Kakkhan: Giendonese Saiyan Warrior
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball/Z/GT, but I do own Janden, the Laniins, the other races not including Human, the planet Giendon, a few techniques, the unfamiliar languages, and a handful of other things that are my creation alone.
A/n: And here it is, at long last! The last chapter, for Kakkhan: Giendonese Saiyan Warrior! God, I sounded like an announcer right then.
Allati: I thought you liked sounding like an announcer.
SP: I do! /Laughs at self/
Allati: /Smiles a I-don't-know-what's-happening smile/
SP: /Ceases laughing/ Anyhow, enjoy!
PS—I can't believe this is THE last chapter! NOOO!!!! /Sobs/
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Blah --Laniin language, translated
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Previously, on Kakkhan: Giendonese Saiyan Warrior—
Gohan shook his head. This was still all so very weird. Nevertheless, Gohan preferred it this way. He wouldn't trade this arrangement for anything else, no matter how good that anything else may seem. He left the room, leaving Kakkhan to meditate himself to sleep.
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Chapter Twenty-four: Breaking Ties
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Hours later, a grumble of a certain organ woke Kakkhan up from his sleep. Kakkhan rubbed his eyes, wiping away the sand in them. He stretched, then curled back up in a ball. He looked sleepily in to the sun-filled darkness of his sheets and wondered what had woken him up. A few seconds later, the immortal got his answer in another growl. Smiling wryly, he ripped the covers from over his head and sat up. He swung his legs over the bed, got up, and slipped out of the room. He allowed the shadows in the hallway to wrap around him and speed him along to the kitchen, as his stomach really was complaining. Shabo-ing was much faster than walking, and much more fun than Instant Transmission.
He arrived in the shadows of the corner farthest from the fridge. Kakkhan mock-scowled at the indignity dealt him, but coalesced anyway. He walked over to the refrigerator and pulled upon the door. Snagging a platter, Kakkhan filled it with many of the delicacies inside the appliance. When he was finished with his selection, he had a mountain of food that was taller than the Himalayas.
Kakkhan set the platter on the table, pulled up a chair, and dived in. His stomach stopped twisting and welcomed the food greedily as it slid down his esophagus. Kakkhan kept eating and his stomach kept digesting, until the food was gone and the stomach felt sleepy. It half-heartedly demanded more food, but Kakkhan just ignored it. He rose from the table and stepped to the sink, where he deposited the wide plate. He turned on the water, washed the plate a little bit, then turned it off.
He turned and went out of the kitchen, keeping a weather eye out for Gohan. He hadn't shown up since Kakkhan had gone to sleep. He wondered where his twin had gone, but decided Gohan would show up sooner or later.
He went back to the living room, the table on which he had dissected the capsule still there, with Tyeler's chip still glowing and humming. Kakkhan laid the Giendonese capsule on the table again and fished in his pants pocket for his tweezers. He set the tweezers on the table next to the capsule. He sat in one of the armchairs he and Gohan had bought, and leaned forward to start on the process of taking apart the capsule again. He followed Gohan's example and lined up the chips in chronological order as he went, until he finally came to Tyeler's substitute chip.
Kakkhan didn't hesitate, didn't think, just plucked out the fake chip and replaced it with the real deal, Tyeler herself. Tyeler's chip went dark as it was lifted away from the sun's light and it stopped whirring as well. But Kakkhan could still feel a difference in the chip, a feeling that the chip had not had before he'd revealed it to the sun. The chip would always have that feeling now. It would never fade, no matter how many hours of darkness outmatched the hours of sunlight the chip had absorbed. The chip would never again work in the darkness or even in the bright artificial lighting of the Tiara. Only starlight could make Tyeler come alive, and starlight was a rare and costly item on planet Giendon.
Kakkhan mechanically repacked the rest of the chips back into the capsule, making sure that each chip was chronological. It was a relief to Kakkhan's high-strung nerves when he slid the external capsule back together and his work was done. He looked at the only chip remaining, the fake chip, lying there innocently as if unaware the crime just committed that it represented. Kakkhan looked at it some more, then picked it up and tossed it into the trash bin on the other side of the room.
