Idle Minds: Consequences

By Wiggle Puss

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"Wow! That was good!  Can I have another bowl?"

"Hey Chi Chi!  This kid almost puts me to shame!  Look at him pack it away!"

"I never thought I'd meet someone who could match Goku's appetite…"

"Well, it's not hard when the food's so good.  My mamma can't really cook and we almost never eat rice, Dadda's into all that gourmet stuff."

"I still can't believe you're from another world.  I thought I was the only one, except for my enemy Piccolo that is."

"Well, I am from another world, but I don't think I'm from a world in this universe."

"Huh?  What do you mean?  You're not from this universe?"

"Well, the spell I was trying to cast when I was brought here was of the interdemensional vortex-shear variety."

"In-turd-demon-senile vor-texture?  What's that?"

Alex sighed heavily, these people were obviously not quite up to par with his psychological abilities.  "What I mean is I was casting a spell that would allow me to jump from one reality to another.  If I cast it properly, that would mean I'm in another reality from my own.  I'm in a different dimension."

"Ah.  And that's what that bright flash was when you appeared."

"Yeah."

"Hmmm.  Well I guess that makes sense…wait, you can cast spells?"

"Well, yeah…sort of."

"What do you mean 'sort of'?"

"Well, I have a lot of magical potential, but I'm still only learning how to use it.  My teacher, Puck, was the one who taught me about interdemensional jumping, but he didn't really elaborate on it.  I guess now I know why."

"Why's that?"

Alex slumped down a little more in his seat.  His little frame hung with a sadness that did not suit his age, nor his new bodily proportions.  He looked at himself again, seeing the odd round curves and sharp angles where he previously had had none.  He wore a strange little suit that his new friends had given him to wear while his pajamas dried.  It was a vivid red, like Goku's, but it had yellow slits up the sides of the long shirt and stripes down the short leggings.  His feet were incased in moccasin like shoes that matched the red cap on his head.  Judging by his loss of leg length and the overall roundness of his body, Alex guessed that he had lost at least three to four inches off his height.  All this only added to the sorrow and guilt that creped up on him now.

"I…" sniff, "I don't think I know how to get back…And even if I did, I'm not sure I have enough energy left to do it again."  Once again, Alex felt that odd sensation come upon him again.  For some reason he had real difficulty controlling his emotions in this place.  He sniffed a few more times before his lip started quivering.  He looked up at Chi Chi and her heart went out to the boy.  "Oh, you poor dear!"

Alex's mouth dropped the incredible span of his round face and he let out another piercing wail.  "WAAAAAAA!"  Tears literally sprang from the corners of his eyes.  It was all Goku could do to keep dry as the boy cried his heart out into Chi Chi's shoulder. 

"What's all the racket?"

Alex stopped his lament long enough to sniff and look up.  There, standing in the doorway was a little boy not much smaller than himself.  He had dark hair like Goku and wore a very similar outfit to what Alex wore now.  The only noticeable difference was the presence of an odd star-speckled ball crowning the top of his cap.

Embarrassed, Alex wiped away what remained of his tears and tried his best to look respectable to this newcomer.  "Presentation before sentiment," his father had always said.  "Make them respect you before they trust you."  Alex had always respected his father, you couldn't just become the owner of a multi-national, multi-billion dollar company by giving in to the set standards of the world, you had to take charge and set the standard yourself.  David Xanatos had obviously achieved this in his son's eyes.

"Son, this is Alex.  Alex, this is my son Gohan."

Alex oozed out of the chair he was sitting in and regally extended his hand to Goku's son, "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Uhhh, okay."  Gohan numbly took the offered hand and threw a questioning look to his father, who merely shrugged at Alex's obvious emotional one-eighty.

"Alex was just telling us about the world he came from and how he got here, Gohan," Chi Chi broke in.

"The world he came from?"  Now Gohan was really confused, who was this kid?

Alex sat back down at the table and retold his story as emotionlessly as he could, while Chi Chi fussed around the two boys occasionally throwing sympathetic glances at Alex.  He was trying to be so brave.  She could just imagine her own son being thrown across the universe to a different world all by himself.  Afraid and alone.  She hiccupped and tried her best to hide her own distress at that thought.  As Alex finished retelling his tale, Chi Chi visibly stiffened with resolution.  "Goku, you're going to help this boy."

"What?"

"I can't even begin to think what his parents are going through right now.  He needs to find a way home and you're going to help him!"

