AN: It's been a long, fun trek. This is the last chapter, along with an epilogue.
The metal legs of the spacecraft stretched out from beneath the body of the craft, touching the earth and bearing the ship's weight with a soft metallic creak. Settling into the sturdy legs, the ship's joints sighed as the ship finally stopped rocking. A pneumatic hiss, and a ramp extended outward from the silver craft, allowing the passengers inside to peer out and see the outcroppings that dotted the landscape.
Boots clicking on the metal, the small squadron descended the short ramp, taking in their surroundings and assessing the danger potential. Trunks and Kameko were the last to exit, following the five other Saiyan soldiers. Kameko winced and shielded her eyes as a bit of loose red dust kicked up in the strong wind, rushing through her hair and prickling her eyes. The planet's stark desert was tinted maroon, peppered with dark red stones and littered with cliffs. The bleakness spread as far as the Saiyans could see, causing them to pause. Their tails flicked behind them in curiosity and wonderment. Could anything actually live here, in this seemingly deserted area?
The squadron inched forward, slowly separating to investigate individually. "Kameko, stick close," Trunks whispered. Nodding, she stepped closer to the Prince, who slipped an arm around her shoulder in a protective gesture.
Glancing around, the group proceeded due north, to where their maps had indicated a major settlement lay. The only sound was that of the winds howling and an occasional pebble striking against a rock. Trudging over the sand, the cluster of warriors gradually formed into a circle, with their Prince and Kameko in the center. After they had long left the ship's landing area, Trunks suddenly stopped, his tail curling about his waist for protection. Kameko gave him a puzzled look, and opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by Trunks holding his hand in the air.
The Prince's eyes darted about, as if he were trying to locate something. The other Saiyans followed his lead, looking about, but it was obvious that they sensed nothing amiss. Trunks crouched a bit, and placed Kameko behind him, and subtly raised his power level in preparation for something. As one, the other Saiyans suddenly noticed something and wrapped their tails around themselves in preparation for a fight. Seeing their nervousness, Kameko flattened herself against Trunks' back; she had not sensed anything wrong.
"Kameko," Trunks rumbled out, "stay safe." She nodded, and then closed her eyes, trying to locate the odd feeling she had on the back of her neck. There! Under the sand! Twenty or so figures suddenly blasted up from beneath the reddish sand, encircling the squadron. The aliens were large, hulking creatures that were obviously suited to subterranean living, as a layer of mucus closed their eyes and their skin was slick to maneuver them through the sand.
The Sendians barked out something obviously hostile, and the Saiyans growled in response. While neither group could understand the other's language, threats and intimidation attempts broke any artificial barriers. Trunks fired up his ki in a display of power, as the other Saiyans followed suit. Not to be outdone, the Sendians abruptly shed an outer shell, and bulked up to twice their normal size.
Without any warning, the Sendians simultaneously shot forward to attack, their bodies blurring. Each Saiyan took on a few Sendians, attacking and defending with brutal efficiency. Trunks became separated from Kameko, and he growled, raising his ki to its max, fighting his way back over. The Sendians, who were not stupid creatures, saw his attempts, and penned him in, keeping him from moving toward Kameko.
Barely keeping herself from being sliced, Kameko called upon every last bit of dodging skill she had ever learned. Left, right, right, back she moved from the pair of aggressive dusty brown warriors attempting to strike her. Ki at its apex, she moved in a scarlet shadow, slipping off of each swing from the bladelike Sendian appendages. Right, left, forward, she found her opening and struck, causing the alien to howl in pain. Unfortunately, that caused both soldiers to redouble their efforts, progressing dangerously closer to delivering a critical blow. Sidestepping one obtuse swing, Kameko slipped a bit on the sand and misstepped, allowing the other alien to come crashing down with his arm into her.
Trunks heard her scream, and shoved his power beyond its previous limits, feeling it skyrocket, feeling it surge through him. The shock wave was enough to throw off his attackers, and he sped towards Kameko, his desperation to reach her showing through the streaks of gold that edged around his ki. Her attacker brought his arm up once more to deliver the final blow to the wounded girl. Pushing himself, his only, pure thought was to save his friend. The gold increased as his need became more focused. He had to get there! The sword swung down, down to Kameko…
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"Think anyone can match my power now?" Trunks questioned. Catching a thrown towel, he swiped it over his forehead, wiping off the collected perspiration. Sitting down heavily on the training room floor, he leaned back on his hands, collecting his spent energy.
"Yeah," Kameko teased, "your future wife. She'll rule you." Plopping down beside the Prince, she got a thoughtful look upon her face. "I think I know what really happened on Sendi."
Trunks quirked an eyebrow. "Aside from that I saved your ass?"
"No, you let me get hurt." She then rolled her eyes at his comment. "You could have come a bit faster, you know."
"Picky, picky. Sheesh. See if I save you next time. But what do you mean, 'let you get hurt?'"
