Author's Note: This is a chapter of revelations, and besides Gohan's general creepiness, where the slash begins. Of course, it starts with one of the most unconventional pairings, ever. Cell isn't going to appear for one or two more chapters. This is the longest chapter is the continuation, including offshoots and side stories. The fate of most of the Z Fighters is dismal at best. Ain't angst great? Also included: some proof that insanity may indeed run in families.
dragonfire onna- You would probably understand this better if you read the prequel, "An Alternate Afterlife." Don't worry, I'm not going to stop anytime soon, though there may be some lag time between updates (this is my fastest and longest ever.)
Kai's fury- Your questions are answered. Yey.
Jay Goose- You're right, you aren't going to find out in this chapter, but no, that's not why Gohan messes with Goten's clones. He never tortured Goten. He's actually referring to sparring matches they had. Gohan has a fixation on Goten (as well as other people, though in this case the obsession comes because Gohan has a fear of his loved ones leaving him) and he tortures clones because that's the only way he can interact with Goten on some level when Goten isn't actually there. Gohan actually doesn't especially care about Goku. He's on Gohan's "loved ones that left me" list, but in the overall scheme of things Goten is far more important to Gohan than Gohan is. And for number two, well, duh. Revision: Sorry, I wrote this note kind of late and wasn't in a good mood. Please don't feel offended. I'm like that to everyone.
Goten was silent the entire journey to Arakis. Goku didn't mind. He didn't feel much like talking. Though for some reason, the quiet seemed to be more turbulent than anything. Goten was waiting for something, and being very impatient about it. He didn't move, really, but his aura fluctuated erratically, from anticipatory to hesitant and back again. Goku knew they were going to visit Bulma. He had only been slightly surprised to hear she lead the rebellion against Gohan, but something told him it wasn't reporting to his boss that made Goten so nervous.
Eighteen had been left in charge of the base on Fulkin, with Marron taking the lead in military operations. Krillin came along with Goten and Goku; apparently his stay on Fulkin was an anomaly, merely a visit to his wife and daughter. He spent most of his time at Bulma's side, giving advice when her knowledge was found lacking.
"He's her bodyguard then?" Goku had asked Goten. The demi-saiyan had tensed at that; not much, but visibly enough to one trained to know body cues. His response had been clipped. "No."
Their arrival on Arakis was unremarkable, except for the person who greeted them. "Goku!" The saiyan's eyes widened. "Yamcha?" Unlike Krillin, the former desert bandit's hair hadn't grayed, but there were visible wrinkles around his eyes and mouth; his eyes still held their former brightness, though slightly dimmed. Whether it was from age or the ravages of war, Goku couldn't tell. However, it was the frailty of the body Goku held in his arms as they embraced that truly drove it home how far away he was from the life he knew. "Goku, Goten told us that you had come back, but I didn't truly believe it. After Gohan came back. . . we waited years, Goku." Yamcha looked into Goku's eyes, pleading. "Where were you?" "I wasn't anywhere, really. I wasn't. . . I just wasn't." "Um, that went right over my head, Goku." "I was traveling through time. I wasn't anywhere because I didn't exist." "Traveling through time? How is that possible? You didn't get a copy of Future Trunks' time machine, did you?" "I guess the Instant Transmission is a more diverse technique than we thought." Throughout all this, Goten remained silent, but his eyes roamed the landing pad, looking. For what, Goku didn't know. However after the initial excitement of seeing Yamcha again, Krillin grinning to the side, the saiyan wondered. "Hey Yamcha, where's Bulma?" "She's busy." Some hurt. "But it's been years. . ." Some bitterness, this time from Yamcha. "Don't worry Goku, it isn't you. She's always busy. Not that I can blame her. We're not exactly winning the war. I'll take you to her."
The guards, in basic battle armor, parted before the four as they walked down the halls of the Arakis base. Yamcha supplied the narrative. "This is the armory, this is the cafeteria. . ." He noted Goku's eager eyes. "We'll look around there later. Goku, I've heard some pretty bizarre rumors. Some say you brought Cell with you, of all people." "I did." The human glanced at the saiyan, wide-eyed. "You have to be shitting me?! You're telling me that not only do we have Gohan to worry about, but Cell too? What the hell are we going to do?" "Cell isn't going to bother the Rebellion, Yamcha. I'm pretty sure he isn't going to bother anybody." Goku's eyes hardened, mostly to hide the hurt from the scarred human. "He doesn't care enough about people to get any enjoyment from their emotions, whether they're happy. . . or suffering." Obviously it was a touchy topic. Yamcha changed the subject.