"Why me!?  I mean, I don't know the first thing about casting magic spells!"

"You'll find a way!  I'm sure there's got to be some way to get him home!"

"Chi Chi!  It's not like I can just zap him with an energy blast and send him home."

"What about the dragon balls?  Couldn't you wish the dragon to send him home?"

"Well yeah, I guess but…but I only get one wish with the dragon balls and who knows how long it'll take to find them all!"

"Well, we have to do something!"

"Wait!  What do you mean, 'zap me with an energy blast'?"  Alex was beginning to get dizzy again trying to keep up with them.  How do they talk so fast?  And why was Chi Chi positively hysterical about sending him home?  His mamma had once told him about an old friend of hers who was bi-polar, some weird chick named Shenzi or Hyena or something…Chi Chi was beginning to remind him of that conversation now.

"An energy blast.  You know--."  Goku extended his hand and it briefly flared with a power that sent shivers down Alex's spine.  His eyes widened as comprehension settled on him.  "You know magic?!  You have power in you?!"

"Well, I wouldn't say I know magic, but I guess you could say I have a certain kind of power."

"Why didn't you say so!  I could use your power, your energy to cast the spell again!"

"How would you do that?"

"It can't be too hard.  Unca Puck taught me how to tap sources a long time ago.  I haven't done it in awhile but I think I remember how.  I could use your energy to fuel the casting!"

"Wait!"  Gohan perked up for the first time since sitting down.  "How do we even know this'll work?  You're from a different world; will you even be able to tape my dad's power?"

"Tap."

"Whatever."

"Unca Owen once said that energy is energy, whether created by magic or science, I don't see why that wouldn't apply here too."

"Well, I'm always up for an adventure, and if it can get you home I don't see why we shouldn't try."

"Are you sure?  I mean, I don't want to hurt you."

"Kid, you wouldn't believe what I've lived through.  I think someone out there really doesn't want me to die.  I bet if I did, I'd still just keep coming back to annoy everyone anyway.  Hah!"

Everyone sat and stared at Goku.  Finally, Gohan opened his mouth, "Where'd that come from?"

"I don't know.  It felt like some all powerful being just opened my mouth and forced me to say it."

Everyone in the room turned and looked at Wiggle Puss.

"What!  Don't look at me!  I'm just writing the story!  I can't help it if I know the future!"

Goku glowered and Chi Chi looked like Demona about ready to pounce.  Wiggle Puss slowly backed away from the table.  "Sheesh, I'm not welcome even in my own stories," She grumbled as she lifted two fingers on her right hand.  Now where had Alex seen this before?  She swooped her fingers in a semi-circle type fashion and blinked out of existence.  Now he remembered!  It was like one of those aliens on that Star Trek show his dadda liked so much.  Weird.

"That was strange, what was an omnipotent being doing in our kitchen?"

Goku shook his head and looked at his wife, "I don't know Chi Chi…but the truth is out there."

Strange eerie music started to play throughout the room.  As it began to fade, Alex thought he heard the maniacal giggle of Wiggle Puss.  That girl was creepy.

Four hours later…

"Alex, did you enjoy your nap?"

"Yeah, I feel better now, thank you Mrs. Goku."

"Oh, honey, you can just call me Chi Chi."

"Ok."  Alex smiled.  He liked Chi Chi.  She was really nice, even if her emotions were a little unpredictable at times.  He loved his own mamma dearly but she was often busy with Dadda's work and her new fashion line.  Chi Chi was the typical stay at home mom who absolutely doted on her son and husband.  Even though he hadn't known them very long Alex still felt like they didn't always give her the attention or consideration she deserved.

"Well, your clothes are all dry now so you and Goku can attempt that spell whenever you feel ready."

"Thanks Chi Chi."  Alex grabbed his now dry pajamas and hurried into the bathroom to change.  He wanted to get home as soon as possible.  This place was nice to visit and all but, he missed his parents and Unca Owen and the clan.  He wasn't exactly eager to receive the punishment he knew was in store for him when he returned, but he knew that everyone's happiness at seeing him alive again would out weigh their anger at his recklessness.  He hoped. 

Alex could see all their faces now.  His mamma would be crying and holding him to her fiercely.  His dadda would be standing over both of them, his strong arms encircling Alex in his mamma's grasp.  Unca Owen would be standing nearby, off in a dark corner probably.  Stoic as always, but still happy to see him unharmed.  Lex would be there of course, eagerly awaiting his turn to hug his favorite little human.  Elisa might be there too.  She had probably been the first person his parents contacted after his disappearance.  She and Matt were probably scouring the streets for him right now with a whole army of private investigators, agents, and bounty hunters hired to find him first for ransom or some other incentive.