Kakkhan contemplated his feelings as he took a deep breath. He was tense, his stomach was twisting again, but not from hunger, and he was not going well in the way of emotions. But there was another feeling as well. Kakkhan realized what the feeling was a minute later when a tabby cat leapt lightly onto the windowpane in front of him. His mouth curled into a Giendonese smile as he watched the tabby walk along the length of the pane, then sit and start washing its paws.
Kakkhan looked down at the capsule and his smile reset itself into a grimmer line. It was time to face his duty, the one he'd been shirking for almost three weeks now. With his purely unemotional mask on, Kakkhan picked up the capsule and stood up. He squared his shoulders and walked into the corridor at the back of the living room. He sent a burst of thought to Gohan's doorway where it would hang until Gohan came and received it. Kakkhan walked on, the shadows reaching for him as he creating a Warphole while moving. It was tricky creating one like that, but Kakkhan wasn't about to stop. He knew that if he did, he would never start forward again.
Air split open into glittering darkness before him. Kakkhan stepped into the darkness, closing the Warphole behind him with a single thought. Again, a risky thing, but Kakkhan was taking all kinds of risks now. He had a duty to serve, even if it was not the one he'd thought it would be. After all, what was treason if you didn't officially declare yourself as a traitor? Kakkhan knew treason was dishonest and condemnable, but treason was better done honorably and with the courage to do the right thing, rather than in cowardice and selfishness. Kakkhan detested that kind of treason above all kinds of treason. Instead Kakkhan was going to go and face his treason, make himself a public and known enemy of the Laniins. Kakkhan would never betray the planet Giendon, for all that it was nothing but uninhabitable desert and icy glaciers. Giendon was the planet he had been raised on, and Kakkhan was proud of it. He was not proud of the Laniins, and they were the only ones he was rebelling against. No other races faced his wrath, ever.
Kakkhan strode through his Warphole, his steps sure and confident. He was doing the right thing, and Kakkhan knew it, could feel it. Just as he'd felt it, back home on Earth, looking at a tabby cat washing its paws. Had felt it, ever since he'd taken Tyeler out of the capsule for the first time.
Kakkhan had, for the first time in his life, felt free.
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Gohan, when he stepped into the house of 351 Marguerite's Hope Street, immediately stopped, and held his breath. He listened for signs of life in the big empty building, from the squeak of a mouse to the snore of an elephant, or a Saiyan. Gohan heard none of these things, not even the hum of the refrigerator. Nothing made a sound in this house, not even Gohan as he moved through it.
He stopped at the beginning of the hallway leading to the rooms for a breath. It felt like a huge usage of ki had just taken place here, either that or some other power. The air was different, strange, even sluggish. All signs of huge energy levels being used.
Gohan moved to the doorway of his room. He was about to pass on when he was blasted in the head by a voice. Gohan reeled away from the sudden explosion of sound in the silent, silent house, before he recovered sufficiently enough to recognize the voice as in his head, not out. Gohan had to relax to listen to the message, but he tensed up immediately after he heard it. For the message was from Kakkhan, left approximately fifteen Earthling minutes ago, and went like this:
'Gohan, I'm going to Giendon. I will be back when I'm done with them. See you in an Earthling hour and half. Kakkhan.'
There was even an image of Kakkhan's face to accompany the image. It was grim, and there was a glitter in Kakkhan's eyes that almost scared Gohan. It certainly made him feel sorry for the Laniins, for obviously Kakkhan had finally decided to finish the Giendonese chapter of his life. He could only hope that Kakkhan wasn't held up or stopped in his plans. Nothing nice would ensue from the delay, and Gohan didn't think the Laniins would appreciate it very much if one of the member was dead at Kakkhan's hands. Gohan shuddered inwardly at the thought. He really hoped that didn't happen to his twin.
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Kakkhan ignored yet another Laniin as he walked steadily to the Board of Headmasters room. He had a job to do, and no one was going to prevent him from doing it. Not even a high-ranking Laniin.
However, he did slow when a Gorthan stepped into his path, and a very familiar Gorthan too.
Hey, Kakkhan, you're back! You took a long time in completing your quest. Were the Androids a bit of a problem for you? Or was it the Humans that got in the way? Balannon asked, his pale yellow eyes warm with relief and friendship. The grew worried, however, when Kakkhan didn't respond, didn't smile, didn't move, just stood there and looked at him. Balannon was disturbed by the strange glitter in his best friend's eyes and by the lack of warm recognition in them. There was recognition, all right, but it was cold, as if Balannon was his enemy.
