Dragonball Alternate Dimension
Chapter Nine
The hospital was in chaos. Doctors and nurses ran this way and that tending to Earthling soldiers and Z Warriors. Bulma heard the commotion in the ER and ran to it. Her husband barked at the surgeons to work faster, but they were astounded.
"What the hell is keeping this guy breathing!?" A doctor played with monitors, not believing their readings.
"Magic, you imbecile, now save him!!!"
"TRUNKS!!" Bulma cried when she saw his body on the gurney. His mouth hung open and his eyes were shut. There was blood in his hair. Vegeta had a new mission. He grabbed her by the shoulders and lead her out of the room. "No, no.. no... this can't be.." she protested. He stopped in the hall and wrapped his arms around her.
"He's not going to die is he, Vegeta?" She shivered.
"No, Bulma. He's going to be all right." He closed his eyes and pressed her head to his shoulder. "He has to be."
Marron sat in the waiting room and stared at the floor. Her arm hurt a lot, but she knew there were many more soldiers needing help who didn't have the tough constitution she had. Many of the military personnel who had survived came to this hospital as well. She sucked it up and ignored the broken bone. Her mother had gone to take care of her father's body. Marron was grateful. She was actually glad to be in shock. It meant that she didn't have to think clearly. She didn't have to realize he was gone forever.
"Marron, you ok?" a soft voice asked.
She looked up and saw Goten staring down at her. She smiled and opened her mouth to say yes, but it wouldn't come.
"Marron?" He squatted down in front of her and held her shoulders.
Her tears poured down her face at last and she threw her good arm around the young man. "NO!!! I'm not!!" she wailed. "Oh my God, my father's dead, Goten. He's dead!"
"I know how you feel," he whispered and hugged her. He noticed her arm and convinced her to come with him to find someone to look at it.
Eighteen was a bit dazed when she came up from the morgue. She strolled down the hallway, staring straight ahead. She stopped when she noticed the large Frenchman sitting in a chair to her left. His arm twitched and he held it down to hide its spasms.
"C'est Roland, N'est-ce pas?" she approached him. "je ne pense pas... that we have been properly introduced."
He straightened and observed the small, blonde woman though his blackflies.
"Vous parlez mon langue?"
"Oui, je parle tout les langues. Et je sais que.. you are in pain. I have suffered similarly. Was she your lover?"
Roland looked down and was silent.
"I apologize. I have lost someone who meant a lot to me as well." She turned, but didn't walk away. "My husband is dead, and there will be no getting him back this time. There was nothing I could do to save him. I turned around and he was gone. I saw what your woman did to get herself killed. She saved Pan and my daughter's lives. She knew what would come of her actions, just as my Krillin knew that this was his last battle. They died heroes. They will not be forgotten..." the Jinzoningen's voice trailed off as she choked back a sob.
Roland didn't look up, but he listened. His right arm twitched rapidly again.
"Do you need medical attention?" she raised an eyebrow. Her inhuman sense of hearing picked up the tell-tale, mechanical clicking the prosthetic emitted.
"Non."
"D'accord." She began to walk away. "A beintot, Roland."
"Madame Dix-huit?" he looked to her finally. "Merci."
"Je vous en prie."
She looked left and right as she walked, checking each room for Marron. An aqua-haired girl bumped into her.
"Oh! Sorry Teena," Bra mumbled.
"It's all right. How's your brother?"
She shook her head.
"I'm sorry. Have you seen Marron?"
"Yeah, she's with Goten and Mira getting healed up. I just came from there." She pointed the way. "Down the hall."
"Thanks." Teena looked at the dazed girl and furrowed her brows. "You don't speak French, do you?"
"Oui, un petit peu. Pourquoi?"
"Roland?"
He ignored her.
"Est-ce que cela vous fait mal?"
"Comment?.."
"Eighteen said your arm.."
His right arm twitched again.
"C'est rien. Vous ne pouvez pas faire rien."
"'Oh ho ho, look who knows so much!'" she quoted one of her favorite movies. He raised an eyebrow over his sunglasses. "Heh, never mind." She pulled out a multi-purpose tool and flipped it open like a butterfly knife.
"Comment?!.."
"You think you could keep your little secret from an android?" Bra smiled and offered her skills to the Frenchman.
"Mais, ton frere.."
"Ferme ta bouche, je travaille!" she barked. "I'm sorry, it's just when I work it takes my mind off whatever's bothering me." She smiled weakly and he let her examine him.
Roland touched a spot on his forearm and the flesh slid back revealing wires and circuit boards.
"Wow. Where'd you get this?"
"Je le fait."
"No way! Really?"
He nodded. She smiled shyly. He helped her navigate and fix his homespun bionics.