"You knew that if I got a good enough cut, I'd have to heal in the recovery tank, so you let me get cut so you could see me naked in the tank!" She tried to contain her laughter. "Pervert," she laughingly accused.
"Me? At least I've got a potential mate. The closest you've had is inflatable."
"And what do you call the brain-dead chick you've got in the wings? She's got enough air in her head, there should be a valve near her ear."
Laughing, Trunks held up his hand. "Truce, truce. I should have learned from my dad: never try to out insult a human. Heck, he tried to out insult my mom, and look where that landed them." His face turned serious. "Speaking of my father…" Trunks stood, and helped Kameko up as Vegeta entered the room.
"Relax, sit down," Vegeta commanded as the Prince and his sparring partner complied. Vegeta smiled, a rare occurrence that automatically set Trunks on edge. What was he up to? "Well, I guess that I should extend congratulations for your successful mission. You exterminated the Sendians, and no one died. And, you reached a new plateau in your power. It is too bad that you did not reach the Super Saiyan level, though."
"Yes, it is," Trunks replied, still wary.
Vegeta shrugged, and looked over at Kameko. "You should be congratulated also, girl. You are the first False Saiyan that has ever survived a mission." Extending a hand, Vegeta nodded at Kameko. "Come here, girl."
Kameko shot a quick glance over at Trunks, who nodded for her to stand. Placing her feet under her, she slowly rose, allowing the built up lactic acid to settle. The King beckoned her closer with his outstretched hand, and she proceeded towards him. Vegeta curled up all but one finger, and turned his palm over, pointing at her. She walked forward, oblivious. Feeling a slight shift in the room's ki, Trunks raised himself to a crouch.
"Girl, you are to be commended. You shall go down in history." Kameko cocked her head, confused. Why would the King go through so much trouble for her? She wasn't even a proper Saiyan, lower than third class! "Congratulations." The extended finger suddenly glowed a harsh blue, and shot a thin beam. The light trail rocketed outward, and burst through Kameko's chest, ripping out a harsh exhlation from her. The ki beam dissipated against the far wall as Trunks shot up, catching Kameko in his arms. Vegeta turned, and left.
"No…stay with me. You can't leave." Cradling the limp body against his chest, Trunks began to cry, the saline mixing with the blood that was rapidly staining his hands and shirt. He shook her, desperate for a reaction. "Damn it, wake up!" Hugging her form, he rocked back and forth. "No…no…" His power began to skyrocket. "Noooooooooo!"
A burst of pure golden light erupted from within, and raced through his veins to his extremities. His hair sat up straight, and bleached itself from the roots outward, then settled to a rich, shining gold. His placid blue eyes burned with the touch of green, and he stood and screamed as his whole body erupted gold, damaging the walls and ceiling.
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Vegeta stood, just outside, watching over a monitor. His son, his blood was now a Super Saiyan. And that was all that mattered.
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Epilogue: Seven years later.
"Can you believe that one?"
"Nah."
Steps in synch with each other, the two Saiyan friends walked away from the palace and back to their towns. A blur of motion collided with Paragus, who fell down from the impact. "Hey," Paragus yelled, "what the hell do you think you're doing?" He raised his hand to strike the man who had run into him, when his friend Yamer grabbed it, fearful.
"Paragus! He's a False Saiyan! You want to risk breaking the Kameko laws?"
Quickly retracting his hand, Paragus swallowed a thick lump. "N..no. Thanks." The False Saiyan hopped up and ran off.
"That was close, man."
"Yeah, thank goodness you were here. Man, if I had been caught breaking the recently passed Kameko laws…" Paragus shuddered, unwilling to think of the consequences.
"It's alright, no big deal. Hey, how strong you think the new Prince will be?"
"Dunno, but if he's anything like his daddy King Trunks, I wouldn't want to cross him."
They set off again, once more in step. "Hey, you believe the rumor going around? That Kameko's still alive, just living under the Palace's wing?"
Paragus shrugged. "That would explain some things. But, how likely is it?"
"Hmm. Well, we know that Trunks still trusts his mom. It would make sense for her to still be alive. After all, if she weren't, don't you think Trunks would have killed his dad?"
"Maybe. Or maybe not. Hard to tell with him, he's so distant and unfeeling."
"Mmm. I'm still in shock though, with what he did to his wife."
"What happened? I wasn't at the official presenting of the new Prince."
"Well, once the kid was held up, and proclaimed healthy, the King turned to his wife, said 'You are no longer needed," and killed her with a ki blast."
"Man. That's cold. Well, see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow."
Fin
AN2: Thanks for everyone's support. Time to get cracking on that V/B!
Kahlan Nightwing: I intentionally left the gap open. But, obviously, he hasn't completely reverted, as he never killed Vegeta, right? Thank you for all your support, you kept this puppy going. And I'm more than periodically checking for new stuff from you. *hint, hint* :)