With these happy thoughts in his mind he went over the spell he would need to cast.  It would be the same one he cast on the castle battlements that brought him here.  It was the only interdemensional spell he knew…and it was a vague spell at that.  It didn't specify anything really; it only opened up a tear in space that allowed him to step through to another world.  It didn't specify which world.  He wished now that Unca Puck had taught him more about dimension jumping.  He could only hope that the spell was like the 'channel return' button on his TV remote back home; sending you to one world at a time and returning you home between each trip, instead of continually sending you on blind jumps.

"Well, there's only one way to find out."  He said to himself.

The door to the bathroom slowly opened and Alex plodded out to the main door leading outside.  He stood there for a moment, gathering his resolve and his courage.  Placing a hand on the door, he confidently strode out to meet Goku and Gohan in the fields not far from the house.

"There you are Alex!  We were beginning to wonder if you'd changed your mind!  Are you ready?"

Once again, Goku's exuberance invaded what Alex thought of as his own personal reality bubble.  "Yeah, ready as I'll ever be."

"Then let's get started.  I have a meeting with an old friend later today; I don't want to be late."

Alex stepped toward Goku and reached out to touch his abdomen, the closest he could get to his chest given his stunted height.  Alex began to clear his mind and gather what personal energy he had left.  Just as he was about to open his mouth, Gohan interrupted.  "Wait!"

"Ack!"  Alex jumped back from Goku startled.  "Why'd you do that!?"

"I almost forgot, I was supposed to give this to you before you left."  Gohan picked up a long object wrapped in a lavender cloth.  Methodically, like there was some ritual involved, he un-wrapped it and held it out to Alex.

"It's a stick."

"It's not just any stick!"  Gohan said vehemently.  "It's the power pole!"

"Oh yeah!  I almost forgot about that myself!"  Goku sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.  "Chi Chi said I should give it to you.  I don't really use it anymore and she didn't want to just send you on your way without knowing what you might have to face after this jump."

"You're really just going to give this to me?  It sounds like a special family heirloom or something."

"Well, it kinda is, but it's not going to get much use just sitting around when it could be doing you some good."

"Gee, thanks.  But, what am I supposed to do with it?"

"You hit people with it silly!"  Gohan crossed his arms, obviously a little miffed that this stranger kid got the power pole instead of him.

"You don't just hit people with it Gohan.  You can also use it for many other purposes too.  Watch.  Power Pole Extend!"  Instantly the pole in Goku's hand grew to an enormous length.

"Wow!"  Though Unca Puck had done far more outrageous tricks, Alex was still very much impressed with the power pole.

"You can use it to reach high places, knock down obstacles from far away, and hit enemies."

"Neat."

Goku ordered the power pole to return to its original size and then handed it over to Alex.  Once in his hands, the power pole did another interesting thing; it shrank to accommodate Alex's size and handling capabilities.  He felt the new weight of the pole and tested it out.  Or at least he tried.  His mamma had been adamant about him learning to fight effectively.  She was famous for her martial artist capabilities and acrobatic stunts on the hit TV show "The Pack", and she wouldn't accept anything but the same from her own son.  However, her training had yet to include the use of poles or other dangerous implements; he was, after all, only six.  Alex quickly pulled a spell out of his back pocket that Unca Puck had taught him not long ago.  It was a knowledge spell.  When cast on a certain object, the caster was instantly privy to the uses and/or knowledge of the object.  Fortunately it was a low energy level spell so Alex was able to pull it off fairly easily.  Having finished, he then tested it out again; with much more impressive results.

Goku and Gohan just stared, their mouths agape.  Gohan recovered slightly sooner than his father.  "Wow, I wish I could do that.  Just talk to a weapon and then know how to use it."

Alex was also impressed.  He'd cast the spell before of course, but he'd never cast it on anything that required physical prowess.  He imagined this was how King Arthur felt when he pulled Excalibur from the stone.  It felt as if he'd always known how to use the power pole, like it had always been with him.

"Thank you Goku, Gohan.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect gift."  Alex leapt forward and grabbed Goku's thigh in a tight hug.  He then turned and ensnared Gohan around the neck.  After a few more "Thank You's" and "You're Welcome's", Alex disengaged himself from his new friends and slung the power pole across his back. 

