HUGE apologies for the massive delay, I'm sure some of you thought I was dead! I was actually just having problems with my modem so I couldn't connect. But I'm back now and here is chapter ten. Enjoy!
The four Saiya-jins infiltrated the compound the same way Vegeta and Goku had the previous night. Once in the water-cooling system room Vegeta told Trunks and Gohan where Ranorik's lab was.
"Do we need a key card to get in?" Gohan asked.
"We used Ranorik's last time," Goku remembered.
Vegeta shrugged, shouldering the molecular weapon, "Just smash the door in," he said, "As quietly as possible," he added.
As they left the other three Saiya-jin, along with the comatose Ranorik, made their way in the opposite direction.
"I think I can sense the king," Goku said suddenly.
"I know. He's in the throne room," Vegeta replied then paused as they came to the end of the hall, "Top floor," he said flying up the middle of the spiral staircase. The two Goku's followed quickly.
"Won't they sense us?" Mirai Goku asked as they flew.
"I doubt they know how," Goku assured him, "At least not from here. It's a learned technique."
Vegeta proved his point by landing one floor down from the top and walking the last flight of stairs up. Goku and Mirai followed suit also suppressing their Ki.
The Saiya-jin prince stopped just before reaching the hallway that lead to the double doors of the throne room and peered cautiously around the corner. As he drew back Goku sneaked a peek too.
"Two guards," he reported to his counterpart.
"We can't get rid of them without announcing our presence," Mirai Goku said unnecessarily.
"We're practically there already," Vegeta said impatiently
"Not if you want to get a good shot off," Goku pointed out, "You've only got one shot, remember?"
Vegeta gave a non-committal grunt, "Got any ideas genius?" he asked Mirai Goku sarcastically.
"Just walk right in," the other Goku said. Then as they gave him incredulous looks he went on, "It'll be the last thing he'll expect. I'll take the gun and wait until the opportune moment."
Vegeta gave a snort, "Nice plan but I don't entirely trust you," he said frankly.
"And I don't blame you," Mirai Goku said without rancour, "What's your plan?" he added with a slight smirk.
Vegeta glared at him but said nothing.
"I could take the gun and wait for the opportune moment," Goku offered.
Vegeta gave an irritated sigh, "And what if the king gets nasty?" he asked rhetorically.
"Oh," Goku said, disappointed.
Silence stretched between the three Saiya-jins, tensions rising as the seconds wore on.
"Alright," Vegeta agreed reluctantly, "We'll go with your plan. Just leave Ranorik here," he said to Mirai Goku.
"Betray us again and I'll kick your ass," Goku said succinctly still smiling.
The other two Saiya-jins looked at him in surprise. Vegeta gave a ghost of a smile then handed the gun to Mirai Goku; "Be ready," he ordered then looked at Goku.
"Wait here for a second," Vegeta told him, "Then use your Instant Transmission to join me."
Goku knew better than to ask why, he nodded.
Vegeta gave an ironic smile then stepped into the hallway and strode toward the throne room. Even as he approached he could see the guards muttering in confusion to each other.
The Saiya-jin prince stopped a metre from them and fixed them with a challenging glare then raised an eyebrow.
"Sire?" the one guard asked his voice a squeak of fear.
Vegeta smirked, "Kakarot," he said evenly.
"Huh?" the second guard said then wheeled backward in fright as a much taller orange clad figure appeared in front of him, seemingly out of thin air. Before he could even begin to shout a warning he'd sunk into the blissful blackness of unconsciousness.
Vegeta had taken advantage of the first guards surprise to afford him the same courtesy with perhaps just a touch less compassion.
"Knock, knock," the Saiya-jin prince said before kicking the double doors to splinters.
Needless to say the king showed considerable surprise at the presence of his counterpart. He leapt to his feet from the throne he'd been sitting in moment before, "Impossible!" he spat.
"Nothing's impossible," Vegeta said with a smirk. He glanced at the guards on either side of the throne as they started forward then stopped abruptly as both Goku and the prince powered up. They knew enough to know they were no match for them.