"You might see some weird people around here, Goku. We don't attract a lot of savory types. Of course, savory types wouldn't do us much good, but don't get all wacked out if you see something weird, okay?" This instantly brought suspicion. "Yamcha, I can count the number of times I've "wacked out" on one hand. What should I expect that's so weird you're warning me about it?" Before Yamcha could answer, Krillin shouted out brightly, "Look, we're here guys!" The doors opened, and Goku's mouth promptly dropped open. Standing near the doorway, his back to them, was Frieza.
----
Of course, at the sound of the opening doors, the changeling turned around. Goku could do nothing but breath. Frieza was dead. He had to be. Of course, Goku hadn't been there when the changeling met his demise, but the reports he had received from his friends had left no doubt to the contrary. Something was very wrong with the universe, besides him being in the future and Gohan's insanity.
This already strange occurrence took a turn for the surreal when Frieza's expression brightened at the sight of him. The changeling strode towards him, and before the saiyan could do anything about it, grasped his arm in an all too familiar act. "Goten, I can't believe you managed. . ." Several things were noticed. Number one: Goten didn't have a tail. Number two: Frieza was about a foot too tall. The saiyan and the changeling stepped back simultaneously. "What in Kaoushin's name. . ." "What going on?" Yamcha stepped forward with a nervous smile. "Well, I did try to warn you Goku." "Goten?" The unknown changeling stared at the real demi-saiyan, who stood silently near the door, looking like he would like to disappear. "Who is this?" "I'd like to ask the same question." An irritated sigh. But it wasn't from any of the fighters. "Kami, Goku, if I knew you would be so tense about the whole thing, I would have had Krillin brief you first." Bulma stepped out of the shadows. "But it isn't good policy to send information over a connection. They are never entirely secure." She looked older. Her hair was lined with gray, and wrinkles lined her face, but they took nothing away from the intensity of her eyes. Goku remembered that all too well. "I might as well get things started. Cooler, meet Goku. He's Goten's father. Goku, meet Cooler. He's Frieza's elder brother." A stunned silence. "Now that I've gotten most of the awkwardness out of the way, it's time for dinner. There's enough for everyone." A smile." "Even you, Goku. Don't worry, I remember how voracious your appetite is. I even got rice balls."
----
Goku tried to stop himself from staring, but the fascination wouldn't leave him. His appetite was only a minimum distraction, as he watched Frieza's elder brother move his food around his plate, studiously keeping his eyes away from Goku. Instead, the changeling spoke with Bulma and Krillin, both of whom he was obviously familiar with. And Goten looked at nothing but the wall, but his jaw shifted around, in an effort to keep himself from saying anything. Krillin and Yamcha were uncomfortable with the proceedings, though Krillin hid it far better than the former desert bandit. Only Bulma seemed entirely at ease, discussing possible troop movement between two major Rebellion bases with Krillin.
Despite everything that had happened, his eyes kept straying back to Cooler. He mentally scolded himself for ever confusing him with the changeling he had fought eight years ago. . . or was it twenty-eight? Either way, the differences were obvious. The height, the color switch, the numerous scars. . . especially the one that diagonally dissected Cooler' face. And that mark on his back that Goku had only seen for a split second before they first were introduced. A triangle within a sphere within another triangle, branded into the skin right above the left shoulder-blade. Before his encounter with Goku, Frieza had possessed no scars.
"Yamcha, what is Cooler doing here?" The human glanced at Goku. "He's Bulma's bodyguard." "What is Frieza's brother doing guarding Bulma?" "It's a long story." The saiyan watched everyone pick at their food. "Well, it seems like we're going to be here awhile." "Goku, it isn't my place to tell you anything."
Things had changed so much. Goku was used to knowing pretty much everything about people. Everyone opened up to him. And here was one of his oldest friends, refusing him any type of information.