"Well, I guess there's nothing left to do but say goodbye!"

"Goodbye Goku.  Goodbye Gohan.  Say thank you to Chi Chi for me."

"Don't worry, we will.  Take care and good luck Alex!"

"Thanks."  Once again, Alex approached Goku and placed his hand on his abdomen.  Then, chanting the tapping spell Alex closed his eyes and cleared his mind to make ready for the jump.  Yellow fire-like power erupted from Goku and passed along Alex's outstretched hand.  Goku felt his strength and energy leaving him as it flowed into Alex.  He could feel himself becoming weak, but not so weak that he became feeble.  It was more like, becoming normal…if that was what he could call it.  Goku sank to his knees as Alex withdrew his hand.  Gohan worriedly put his hand on his father's shoulder.  Goku looked up at his son and spread a reassuring smile across his face.  They both turned then to regard Alex.  He stood there, roughly four feet away with his eyes closed, facing them.  The energy surrounding him wasn't exactly visible, but they could see it, feel it, knew it was there.  The air around Alex rippled with the force of the power he had sapped.  Suddenly, Alex's eye's flared open.  Had Fox been there, images of her own mother would have been floating across her mind as she gazed at her son, his eyes ablaze with raw energy.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine kid, nothing a good night's sleep and a bowl of rice won't cure."

"Good."

Alex raised his hands to the sky, an unusual cyan color, unusual, like everything else in this world.  Gathering his forces, Alex once again bellowed as loud as his voice would allow.  The words poured out of his mouth with a resonance that would gain even Oberon's notice.  The clouds warped and dipped.  The vortex appeared and plummeted downward.  Goku and Gohan made to move out of its path as quickly as possible.  The sky met the earth as Alex was once again wrapped in the fabric of space.  It swirled around him and enveloped him like silk and cream.  He felt the wave rise up under him and carry him on the brink of its plunge.   He was falling.  Falling…into nothing.  Then suddenly the ground was there.  Dry and hard and dusty, the ground came up to meet him hard as he smacked shoulder first into the compact dirt.  Dazed, Alex looked around.

Desert.  Far as the eye could see: desert.  Oh no!  Now where am I?  The earth began to tremble.  This can't be good.  Alex stood as quickly as the increasing quake would allow.  His heart rising in his throat, he scanned the horizon again.  There, straight ahead!  What was it?  Some kind of beast?  The shape was growing larger as it advanced on his position.  It must be huge, whatever it is to make the earth shake at such a distance!  Wait a minute…what was that.  Alex turned as he heard a strange metallic clanking increasing in volume behind him.  There, not two-hundred yards away was a huge mechanical cat coming right at him.  It must have been at least one-hundred feet tall!  And it was about to smush him like a bug.  Alex began to run.  Huffing and puffing he sprinted in the little footies attached to his pajama pants.  Oh!  It wasn't going to be enough!  The huge cat was almost on top of him!  Then an idea hit him.  He grabbed the power pole resting on his back and commanded it to extend.  Using a dexterity that belied his age and physical abilities, Alex dug the end of the long pole in to the ground ahead of him and vaulted into the air.  At the last minute, he remembered that he was quarter fae; he smacked himself mentally and then promptly added a levitation spell to aid his ascent.  It didn't do much, he was still winded from the dimensional jump, but every little bit helped.  At the pinnacle of his vault, a grim realization hit Alex. 

"This is really going to hurt," he clenched his teeth and waited for the inevitable.  "Guhhh!"  Alex grimaced as he slammed into the ground nearly twenty yards from where he took off.  The mechanical cat missed him by five feet.

"Well, I guess it was worth it." Alex thought as darkness began to overtake him.

From somewhere across the expanse of sand and dust, a mechanical voice called out, "INTERFERENCE!  TIME OUT!"

The earth stopped shaking and the sounds of machines powering down could be heard.  Alex heard footsteps approaching him as he lay on the ground.  As unconsciousness seeped in at the edges of his vision a tall, blonde man came into view.  He had green eyes, just like Mamma.  "Hey kid, you sure know how to put yourself right in the middle of trouble." 

Alex just groaned as the world swam.

"Don't worry; I'll make sure you're taken care of."

The last thing Alex heard before he completely succumbed to darkness was another stranger's voice, "Do you think he'll be alright Bit?"

"I hope so Leena, I really hope so."

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The end.

HHmmmmm…..the plot thickens!