The Gorthan tried again. Kakkhan? Are you going to speak to me, or are you going to daydream? No response, like last time. Balannon was truly alarmed now. This was not the Kakkhan he knew. Something was wrong, horribly wrong.
Kakkhan? Are you all right? Hysteria and more than a little bit of worry colored Balannon's voice now, pitching it higher than normal. Kakkhan was sorry for this, but he needed to do it. He had a feeling that Balannon would understand in due time. But for now, Kakkhan just moved past him.
Kakkhan? Balannon called one last time. Kakkhan turned back, his black eyes noting the full-degree panic on his former best friend's face and voice. Balannon had always been emotional.
I'm sorry, Balannon. You will understand what I'm about to do and why in time. But for right now, I must leave you in the dark. Do not come after me, do not try to contact me, do not do anything with regards to me. This is the last time we will meet on the same ground. Next time, we will be enemies. Enjoy your life as a Giendonese Warrior, for you do not have much of it left, Kakkhan said.
He lingered to make sure that Balannon had received his message clearly. Seeing by the baffled and hurt look he had on his face, Kakkhan deduced he had. The Saiyan then turned his back and walked away, ignoring, with a rapidly breaking heart, Balannon's calls after him, pleading him to stop and explain himself. Kakkhan just kept walking, and soon left the Gorthan behind.
The next person he encountered was the Head of the Raelin himself. Kakkhan simply nodded to him like he usually did when these encounters occurred. The Raelin nodded back and they continued on their separate ways.
Kakkhan was almost to the Office when another Laniin stopped him. It was, again, the female Laniin who had been there for Kakkhan when he first arrived, and whose name Kakkhan now knew to be Rakael. Kakkhan halted for the second time that day and waited for her to do something.
Rakael stared at the boy who was about to betray them. He was standing with a defiant yet resigned feeling, and there was a hooded recognition in his otherwise blank eyes. She knew he had found out just what the Laniins did to the children they kidnapped and cleaned. She knew that was the reason he was leaving, and she applauded him for it. Rakael would do the same thing, too, if the punishment for treason was not worse for Laniins than for Giendon-raised fosterlings. For the fosterlings, Death awaited them. For Laniins, it was a state of limbo in which the soul and body were ripped apart, never to be put back together again; they had that to look forward to. Rakael would never risk her soul just to do the right thing, unlike this brave warrior who could only risk his life.
Rakael opened her thin cleft of a mouth and out came— I know you are here to leave. I know why as well. I will not turn you in, because what you are doing is brave. Some people may call you a fool for doing this, but I bow to you for your actions. I just wanted to tell you that not all Laniinslike taking away the freedom and the life of our fosterlings in order to have a secure army. I suggest that you do not hold your grudge against all of us, only against the ones who stand against you. It was not the anti-slavery Laniins' fault that they were born Laniins, nor is it ours that we have to live with them.
Kakkhan considered Rakael's words. As usual, Rakael had good points that hit close to the truth about Kakkhan and his newfound grudge toward all Laniins, not just the ones who had done him wrong. Kakkhan systematically excluded Rakael from his focus, and also kept an open mind for any anti-slavery Laniins, as Rakael had called them. His current group included Janden, Nirvana, and with some hesitation, Yuin. He was not sure if Yuin had co-conspired to retrieve Kakkhan from Earth and therefore to destroy his freedom and his childhood. He added him because Earth was in Yuin's jurisdiction, and nothing could be done without the Board's unanimous approval.
Kakkhan nodded to Rakael, who stepped out of his way. He continued to the door of the Board of Headmasters room, faced it, and stamped his foot once, hard. The door slid open silently from left to right, admitting the intruder, then slid closed behind him, plunging him into darkness.
Kakkhan was used to the darkness, however. He easily made out Nirvana's face all alone in the middle of the huge table, with her head crowned and her hands steady, as well as the expression of disappointment on her lovely gold-skinned features. Kakkhan regarded the expression and decided that Nirvana really had no idea what to expect from Kakkhan's prolonged disappearance. She had just adopted that expression, Kakkhan further decided, to try and intimidate him. Well, it wasn't working. It was at length that Nirvana finally spoke.