The king didn't seem as intimidated, he laughed, "You're persistent," he conceded stepping down from the dais. He waved a hand at the two guards, dismissing them, "But if you think I'll give this body up now you'd be wrong. I've never been more revered."
Vegeta snorted, "You're not revered, your people don't respect you," he said then paused in thought and added, "Saiya-jins kings have always ruled through fear."
The king laughed, "Fear, respect, what does it matter? If you could be the strongest being in the universe what would you care for respect?" he challenged.
Vegeta shook his head slowly, "Ignorant fool," he murmured then raising his voice, "You want that power of mine so badly? Then you'll have to fight for it."
"I plan to," the king hissed powering up to SSJ.
"Vegeta?" Goku started then stopped as the Saiya-jin prince matched his counterpart's power level and charged.
"Damn it!" the younger Saiya-jin exclaimed uncharacteristically before shooting forward to help.
Before he could intervene however, the king powered up even further to SSJ 2 and collided with the charging Vegeta. Goku winced at the impact but continued his charge, knowing he would be needed.
Sure enough Vegeta came flying backward from the king's assault but before Goku could even think to catch him he recovered and shot forward again.
"Vegeta!" Goku tried again but the Saiya-jin prince ignored him. The impact this time was just as impressive but Vegeta went flying sideways instead of backward. His collision sent through the wall of the throne room and the prince disappeared in cloud of dust and pile of rubble.
This time, when Goku cursed, he included both the Saiya-jin prince and king. The younger Saiya-jin continued forward and seeing the king powered up to SSJ 3, matched it before attacking him. The king pulled up with a grimace as Goku got between him and Vegeta.
The two SSJ 3s grappled with one another in a flurry faster than the average eye could see. Mostly Goku avoided laying punches and concentrated on trying to pin his opponent. The king seemed to realize this and avoided his grasp deftly; Goku just hoped his counterpart would be ready when the opportune moment did appear.
Vegeta opened his eyes with a glare. Since there was no one around to glare at, he just glared in general. Raising his head a fraction and looking around he could his counterpart had managed to send him through quite a few walls to eventually fetch up in a area Vegeta recognized as one of the many training rooms of the compound. This particular one was deserted but as Vegeta hauled himself to his feet itquickly filled with half a dozen guards attracted by the commotion.
A few of them did a double take at seeming likeness to their king but one turned and said to the others, "It's the impostor!"
Vegeta gave a swift frown and then smirked, "What has your king been telling you now?" he wondered out loud.
The leader of the guards mirrored his smirk, "Get him," he told the other guards.
Five of the six Saiya-jins powered up and charged but the Saiya-jin prince gave a terrifying grin and with no effort whatsoever went SSJ. Whether theywould have fought nonetheless or turned tail and run, was a moot point as Vegeta took the decision out of their hands andspent the next minuterelieving his frustration on them.
The Saiya-jin prince was surprised and impressed to find their leader had not run as his men were pummelled. As Vegeta stepped over the prostrate form of the last guard and approached, the leader shifted slightly but apart from looking a bit pale his face remained hard as stone. He narrowed his at the light emanating from Vegeta's SSJ aura.
The Saiya-jin prince gave him a curious look, "Aren't you afraid?" he demanded.
The guard wondered if this were a test and decided to answer truthfully, "Yes," he said softly.
"Smart," Vegeta said. He fixed the other Saiya-jin with an imposing stare, "Do you know who I am?"
The guard met the prince's gaze and his eyes widened slightly, "You're the king!"
"That's right," Vegeta said looking pleased, "I am the king."
Gohan looked up at the ceiling of Ranorik's lab then exchanged a knowing look with Trunks.
"Wow," the teenaged half Saiya-jin commented, "I guess that means my dad hasn't switched back yet."
Gohan nodded in agreement as the compound shook again, "Think we should go help, that's bound to attract attention."
Trunks nodded, "We found what we came for," he agreed looking up at the time machine they'd found.
Gohan also glanced at it uncertainly, "Does it look finished to you?" he asked.
