared to what he was feeling. Gohan was slipping away and Piccolo could feel it.
"You're mine." Piccolo's voice never wavered, but his eyes warned of destruction.
*
"It's gone!" Goten's unusual outburst was rewarded with several questioning stares. Goten was unflustered, "Trunks, that power disappeared."
Ever since they had started the debate on their course of action Goten had insisted upon calling it 'that power,' refusing to believe that it was his father. Nobody could sense what he described as an emptiness, but he was adamant that there was something different about the power. Considering that Goku was in the room next to the Z-Warriors his theory was quickly accepted, but still puzzled over.
Trunks stared at the other warriors in the room. He felt strange having such an immense strength superiority over men over twice his age. They looked to him for help, rather than vice versa and this was something he feared he may never get used to.
"Normally I'd consider a disappearing power a good thing, but Gohan's still out looking for Piccolo and that worries me. There is no way it should take this long." Juuhachigou shot an apologetic look towards Videl and Chichi fearing an outburst, but none came. Trunks relaxed a little, glad to be out of the limelight. His relief was short lived.
"Trunks, we have to go find Gohan." Goten's impatience was clear, but his fear more evident. Trunks looked to the others hoping for inspiration, but his eyes soon wandered to his life-long friend. Seeing the concern in his eyes he realised that he had to do something. He opened his mouth to speak, but before the first word could escape his lips Krillen cried out.
"Piccolo! Gohan!" Bulma, Chichi and Videl began to look throughout the room, desperately seeking someone that would tell them what was going on. Instead the warriors stood with their jaws hanging open obviously concentrating on something.
Patience wearing thin Chichi yelled at her son, "Goten, what is it?" His apparent lack of hearing only succeeded in frustrating the women more. Chichi grabbed Goten by his shoulders and shook him back into reality. He looked up at his mother and paused as if unsure what to say. "Gohan is fighting Mum, so is Piccolo, but I can't sense what they are fi-." Goten stopped mid-sentence and once more each of the warriors in the room fell to a trance like state. Goten looked up at his mother once more, this time with fear in his eyes, something uncommon to such a confident young warrior.
Trunks suddenly burst out, "Gohan is coming, Piccolo too. They'll be here any minute."
Not wasting any time the group raced outside to greet Gohan and Piccolo. Each strained their necks back scanning the sky's for any approaching travellers, Goten's hesitation forgotten.
Goten leaned towards Trunks and whispered, "That's not Gohan or Piccolo."
Trunks gave Goten a blank stare.
"They've got the same emptiness that the other power had, the one that felt like Dad's."
"You're just imagining things."
"Maybe, but answer this, how did they move so quickly? One second they were miles away, then suddenly they were only a few minutes away."
Trunks looked at his friend, fearing the answer. "We'll wait and see."
Goten was obviously not very keen on this idea, but decided to say nothing until he was absolutely sure. Still he could feel the familiar powers at the back of his mind and just hoped that he was imagining that increasing discrepancy.
*
"Mike, this has gone way too far. I'm leaving now. Don't say anything OK. You're a real sweet talker, but I'm not falling for it again. I want out, if that means that I have to leave you here then that's alright with me." The confidence that came through in Trina's words was entirely faked. The thing that scared her most was that Mike would not say anything. Her rehearsed speech had come out well, but something in her told her that she didn't want it to end there. It's not love, she had told herself. I can walk away from him. Despite repeating these things over and over to herself nothing changed. She didn't want to leave Mike and was desperately hoping he would say something that would justify her staying. That was all that ate away at her, none of this had been justified. Mike had repeated the manical preachings of Jaques, but never seemed to be able to fully explain the motives.
"Trina, if I know you half as well as I think I do, you are waiting for me to justify this whole thing to you."
The words startled Trina, burning into her giving her hope. Maybe there was a reason that she hadn't heard before, maybe there was something he'd been holding back.
Mike noticed her unusual reaction, but pretended not to. "I truly believe that without a reason for all this you'll walk off right now. You've tried before, but you seem to know when enough is enough. That is why I'll let you in on the real reason both of us a here." Trina looked into Mikes eyes, seeing something she'd never seen before, or maybe just something she'd never looked to see before, sincerity. "It's all for you."
The simple words caused Trina to reel slightly back from Mike's grasp. She looked back at his eyes, not sure what to expect. She silently pleaded him to elaborate.
"I've never told you the real story have I?"
"I...I don't think so."
"I've seen the androids Trina. They cannot be defeated. You knew me before this, you know I believed that Son Goku would prevail over anything. Now, well, I think this could be for real."
"So you just want to be on a winning team. Well great, I'm happy sticking with the right team."
"Shhh, don't let anyone hear you talking like that, especially not tonight. Just listen to me, Jaques is going to win and when he does gain control I don't want to have opposed him. He's a megalomaniac. He is exactly what he is trying to protect the world from. The only trouble is he is a smart megalomaniac." Mike stopped abruptly and avoided Trina's stare, unsure whether or not to go on. He lowered his voice to a whisper barely audible to Trina. Throughout his speech he had spoken quietly so as not to let anyone hear his treacherous comments. However, now it seemed to him that the very air he breathed could have ears. "Dr Gero was brilliant, but this Mancoff guy, he's pure genius. I've seen a little more than I should have Trina; I've seen the plans. These two are sick and won't stop at anything and their plans prove that. If only you knew what I was talking about, then you'd understand my fears." Trina suddenly became acutely aware of the fear that was pulsing through Mike. She realised what she had failed to see all these months. He was here for entirely selfish reasons. The whole time she had kidded herself that no harm would arise from his obsession by reassuring that this proved he had passion and commitment for what he believed was right. Suddenly the man she had believed she loved faded to dust and slipped through her fingers. She had wasted all this time loving a man that did not exist. No longer did she want a justification, all she wanted was the Mike she fell in love with to come and get her out of this whole mess.
"Trina, I know you are probably thinking I did this to save my own neck. You are wrong, I did this for you. I suffered your condescending lectures and pitiful stares knowing that one day it would probably save your life. I'm not a hero Trina, I'm a coward and you know it. If there is a way I can keep you around long enough to love me as I do you that doesn't involve courage I'll take it. Trina..." For the first time in ages Mike found himself short of words. He'd been so used to repeating another mans words he felt unsure of how to use his own. "I love you."
Trina spun about and slapped Mike hard on the cheek. The sound reverberating through the icy cold air and silencing their immediate neighbours. Mike rubbed his face while Trina completed her statement with the words, "Don't you dare say that to me now."
"Why not? I mean it. I mean it more than I thought I could. You've sought the truth the whole time and when I finally tell you, this happens."
"It's not what you said, it's not even the way you said it. It's when you said it Mike." Trina found herself already being drawn back to the cause. He seemed so sincere, more so than she had ever seen him. Something in his eyes begged her to stay, the fear was still there, but he was afraid for her. Her heart told her to give it up and let herself fall into his welcoming arms. Still her mind told her that this wasn't wise, this wasn't as romantic as it seemed. The battle did not last long, Mike had given her reason to believe and reason to stay. That's all I wanted, she told herself. For a second she allowed herself to wonder why her mind did not answer, then she pushed the thoughts away and let herself be swept up by the sweet justifications of the gathering group.
*
Thanks for reading. Please review, I'd love to know what you think.
*
Incidentally, this will be my last post for two or three weeks. Next week I'm going on a trip up north for a week with friends. The day I return I'm heading down south to visit some relatives for another week.