Greetings, Eiranos. It has been a long time since we last met, she said.
Kakkhan simply nodded. Nirvana pursed her lips, a weird twisting of her mouth that briefly made her seem like a monster, before she delicately went on.
How has the mission gone? I trust that it is done, as you have indeed taken long in coming back to us.
Kakkhan said nothing. He was not going to say anything, either, until Nirvana stopped playing her games and started to treat him like the equal intellectual he was.
Nirvana was puzzled. Why did the Boy not answer? He had not bowed to her, either, when he come into the room. In fact, Eiranos had not shown her any sign of the respect that being Headmistress commanded. She wondered if Eiranos had been taken over by the Human Earthlings. Was that it? Or was it something else that controlled one of her most faithful subjects? Either way, she was going to have to break the spell cast upon the Boy. He was a serious threat to any enemies he had, all of the fosterling slaves were. But Eiranos was a threat among threats, with his massive power levels in ki and his advanced understanding of Laniin technology and ideals. If Eiranos ever left the Laniin army or and became an enemy… Well, Nirvana did not want to think about that.
She tried again. What is wrong, Eiranos? You are not responding.
Kakkhan had to stop himself from sneering. So Nirvana thought she could get the story behind his long disappearance by acting maternal. Fool. He didn't answer the question, but he did say something.
I am leaving, Headmistress Nirvana. I have come back to tell you this, and to tell you that from this day forth we are no longer allies. I am resigning from the ranks of the Tiara's army, and I symbolize this resignation by giving up my room capsule. With those words said, Kakkhan stepped up and laid his capsule onto the wide tale. He commented further on the situation with, I know that this is called treason, and I do it willingly. I will not be a slave to your society any longer, and if you attempt to make me be one again, whomever you send after me will die. This I promise you, Headmistress Nirvana, and I am a Saiyan of my word.
Kakkhan took a deep breath to calm himself. Nirvana was looking at him with a combination of shock, sudden understanding, and fear. It was this fear that allowed Kakkhan to say calmly the last kind words he'd ever say to his former Headmistress.
Good day, Headmistress Nirvana.
Kakkhan turned only to be stopped mid-turn by Nirvana's soft, Eiranos.
Kakkhan turned back and looked at Nirvana. Her blue-pupiled eyes were soft with sorrow, but she held her head high in the face of her race's greatest nightmare. Kakkhan had to give her points just for composure.
Eiranos, when you arrived as Gohan, I could sense that you would the wielder of great strength. But I could not have believed that such potential could rest in the body of such a little boy. So I decided to watch you and see if I could believe what my senses were telling me. I did, and all I can say is that I am proud of the person you have become, both as a scholar and as a warrior. I am sad that you are resigning, especially as you have come to the conclusion Yuin was talking about before you reached your full potential as a person or in power. Do you remember what Yuin said, that day when you came? Nirvana asked.
Kakkhan could.
:-:-: FLASHBACK MODE :-:-:
Nirvana welcomed the Human Boy to Giendon, and asked Gohan if he understood why he had been brought to Giendon. Gohan shook his head. The inhumanely beautiful Human at the far-left end of the board frowned, but didn't say anything. He stared at Gohan with his startling green eyes. He had wavy black hair, no sideburns, and a goatee. He wore a white spandex over a green gi with swallow-tailed sleeves. His nose was hawk-bent, and his mouth was a firm line in his face. His forehead soared high over his eyes, and chiseled eyebrows marched across the otherwise unblemished forehead. All in all, he looked quite magnificent.
The female Laniin turned to the Human, "Yuin, do you have anything to say? From your thoughts, it sounds like you wish to comment on the boy's ignorance." Yuin, still frowning, shook his head no.
"Then perhaps you would want to guide the young one to understanding why he has been brought here?" Again Yuin shook his head no, but he did venture a comment on the last subject.
"I cannot guide him, for the young one must come to the conclusion on his own. I cannot make him understand at his age now, even with his complimentary education wrought unto him by his mother so far. He has just been taken from his parents, and if he isn't feeling anything now, he will later, if he is left alone before the cleaning. You know that as well as any Laniin, if not more, Nirvana."
