A/N: I do not own DBZ or SW (which includes Aidan Bok). Thank you to Caorann fridh Bronach for beta reading.'…thoughts…'
"Move your feet – yes that's it! Videl, you're doing great. Better watch out, Gohan, or Videl might beat you this time!" Goku chuckled as Gohan and Videl battled furiously in the training room.
"You can do it, Gohan!" Goten cheered, grinning like no tomorrow.
"Videl, do not think of winning," Tien called out, sensing Videl's determination to be the winner. "Jedi do not concern themselves with winning."
Videl's persistent, offensive moves and Gohan's steady, defensive style clashed, both amazing to watch.
Krillin smiled and turned to Goku and said, "Don't you think you had better go pick up ChiChi?"
"ChiChi?" Goku slapped his forehead. "That's right! I, er, kind of forgot," he replied, grinning sheepishly. "Don't tell her, okay?"
"Goku!"
The duel ceased and all eyes were upon Aidan who appeared to be unnerved as he stood in the open doorway.
"Aidan, what's wrong?" Krillin asked, concern written all over his face.
"Goku," Aidan repeated, ignoring the question and all other questioning looks thrown his way. "There is a great disturbance in the Force," he explained gravely. "You must find Trunks – now!"
"Trunks?" Goku echoed. "I was about to leave to go for ChiChi. Do you want me to bring Trunks back here? What for?" The tall Saiyan stood up, running a hand through his unruly, black spiked hair.
"I sense it too," Tien broke in with an intense look of concentration. "The Dark Side is growing stronger. Piccolo's vision…Goku, another Jedi should accompany you," he advised sternly, his three eyes upon the younger man.
"That would be wise," Aidan whispered. Should he volunteer? The flash of purple hair…there was no telling of Trunks' age in the vision. The future was always in motion.
"Why, what's wrong?" Gohan asked, not quite as attuned to the Force as the masters were. He wanted to help them.
"Masters?" Videl coaxed when they did not answer. Her penetrating blue eyes searched each face, willing each one to speak the full truth soon. Never before had she seen the masters in such distress. Slightly nervous, she fingered her padawan braid that hung from her short, black hair.
"I'll go with you, Goku," Krillin offered, standing up and grabbing his cloak. Desperately, he called upon the Force to soothe his nerves.
Goku nodded. "All right."
Trunks burst into the main part of his home and stopped short when he saw his little sister's body sprawled across his Aunt ChiChi's, both unconscious, possibly…dead.
No! He could not believe that – he would not.
Even so, anger welled up inside and he fought to keep it under control as he turned and stared straight into the eyes of Juuhachigou. "What have you done to them?" he demanded in an extremely calm voice, clenching and unclenching his fists.
Juuhachigou knew this boy had Jedi powers; setting a trap would have been pointless. She would have to confront him head on. "You're coming with me," she said flatly, hand resting on the handle of her blaster with the ease of an experienced hunter.
"No!" Trunks fired back, voice rising. "What have you done to them!" he repeated forcefully, trying his hardest to ignore the lump in his throat. Not out of sadness but out of his anger. It was soon apparent that he would not be able to control it any longer. Why should he keep it in check? It was natural to feel outraged at a person who was trying to make your life miserable…
Not missing a beat, Juuhachigou pulled out and pointed her blaster at the head of Bra. "As I said, you're coming with me," she echoed her earlier words mockingly though showing no emotion on the outside. On the inside, she was annoyed at this kid. 'What a boring assignment,' she thought, suppressing a yawn. Even if the boy was a Jedi-in-training, he wasn't showing any strength or any of his Force powers at the moment. Maybe he hadn't been trained enough. Either way he probably wouldn't have been able to hold a candle to her, much less a challenge.
Within seconds, before Juuhachigou could even blink, Trunks had snatched the blaster out of her hand with the Force and slammed it into the wall behind him, breaking it in two. The pieces of metal fell to the floor, creating a clamour.
Furious, Juuhachigou sprang forth, intent on capturing them before he could do anything else. She would have stunned him but the stun mode on the blaster was obviously damaged.
Utilizing quick reflexes, Trunks sidestepped and ran towards the females on the floor. Immediately, he spun around and held his arms out in front of him, Saiyan defense style, prepared to defend his sister and adoptive aunt.
But Juuhachigou was much too fast for the padawan. Perhaps against an experienced Jedi, Juu might have not stood a chance, but with Trunks…it was a piece of erui cake. She lashed out with her foot and her foot connected with the side of Trunks' head. Though the blow was not strong enough to hurt a half-Saiyan, it still did some harm.
Trunks fell to the floor, one hand rubbing the sore spot on his hand, dizzy for the moment. With a cry, he jumped to his feet and pushed Juu with his hands and the power of the Force. The blonde bounty hunter was thrown towards the window, crashing into the furniture.
Ashamed of actually being hit by a mere bounty hunter (in his opinion), Trunks dashed over to where Juu had fallen and prepared to dish out some kind of attack. Oh, if only he had a lightsaber! A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. Well, he would show them by capturing her instead!