*
Akiko woke in the middle of the night on a large window sill in a dimly-lit hospital room. She groaned and looked around. Her Aunt and siblings lay sleeping where they could find space. No one had left her. She smiled briefly before remembering that she had just been in a war. As quietly as she could, Akiko slid off the window seat and tip-toed out of the room. She roamed the halls, searching for the intensive care unit.
Trunks was hooked to monitors which mislead the doctors with their fairly positive readings. At this hour, things were getting worse for the half-Saiyan. The spell was wearing off, and although Akiko had given him two thirds of her own ki, he was failing.
Vegeta leaned against the wall, his eyes half-open, watching his son miraculously breathe. He could feel his heart struggle and forced himself to stay awake. The door slowly swung open and he stood perfectly still, letting the intruder think he wasn't there.
Akiko crept around to Trunks's gurney and stared at him for a moment before deciding what to do. She lay down next to him, put her left hand over his heart and began to pour healing spells and ki energy into the man she loved. "Vegeta?"
He was surprised to find that she knew he was there.
"If I pass out, don't wake me."
He grunted his assent and she fed her life into Trunks's.
*
Sunlight in her eye forced Akago awake. She looked to her brother, aunt and sister, but her sister was gone.
"Mira! Where's Kiko!?"
Mira burst into the ICU, waking Bulma and Bra, and lifted her niece off of Trunks.
"No!" Vegeta shouted.
"I must! She'll die otherwise!"
"She told me not to wake her!"
"I don't care!"
Gosan and Akago stared at their aunt. The veins in her head protruded as she yelled at the Prince. They had never seen her so angry before.
"What's all the yellin' and screamin' about?" a voice from the door distracted them. "You guys all need a serious chill pill."
Bulma and Bra stopped crying, stared at the new arrival and smiled from ear to ear.
"YAJEROBI!!!"
The fat, old man smiled and held up a small pouch. "Yeah, I know, long time no see, yaddada yaddada..." He tossed the bag to Bulma. "Here, Korin thought you might need these."
Vegeta intercepted the bag. He ripped a bean out and crushed it in his hand. Opening his son's mouth, he dropped in the powder and a swig of water from a nearby glass and forced him to swallow. Everyone waited in silence. Trunks's eyes popped open and he looked around, bewildered at the crowd that had gathered in his room.
"What the hell happened?" He rubbed his head.
"Trunks! Oh my God, you're all right!!" Bulma hugged him. "You had me so worried don't you ever go and almost die on me like that again, do you understand!?"
"Sure, Mom." He smiled at her. He looked around and saw Akiko lying passed out; her head in Mira's lap. "Kiko?" he jumped down and ran to her.
"I guess she could use a Senzu too, huh?" Yajerobi offered.
"No. It will do no good." Mira shook her head. "The Senzu heal wounds, but they cannot replace the energy she has given freely. All she needs rest."
"And she'll be ok?" Trunks asked.
Mira nodded.
He scooped her up and turned to his family. A glance was all they needed to communicate. They were going home.
*
Pale, fluorescent lights confused Rojan as he regained consciousness. He felt his wounds close up and become pleasingly warm. Craning his neck, he saw the blue-skinned, half-breed remove her hands from his midsection.
"What are you doing?" he growled.
"Healing you." Mira folded her arms back into her gown.
"Why?"
"Because you were injured."
"I thought," he wondered, "we lost..."
"You did. You are the only one left."
He scowled and observed her suspiciously. "Who are you?"
"My name is Mira. What's yours?" Although her tone was friendly she didn't smile.
"Rojan Chonekken Hoshi, next in line to the throne of Rashan." He could tell she was a bit shocked by this. "Who was your sire, impurity?"
She winced at this word, but leveled her gaze on him and told the truth. "In another dimension, my father was Ramesh Chogung."
Rojan's eyes widened and he gritted his teeth. "How dare you? He was my grandfather!"
Mira pursed her lips. It was just as she thought. "I was a slave to your people for more than twenty years until my sister liberated me. She brought me back to Earth where I live with her and her family."
He was angry and skeptical, but he listened to her.
"Her children are the other 'half-breeds' you fought today." She watched his reaction carefully as she revealed this. "The son and daughters of Atsuko Aoi, formerly known as Lona Chogung... my sister." His reaction cinched it. Lona was his mother.
Rojan wanted to scream, but she had to be telling the truth. This woman was a sorceress. If she wanted to lie to him, she could easily coerce his mind into believing her unquestioningly. His anger at her words was the proof. He sighed and looked to the ceiling.
"As a Rasha, I know you'll be needing this," she removed a long, ceremonial knife from the folds of her gown. Rojan sat up and took this from her. He nodded, got up and followed her down the hall.