Nirvana nodded her crowned head. "Yes, I do know. But I had forgotten about that, for we have not had a Human visitor for a while." She turned to Janden. "Yuin will not guide the boy, I have forgotten the ways of Human nature, and my colleagues know nothing about Humans…."
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You have reached the conclusion that you were brought here to be a willing slave in our army. But you were also taken to rescue you from the hardships of life that Lady Fate had in store for you. You were at a crossroads in life at age two, and we guided you onto one road. I hope you forgive us eventually, and I also would like you to know that I understand why you are leaving. It does not make this parting any easier, but I do understand.
Still, I would like, as well, to say that personally, you and I are not enemies. It is only because of my office that you and I stand apart of one another. We will meet again as enemies, yes, but not because of a personal wrong I myself dealt you. As Headmistress, there I have committed terrible crimes against you. But only as Headmistress, not as only Nirvana. Nirvana finished, the sorrow in her eyes telling Kakkhan what her words did not. He looked at Nirvana; studied the lines in her golden face. He decided that she was telling the truth, and that she did so from the bottom of her heart.
Kakkhan inclined his head to his former Headmistress Nirvana, keeping his eyes on hers. Without further ado, he turned his back and walked away, thus ending one stage of his life and embarking upon another.
And it felt good doing that.
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FINITE
KAKKHAN: GIENDONESE SAIYAN WARRIOR
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A/n: Waaa! I'm going to miss typing Kakkhan: Giendonese Saiyan Warrior!!!! NOOOO! /Cries/
Allati: There, there, SP. You'll be all right. /Past SP consolingly on back/
SP: /Sniffles/ But still…
Allati: Yes, I know, I know. You do have the other two Kakkhan fics to work on.
SP: That's true. And before you say it, Allati, no, I'm NOT going to tell you or our readers what the title of the next fic is. I'm too much of a suspense-lover for that. But don't worry, you will know the next fic when you see it. I will make sure of that, okay? LOL!
Allati: /Looks disturbed/ You sure are a sadist, SP.
SP: /Nods maniacally/ Yes, I know! /Giggles/
Allati: /Looks at SP weirdly/
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REVIEWER RESPONSES: (I'm making an exception in this one case for one reviewer.)
Romo: Last chapter wasn't really supposed to be exciting. It was supposed to be boring. It was a filler chapter, and though filler chapters are indeed informative, they're not particularly exciting. (Sorry if I sound peeved right now—I am.) 'Kay? I hope this chapter was a bit more exciting, but if not, too bad. Deal with it.
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Thanks to Romo, simba-rulz, TheShadowPanther (I reviewed my own fic! Blahh!), DBZ Chick1, and SS2 Megami-sama for the reviews of last chapter!
Thanks to simba-rulz, Nooka, Hiaburi, Trunks' Brat Baby, subway saiyan, Rarity88, Skye-chan1, DemonVi, Gohan's Kat, DemonDancing, ShadowObscurity, SS2 Megami-sama, DBZ Chick1, Romo, crazy-lil-nae-nae, Shea Loner, SSJ5 Tigger, and Feral-beast. To HBKShowstoppa, Ryu no Hono, wizardmon92, PROVIEW, BlackFireDragonK, supersaiyaman, TigerTiger02, Andross937, fire, ash, and blue-dove7, me, and Frying Pan of DOOM (and Sachi). To Kail Blade, Gohan00, bobbi, Kia-Kawaii princess, Noco, mystic, unknown soldieress, j, Riku11, Nisaasd, lonely warrior, ChibiGyouza, Alexis, verve, and TheShadowPanther for reviewing my chapters! Thanks to you all! /Bows/ Even me! :D
(/Looks up/ Whoa! That is a LOT of reviewers to thank! Too bad I haven't heard from most of them in a LONG while! /Pouts/)
Official Last Chapter Dedication: To mis padres, without whom I would never be quite the happy-go-lucky person I am. To my reviewers; you guys inspired me when I needed inspiration and just wasn't getting it. You made me laugh, and also made me feel guilty enough to post. Thank you all, and I'll see you next time.
Well, see ya next time!
TheShadowPanther and Allati, from AASN
AASN; Writing is what we do for you at AASN. Enjoy.
Updated 12.19.04