Inspired once more, Trunks ran forth until Juu shouted one word:
"Vegeta!"
Caught by surprise, Trunks barely managed to keep his balance as he had stopped abruptly. That was his father's name! What did she know of his father?
Taking no chances, Juu continued. "Your father – I know where he is and he is the reason why I have come," she said, standing up slowly, keeping a close eye on him.
"My father?" Trunks frowned. "You're lying! You can't possibly know my father!" he lashed out. Alas, despite his denial, he couldn't help but feel it in his heart and through the Force – it was the honest-to-goodness truth.
His heart sank.
"I am not lying," Juuhachigou snapped, her blue eyes flashing. "You will come with me or I will do further harm to your brat sister and the woman."
Suddenly remembering Bra and ChiChi, Trunks felt a wave of sorrow come over him. He had not been strong enough to protect them, to sense the impending danger. Had he failed as Jedi apprentice? If the Temple found out, would any master take him as a padawan learner before he turned thirteen?
Maybe he wasn't worthy of bearing the title "Jedi Knight".
"Well?" Juuhachigou pried, glaring at him.
Trunks swallowed hard.
"Goku! Krillin! What are both of you doing here?" Bulma asked as she and Yamcha reached the front doors of Sharlon Towers.
"I'm going to check around the place," Krillin said. Without waiting for Goku to answer, Krillin disappeared into the night.
"Bulma." Goku sighed as he approached her. "Uh, Krillin decided to come along since he was bored. We're here to pick up ChiChi."
Bulma raised one eyebrow. "Krillin was bored? Strange…I didn't know the Jedi could feel boredom," she remarked, knowing Goku wasn't exactly telling the truth. "I didn't know they could lie, either. What is it, Goku?" she asked uneasily. "I know there's something wrong."
With a gulp, Goku knew that he could not hide it any longer. And she was right. Jedi did not lie and he had almost lied…but it was for her protection, in a way. He didn't want to worry her, but the little white lie was practically a mix of the Light and Dark…
"Who's to say the Dark Side is wrong? What if the Force is not all black and white?"
"Goku?" Bulma put her hand on his shoulder. "Goku, please tell me."
Had Vegeta been right? Was it possible that the Dark Side was stronger – Vegeta! Goku's eyes widened and suddenly he knew. "Trunks is in danger!" he blurted out.
"What?" Bulma gasped. "Are you sure?" She brought a hand to her chest, fearing the absolute worst.
'Krillin,' Goku sent a quick message to his friend through the Force, alerting Krillin to join him inside. Without answering Bulma, Goku activated the doors with the Force as he ran, anxious to get to Bulma's apartment as soon as possible. He had a bad feeling about this…
Feeling the sudden panic, Bulma let out a small cry, "My kids!" and, along with Yamcha, followed Goku.
A mixture of joy and anger…Trunks was unable to decide whether he was happy to know his father was alive and that he might see him…or if he was angry at his father for leaving.
Maybe he ought to go with this bounty hunter and see Vegeta. Whether he was sad or seeing red, he would still be quite glad to see his father after so long… Boy, he'd surprise everyone even more if he showed up at the Jedi Temple with his father in tow! Then maybe he and Vegeta would be able to spend time together; Vegeta could take him on as an apprentice. Then Bra would be able to meet her father. Then his mother wouldn't be so miserable anymore…
"I…" Trunks' mouth felt dry. If this were the plan, to go and see his father and bring him back…then what was he waiting for? Why couldn't he get the words out? And why was he sensing such negative feelings inside of him? Was it so wrong to want to see someone you love?
"Decide now." Juuhachigou's voice was icy.
Trunks was going to deliver a snide reply when he felt the presence of Goku and of Krillin. What were they doing here? Did they know about his father? Would they try to stop him?
'No,' Trunks thought, 'that's silly. They can't stop me from seeing my father. They'd probably allow it…maybe they want to see him too.' Despite his inner reasoning, he knew it was just the opposite. Maybe it was the Force or his natural instincts, but he sensed trouble.
"The door is locked!" a voice proclaimed from the outside. "Oh, my gosh, Bra! Trunks!"
'Mom!' Trunks immediately felt guilty for worrying her so much. He wanted to say he was all right, that he was going to see Father! But, once again, his mouth failed him, the words resting upon his chapped lips.
"I'm taking you now whether you like it or not," Juuhachigou announced, reaching for him.
His sudden irritation cured him swiftly of his dry mouth. "Just wait!" He slapped her hand away. "Just wait, I-"
Obviously wasting no time and sensing great danger, an emerald green blade suddenly emerged from the metal doors. Goku's lightsaber!
"Goku, my door!"
The blade stopped moving, still melting the metallic silver door. Bits of hot steel dropped to the rich, red carpet. "Well, do you want to get in or not?" sounded Goku's strangely impatient voice.
"Goku, forget about it!" came another voice, Krillin's. "Keep at it!" Outside, Krillin ran off for the turbolift that would take him to the top of Sharlon Towers.
"Trunks, are you in there?" Yamcha's voice now, sounding just as worried as Bulma's.