A sigh. Bulma stood up. "Well, since no one is going to eat anything, I suppose we should start filling Goku in on what's happened the past twenty years. Goku, I don't know what happened to make Gohan snap, but. . ." "He saw Cell, and he lost control over his feral side. Gohan tried to destroy my soul so he could torture Cell. While he was distracted, I managed to grab Cell and use my Instant Transmission to come here." "Torture Cell how?" This was the first thing Cooler had said to Goku since he had found out who he was, though he still didn't look at the saiyan. "Well, he. . . burned Cell's skin off. And. . . I wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but at one point it looked like he was trying to bite Cell's head off at the neck. Really creepy, especially since. . ." "It left a scar." "Yeah! And Cell doesn't scar. And I mean ever." The saiyan looked curiously over at the changeling. "How do you know that?" Cooler mumbled something before standing up and heading for the door. Bulma said to the changeling's back, "Do you mind?" He stopped at the doorway. "Anything I have to offer you is at your disposal, Lady Bulma." He left. With one last glance at Goku, Goten followed.
Bulma sat down with a sigh, for the first time truly looking like she had fought a war for the past twenty years. "Well, awkward doesn't begin to cover that." "What did he say?" "'Gohan was always frustrated when the bites faded.' Gohan likes to have 'pets.' To say he has control issues is an understatement. Before Goten rescued him, Cooler was one of them." Another sigh. "Cooler is a great asset to me, but he has a mind block against saying anything bad about Gohan, or even thinking something negative. He's a great bodyguard, but his tactical skill is useless against the Emporium.
"I remember Gohan as a child, Goku, but the person he was then and the person he is now are two entirely different beings. We've only been able to retrieve a couple of Gohan's toys, and Cooler is the only one we managed to get with most of his mind still intact. The others wouldn't say anything, and the only thing they would respond to is Gohan's name. Their reactions varied. Some would die on the spot. Another wouldn't stop screaming. We had to keep him sedated until his heart stopped. It changes from being to being how long they last through Gohan's interest. A few only last a few days.
"Before his capture, Cooler was never a part of the Rebellion. His goals sometimes paralleled ours. . . he didn't want Gohan in power either. Then there was a mole in his organization, and all of his followers were killed.
"The strong ones always seem to break more thoroughly under Gohan. Cooler isn't sure how long he was with Gohan, but Goten says it was at least eight years. He wasn't in good shape by the time he was brought to us four years ago. At first we thought he was like the others, but Cooler's mind recovered. Mostly.
"When Gohan first came back from death, we hardly noticed a difference. He was moodier, but the only obvious change was that he seemed to spend more time with Piccolo. It took a few months before we linked to sudden increase in murders in Satan City to Gohan, though the charred bodies should have been a clue. By then, it was too late. At his request, I had already built Gohan a spaceship. The last thing he did before he left our solar system for good was blow up the Earth. Only a few hundred of us got off alive."
After her narration, Bulma fell silent. Despite the tears in her eyes, Goku knew he had to learn more, no matter how terrible it was. "What about the others? Vegeta? Tien?" Bulma shook her head as the tears finally fell down her face. It was Krillin who continued the tale. "Gohan knew Vegeta was the only one left who could hope to challenge his power. He killed him right before he left. Tien and Chao-tzu could have left with us, but they chose to stay on Earth when it blew up. So did Master Roshi. . . Oolong. . . Turtle. . . Mister Popo. . ." Yamcha chose that moment to speak up. "Puar is still with me. She's okay, I guess. I mean, she almost didn't come, but when I told her I was, she said she would, if only to keep me out of trouble." The scarred human cracked a weak smile. Goku didn't feel like laughing. "Chi-chi?" Krillin looked to the side. "Gohan took her with him. I guess, despite everything, he still knew she was his mother. We don't know what happened after that.
"It took some time for the Rebellion to get started. Most people thought that Gohan wouldn't be any worse than Frieza, who they had lived under for decades, but Gohan has a streak of cruelty and madness that even he couldn't match.