*
Pan nodded off in the chair next to her mother's bed. Time passed so slowly. She wished she could just fall asleep and when she woke her mother would be fine. Everything would have been an elaborate nightmare and the idea of a Blue-Haired Saiyan would be an amusing dream she could tell to her grandchildren. As her eyes closed at last, part of her wish came true. The other part walked in just as she fell asleep. Gohan tip-toed past her and popped the small seed into his wife's mouth. Videl's eyes fluttered open and she mouthed her husband's name. He held his finger to his lips and pointed to Pan. Videl smiled.
"Pan? Pan wake up. I've got a surprise for you."
She sighed and lifted her head off her arms. "What?" Videl smiled and waved to her daughter. "MOM!!!" She ran to her and hugged her, finally crying with relief. She looked to her father, who was facing the door with a displeased look.
"You!!" Pan growled as she faced Rojan. "You did this!!"
"My brother did," he met her stare and admitted. He took a step forward.
"Get out of here, you monster!!!" Pan cried, equating the last of the Rasha with the entire army.
He held out the knife. Mira appeared behind him, her face somber. Gohan held back his daughter and growled. Videl threw back the covers and was ready to spring on the alien.
Rojan then reached in back of him, grasped his long, regal braid of blue hair and severed it with the knife. He turned the hilt around to face the Sons and presented it and the braid to them. Videl and Gohan sighed.
"He is offering you his pride and his life. You may have them both," Mira explained.
Pan struggled under her father's grip. She wanted to plunge the knife into this boy more than anything right now, and if it weren't for Gohan, she would have.
"I'm sorry, but, we can't do that," Gohan spoke for his family.
Rojan looked up and gritted his teeth.
"He is the last of his kind. He has no where to go. His life is over." Mira shuddered. "He wants you to end it."
"Perhaps there's a better solution," Videl suggested. She was amazed that anyone would offer their own life as an apology. "What's your name?"
"He is Rojan Hoshi," Mira answered for him, leaving out the name she hated. He wasn't the Emperor's son anymore. He didn't need the name Chonekken.
"Well, since you're kind of stuck here, you can stay with us, as long as you agree to not try to kill us," Gohan laughed nervously.
"ARE YOU JOKING!?!" Pan screamed.
"Now Pan, many of our friends were once the bitterest of enemies. Just think about Mr. Buu and Vegeta."
She was smoking mad, but knew her father was right. "Fine," she growled. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it!" Pan stormed off.
Rojan looked to Mira. He was astounded. What was he going to do now? They were letting him live!? These lower life forms were showing him.. mercy!?! He remembered his father and brother discussing world conquest mercilessly and a unexpected, grateful tear welled up in one of his eyes.
*
The room was grey with the dim light of dawn as Akiko slowly woke up. She struggled to get her bearings. This time she had really done it. Her power was still very low, but she had to wake up. She had to know if he made it through the night. Maybe she still had enough in her to give him a little more. She sat up and moaned lightly with the exertion. Something stirred beside her.
"You're awake.." Trunks propped himself up and put his hand on her back. Akiko blinked at him and trembled.
"Trunks? How..?" She lifted her hands up and touched his chest. "You're.. am I..?"
"It's over. I'm fine, thanks to you."
She was still baffled. "But, I couldn't have done THAT much.."
"Senzu bean." Trunks smiled.
Finally, Akiko understood and cried out with joy. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed hard. He squeezed back until she shrieked in pain.
"What?! Oh my God are you ok?"
"I didn't get a Senzu bean!" she laughed. "I think my ribs are still broken." Akiko poked herself and winced. "Oh yeah, hang on..." She placed her hands over the afflicted area and massaged. Soon, the bones underneath were whole and she was ready to play rough.
*
JJ carried Niji into the air-car.
"Are you sure this is ok, JJ?" Marron asked her friend.
"Oh yeah. I have lots of adopted siblings, Niji'll blend right in!"
The little girl giggled into the teen's shirt. She was going to have a home.
The Z Girls waved good-bye as the car headed for the USA.
Pan folded her arms and frowned. "What are you guys gonna do now?"
"Well, Goten's taking me to his house. I don't really want to go home just yet." Marron wrung her hands.
Pan raised her brows. "You're going with Goten?"
She blushed. "Yeah."
"Guess you're lucky he broke up with Paris!" Bra smirked.
"Yeah, well, what about you and the French guy?" Marron chided.
"Which French guy? The big bald one!?"
Bra nodded. "He's a genius! Imagine, I went to school looking for a guy who knows his stuff and this random high-school drop-out finds ME!"
Gohan and Videl said good-bye to Bulma and motioned to Pan. She saw Rojan trailing them and fumed.
"Hey, that Rasha boy's pretty cute, Pan."
Marron looked in the direction Bra was looking. "Ooh, I like the haircut!"
"WHAT!? Is everyone on drugs!? He almost killed us all!"
"Well, HE didn't in particular," Bra argued. "You can't blame him especially for his people's actions."