The other Saiya-jin shrugged, "Can't be worse than that contraption we got here in," he reasoned heading for the door.
As Goku avoided an attack from the king he tried, for the umpteenth time, to get a grip on him. Having reduced much of the throne room to rubble Goku was not surprised when they were joined by a few dozen guards. The guards looked at a loss at what to do as the two high powered warriors fought in the air above them. Out of range and grossly outmatched the guards could do naught but watch.
Abruptly the two fighters broke apart and paused for breath. Both were breathing heavily but, as closely matched as they were, neither had a mark on them. Goku watched his opponent closely as they circled each other midair. Suddenly the kings eyes flickered to the side and down and a frown graced his face. Goku resisted the urge to look but when the king smiled a slow, malicious grin he gave up looked over his shoulder.
What he saw surprised but worse, dismayed him. A guard, clearly holding a higher rank then the others had entered the throne room. Over his shoulder was slung the molecular weapon and just behind his right shoulder stood Mirai Goku. The counterpart did not look overly perturbed which was only worse as it told Goku that he'd betrayed them. Again.
Goku's face hardened in displeasure as the king floated downward to greet the newcomers.
"Excellent work," Mirai Vegeta said walking up to the guard. Goku also returned to the ground but was surprised to see the guard continue to stare at the king, his face impassive. The king also noticed and paused.
"Nothing to say?" he asked in mock syrupiness.
The guard shrugged, "What should I say?"
"You could bow down before your king!" Mirai Vegeta roared aura flaring.
"As you wish," the guard said. Then, to everyone's surprise, stepped around the king and knelt with his head bowed.
The king swivelled slowly and stared down at the guard then up at Goku who was looking even more flummoxed than anyone else. Then Mirai Vegeta did a classic double take and glared over Goku's shoulder instead.
"No!" he ground out.
Goku followed the king's gaze then raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Vegeta?" he said.
The prince of all Saiya-jins stood from the miraculously unscathed throne, letting his Ki rise from its undetectable level, "King Vegeta," he corrected with a smirk.
"I am king here!" Mirai Vegeta shouted in fury.
"You are not fit to govern a tea party," Vegeta told him flatly coming to stand next to Goku.
Mirai Vegeta's face went an unhealthy purple colour in his outrage, "I will kill you," he spat. He glared down at the kneeling guard, "Traitor," he accused.
The guard stood, "I'm sorry were you talking about me or about yourself?" he asked rhetorically then added, "Do you even know who I am?"
"What would I care for some low level soldier?"
The guard's face turned stony, "I am the commander-in-chief of your armies," he said, "My name is Barick."
The king looked blank then he frowned, "Oh yes," he muttered, "What's your point?"
"How long has it been since you lost touch with your people? How long since they lost respect for you?" Barick spat.
The king laughed, "Do you want to die?"
"If my king wants me dead he need only ask," Barick said, "But you are not my king nor have you ever been. I understand that now."
Mirai Vegeta screamed in fury as he powered up. Barick backed away involuntarily against the wind and heat created by the SSJ 3.
"What are you waiting for?" Vegeta murmured out the corner of his mouth as Barick held the kings full attention.
Goku looked at him, "What?" he started then seeing the direction of Vegeta's pointed look went "Oh, right."
By the time Mirai Vegeta realized Goku was sneaking up on him it was too late. At the last second Goku powered up to match the kings level and pinned his arms to his sides effectively. The king struggled with a hiss of rage but Goku clung on grimly.
Vegeta turned to Barick, "Now, shoot him now," he told him.
The commander nodded and taking a few more steps back raised the gun and took careful aim. With a grim smile he pulled the trigger.
"NO!" the king screamed and twisted his body violently. Goku, taken by surprise by the ferocity of the action, was jerked aside directly into the line of fire. Time seemed to slow.
A dozen thoughts ran through Vegeta mind in the space of a split second. One was that Kakarot was a complete idiot but the most important being that they only had one shot. Before he had time to think any further his body acted instinctively and he leapt in front of Goku.
Thanks for reading. :)