"For a while, all Gohan did was consolidate the Emporium. He didn't have time to indulge most of his. . . urges. People started to relax. They thought the power shift wouldn't affect them. Then people started disappearing off the streets. Some were never seen again. Others. . . we don't know what Gohan does to his followers to make them as fanatically loyal as they are. What few informants we have can tell us nothing, and Cooler doesn't remember enough to know why he is the way he is. Gohan installs mind shrieks in the brains of artificially grown soldiers, but that isn't possible for those fighters born naturally.
"We think Dende was his first test subject. With the destruction of the Earth, the only dragonballs left were the ones on New Namek. You'd think Gohan would want such power, but the first thing Dende ever did under Gohan was lead the forces that ultimately destroyed Namek. Rumors say he laughed as his homeworld was charred to ashes.
"You must understand, Goku. Even after the destruction of Earth, we couldn't believe that it was Gohan doing all this. We thought it was someone imitating Gohan, or something was controlling him, but that leaves a lot of stuff unexplained. Like why we have footage of Piccolo watching New Namek burn with tears in his eyes, but he still continues to follow Gohan. If it was an imposter, he would have defected. But we think Piccolo is still trying to salvage Gohan's soul. Even if he loses his own in the process.
"Our forces have grown. Bulma has developed technology that makes it infinitely easier to hide, but our greater fighters cannot achieve full power without being detected, which leaves us at a distinct disadvantage."
Goku ran a list through his head of all the fighters he knew. Most of them had been accounted for. "Who is your most powerful fighter?" Krillin, who seemed to be the current fountain of wisdom with Bulma trying to control herself, answered. "Goten. We think Cooler might actually be more powerful, but due to the fact he refuses to actually go up against Gohan's forces and the lack of opportunity to calculate his ki, we're not really sure." "So he's a super saiyan." "Yes. Not that he's been able to use it. Super saiyan power overloads our ki shielders. And it's not like it matters. Super saiyan is overkill for everyone except Piccolo and Gohan, and Goten doesn't stand a chance against them. The one time Goten faced off against Piccolo, he got creamed. We barely got him out of there alive, and that's even when I'm pretty sure Piccolo let us go.
"Goku, with the way this war is going, we're going to lose. We might last a few months, maybe even a few years, but Gohan is so powerful, Goku. You know how scary he was when he fought Cell? Well, think that times a thousand. But with you here, I think we may actually stand a chance, Goku." The former monk smiled at the former champion of Earth. Goku smiled back. He wasn't so sure of his chances as Krillin was, especially without Cell at his back, but hey, he was Goku. Trying was what he did best. Though facing Gohan right off probably wasn't the greatest idea. Something finally occurred to the saiyan.
"Hey, is Trunks around? He's Vegeta's son, he must offer some serious fire power." The already dismal mood in the dining room fell a few notches. Bulma's eyes closed. "Goku. . . Trunks is with Gohan." "What?!" The saiyan couldn't help himself from shooting to his feet. "Trunks sided with Gohan?! How could he? Gohan killed his dad! You're his mom!" Krillin shook his head. "He didn't side with Gohan, Goku. Shortly after Goten got Cooler away from Gohan, Trunks challenged him. Trunks is also a super saiyan, and unfortunately, he. . . um. . ." "Don't try to spare a mother's feelings, Krillin. To put it bluntly, Trunks, despite barely remembering Vegeta, inherited his father's ego. And Gohan likes his pets strong, Goku." She stood up and turned away. "Excuse me, I have some plans to expand the base that need to be looked over."
Goku watched her leave the room, though through a separate set of doors than Goten and Cooler. "She lost everything, then." Yamcha smiled sadly. "I really don't know how she does it, Goku. I don't know where she gets the strength to get up every day. Despite the fact that Vegeta was an arrogant bastard, Bulma loved her husband. And she lost him. And sixteen years later, she lost her son as well. It's kind of a weird reflection of the situation Chi-chi went through in Future Trunks' time, except Bulma is doing everything she can to stop it from happening to anyone else.
"I still love her, Goku. If anything, I love her even more after seeing how strong she really is. But I can't compete with a dead guy, Goku. Vegeta leaves an even bigger shadow now than when he was alive. And Bulma would feel like she was degrading some memory if she ever allowed herself to love again. And I won't try and make her."