"Oh yeah? Watch me." She stomped off after her parents, sneering at Rojan who kept his distance from her.
"Bye Pan!" Marron called out.
Bra shook her head. "How long do you think it's gonna be till they hook up?"
"I give it half a year."
"Mmm-hm."
*
Akiko put her clothes on and tried to leave the room without waking Trunks.
"Where you going?" he murmured.
"I have to go talk to Mira."
"Why?"
"We have to figure out what happens now." She sat on the corner of the bed. He rolled over and put his arms around her.
"Don't be too long." He smiled.
*
Mira, Gosan, Akago and Akiko sat in the grass outside the Capsule dome and discussed the future. Akiko confessed that she had fallen in love with Trunks and didn't mind at all if they had to stay in this dimension while they waited for the Dragonballs to recharge.
"I see…" Mira smirked.
"But it'll still suck to leave him behind, even if it is a year from now. I wish I had a key between both worlds so I could come and go whenever. Then I could see Trunks and my family."
"Well, you have time to decide what to do." Her aunt petted her hand. "I have already notified Dibad of our victory and safety." Gosan and Akago stopped throwing grass at one another and looked up past Mira and Akiko. Slowly, the women turned.
Standing just behind them was a tall, green-skinned young man smiling down at them. Mira bowed her head respectfully.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Kami," Dende bowed and introduced himself. "Akiko Son, could I have a word with you?"
*
Trunks paced back and forth in front of the window in his room. Akiko entered silently.
"I'm leaving."
His smile fell. "What?! But wait a second, I thought your family already used the Dragonballs…"
"I'm not going home."
Suddenly Trunks's brows came together. He set his jaw. "You never had any intention of staying with me."
"That's not true."
"No?"
"No! I love you, but..."
"But? There's conditions?" Trunks raised his voice.
"NO! You don't understand, I have been asked to be the Goddess of All Dimensions!" This quieted him. "Kami-sama has offered me this job on behalf of higher powers. It's a great honor!" She tried to look into his eyes, but he was looking out the window.
"Asked," he snarled. "Why don't you just say 'called up' if you're so pious all of a sudden?"
"Trunks, please, there's no need to get nasty."
"Oh yeah, I'm sorry," he paced. "You see, I'm just kinda unused to having someone I trust implicitly destroy me."
"Trunks.."
He wasn't going to stop now. "Even when you revealed yourself as the Blue-Haired Saiyan; even after you came clean about being Goku's grandkid!
"Please don't do this," she whispered. She was about to explain that with this power, she could visit him and her family, but it was too late.
"That's it, isn't it?" he circled her. "You're just a kid? You're my sister's age! Of course you'd be impulsive! I should have thought about that before I got involved with a teenager. I bet that's it. I bet you've never loved anyone like this before, have you?"
She pursed her lips and squeezed her eyes shut.
"I bet you were a virgin too, weren't you?"
He had gone too far. She lashed out and slapped him hard across the face. Akiko frowned and glared at him. "Yes, I was!" Her heart snapped in two as she turned her back on him. Akiko stormed out of the room, leaving Trunks clutching his jaw, unable to stop her; unable to tell her how much he loved and needed her.
"Dende! I'm ready!"
Akiko held her hands to the sky and she began to transform. Her tail disappeared. Her skin color faded to bleach white. Elaborate, ancient garments wound their way around her body. Her hair was blown around her face and magically cut and changed into a bob with two long braids cascading from either side of her head. Finally, a silver katana floated into her hands. She opened her slate-blue eyes and nodded to her astounded siblings and aunt.
"Let's go. I'll take you home, then I will begin my mission."
Mira blinked at her. "I believe I am very proud of you, Akiko."
She smiled and pointed the sword at the sky. In one motion, she carved a hole in the dimensional fabric and she and her family stepped through, back into Dibad.
End Chapter Nine
French:
"C'est Roland, N'est-ce pas?" "je ne pense pas..."
"It's Roland, isn't it?" I don't think that..."
"Vous parlez mon langue?"
"You speak my language?"
"Oui, je parle tout les langues. Et je sais que.. you are in pain."
"Yes, I speak all languages. And I know that... you are in pain."
"D'accord." she began to walk away. "A beintot,
"Ok," ..... "Later."
"Madame Dix-huit?" he looked to her finally. "Merci."
"Mrs. Eighteen?".... "thanks"
"Je vous en prie."
"Your welcome."
"Oui, un petit peu. Pourquoi"
"Yeah, a little bit. Why?"
"Est-ce que cela vous fait mal?"
"Does that hurt?"
"C'est rien. Vous ne pouvez pas faire rien."
"It's nothing. You can't do anything."
"Comment?!.."
"How..?"
"Mais, ton frere.."
"But your brother..."
"Fermé ta bouche, je travaille!"
"Shut up, I'm working!"
"Je le fait."
"I made it."