((Nobility, thy name is Yamcha.)) Goku couldn't help but think of a saying Cell once quoted to him. Despite his outward playboy nature, Yamcha was perhaps one of the most honorable of the Earth's fighters. Trying to help even when he was scared out of his mind. Stepping back when he saw the woman he loved, loved another, and standing by her side when she lost everything, but always respecting the shadows her loved ones had left behind.
Things in this universe were even worse than they were in the universe Future Trunks had come from. At times like this, Goku wondered if it would have been a better idea for Trunks to stay in his own time, and left theirs alone.
----
"Cooler, why did you walk off like that?" The changeling stopped in the doorway to his room, his back to his friend. "Goten, do you realize why Gohan has so many pets?" A pause. "There's an actual reason besides his general insanity?" Cooler flinched, but chose to ignore it. "Gohan was looking for something. Or someone. I lasted so long because certain aspects of my personality greatly resemble those of the person Gohan is looking for. I think Trunks might still be himself, as he also is in some ways similar, but soon, he will no longer be needed. Because Gohan's search is almost over." "But who. . . Cell." "It's kind of odd to realize the only reason my sanity is still intact is I used to have the arrogance that characterized Cell." "It has to be more than that." Goten smiled at the changeling. "I have heard stories of the android. It has also been said he is greatly intelligent, and powerful as well. A great warrior." Cooler chuckled degradingly. "I hardly think that qualifies me." "I met Cell, remember? He isn't a hero. He left us to rot. But I never said you were exactly like Cell. Just that you had some traits in common with him." The demi-saiyan stepped closer to the changeling. The smile he wore in no way resembled his father's. Though he couldn't know it, Goten at that moment bore an uncanny resemblance to his saiyan grandfather at his most predatory. "The better ones."
"Stop it, Goten." His voice shaking, Cooler took a step back. Unfortunately, he had not yet opened the door to his room, so his back met cool metal instead of the sanctity of his domain. "Why?" "We can't. . . damn it Goten, stop hungering after your brother's leftovers!" "Stop acting like everything centers around that bastard! Just because Gohan fucked with you. . ."
"You know how Gohan affects people, Goten. I can't stop loving him, despite the fact that I loath everything he did to me and anything he does. . ." A deep, shuddering breath. "And you can't stop hating him, despite his love for you. And neither of us can stop thinking about him. Ever."
"I love you, you know. I can't stop that, either." "It doesn't matter, because love isn't that simple. Either you love me because you took me with you when you left your brother for good and you have a savior complex, or it all comes back to Gohan. And your efforts to spite him." "He's my brother, and he ruins everything he touches. Why don't you want me to help fix what he destroyed? I can help you forget him." Cooler shook his head. "And that's why I can't be with you. Because you are a constant reminder to me. . . and I am a constant reminder to you. We can be friends, Goten. I was fond of you, even when we were both under Gohan's influence, and I like to think we got along well even after that. But any more than that, and forgetting is an impossibility, even though that is what we both truly need." He opened the door. "I'll see you tomorrow, Goten. Goodnight."
Goten continued to stand in the hallway, even after the door had closed. The bitterness that had been his constant companion over the past four years resurfaced with a vengeance. "Leftovers. Reminders. What bullshit. He's still in love with him!" The fist he slammed into the wall left a visible dent, but years of ingrained secrecy had left Goten continually wary of increasing his power in case of detection. "Everything that happens, even if he isn't there, even if he doesn't know it's happening, it's his fault. He stained the universe red." Staggering down the hall, Goten sank to his knees. "I want anything apart from him, and I still see the blood. Even Cooler. . . even him. That damned brand is just a stupid manifestation of the stain that has permeated him since Gohan got his claws embedded in Cooler's soul. I hate you. . . I hate you!
"I loved you, you know. My older brother, my idol. You taught me everything. Except what you were doing to the universe. It took Cooler, what I saw you were doing to him, for me to break my shell.
"Cooler. . . it isn't a hero complex. It isn't about Gohan. It's about what you taught me, and what I'd be if it wasn't for you. And what has happened since then, with you.
"Gohan has to die, before the stain can be washed away. Before you can forget him. Before I can be with you. There is nothing to save. Whatever good that was ever in my brother is long since dead.
"Father. . . father can kill him. I just have to. . . yes. If he hesitates. . . all I have to do is make him understand. And everything will be all right. And we can be together, at last."