Trunks wanted to say yes… The desire to reassure his mother that everything was all right, that everything was under his control… Trunks wanted to say yes with everything he had…
No, everything was not under his control anymore. His insides ached at the realization that he could not handle himself anymore. He was unworthy.
"My little boy! My baby girl – ChiChi! Answer us, please!"
"My little boy!"
At that precise moment, Trunks made up his mind. It was the last straw. He didn't like being degraded; he was a little boy no longer. He was undeserving, unfit to be a proper Jedi. But he could change that. He would prove himself! The only way to do that was to free himself from anything holding him back. He had potential – he knew it. There just had to be another way to release that power within him…maybe his father knew how. "I'm sorry, Mom," Trunks whispered hoarsely although he knew she would not hear his finals words for her.
Convinced that Trunks had chosen to go with her, Juuhachigou slipped her comlink out of a pouch on her belt. "I've got him," she reported, and then placed it back in the pouch, grabbing another small device, and pressed a single button, activating her speeder.
"I'm sorry, Bra," he whispered once more, gazing upon his little sister's pale face. The young boy knew how much she looked up to him, how much she loved him.
"Come on." Juuhachigou grabbed his arm.
Trunks pulled his arm back, frowning, and then walked ahead of Juuhachigou, towards the window, knowing that would be her only way for escape…and his way too.
Gritting her teeth, Juu tried to refrain herself from hitting him as she waited for her transportation.
Completing the glowing circle, Goku stepped back and kicked at the door where the crude makings of a large hole now became visible. "Trunks?" he hollered, climbing inside. He held his crackling lightsaber in front, casting a soft, eerie green light around the room, showing him two, pallid faces. "ChiChi!" he cried and dashed over to the two fallen females.
"Oh no, Bra!" Bulma screamed, having followed Goku through the hole immediately. "My baby!" She knelt down next to Goku, who was checking the vital signs of both. "Trunks! Trunks, where are you?" she yelled for her son.
Yamcha bit his lip at the sight and was about to join them when something caught his eye…
Goku normally would not have wasted time and would have immediately investigated the situation. But he…he couldn't. Instead, he lifted ChiChi into his arms, feeling her hair for any unseen cuts or bumps. "They're not dead," he told Bulma softly. "They both took a blow to the head."
"Trunks!" Bulma shouted, angry that her son was not in sight. "Blast it, Trunks, where are you?" she sobbed, holding her daughter close to her. She lifted Bra into her arms and scrambled for the lights. "Trunks!"
"Goku, Bulma!" Yamcha was at the windows, inspecting a smoothly cut square in the tinted glass. "Take a look at this!"
Bulma rushed right over, still cradling Bra in her arms. "Oh gosh, no, Trunks!" Fresh tears pooled over like a small stream as she buried her face in her daughter's hair. "Where is my little boy!" she demanded frantically.
"It looks like it's been cut by…" Yamcha struggled to remember the name. "Stars, I forget what they're called but it's been done by a…by a bounty hunter…" he trailed off, wishing he hadn't mentioned that little piece of information.
"A bounty hunter!" Bulma echoed, close to hysterics.
"Goku!" Krillin burst into the apartment. "A woman took off in a speeder with Trunks! They're headed west-"
"Krillin, take everyone back to the Temple. I'm going after them," Goku ordered firmly, laying ChiChi back down onto the carpet gently. Leaving no room for further argument, he left the apartment as fast as he could without another word.
It was then when Yamcha heard the low rumble of thunder, adding to his own anxiety. "A storm is coming," he whispered, almost as if he were telling a riddle…
In a narrow speeder built for two, Trunks sat behind Juuhachigou, trying to deal with the uncomfortable seating and the uncomfortable feelings inside of him. Half of him told him to go back, to catch this bounty hunter by surprise and capture her, to return to the Jedi Temple and tell them about his father. It would be the right thing to do; padawans were to leave the big guns to the knights and masters. They would know what to do. However, the other half of him was all for seeing his father and becoming all-powerful. If he sought training from his father, whom he believed to be the best Jedi in the galaxy, despite the fact that he had gone missing, he would be able to defeat Goten in a lightsaber duel. He would be able to design and create his own lightsaber and go on many, many missions. Everyone would respect him…everyone would fear him.
The speeder suddenly lurched and Trunks was thrown back against his seat even harder than when Juuhachigou had thrown him in. He stiffly hung on to the edge of the seat as Juu piloted the speeder expertly, bringing it into a large tunnel where many other starships entered. His eyes watering from the wind whipping at his face, Trunks gritted his teeth as Juu exited the tunnel and leaned on the accelerator. The blonde huntress then swung the speeder higher and higher, aiming for a lone structure that appeared to be in the middle of construction.
Nervousness crept into his stomach and Trunks strained his neck over the hunter's shoulder to try to see what was ahead. Unfortunately, he leaned too close and held back a cry when Juu sharply elbowed his chin. "Stay back," she ordered crisply, turning her attention back to the front.
Glaring at the back of her head, Trunks did as he was told and waited impatiently to see his father.
Seconds later, Juuhachigou set the speeder down upon a stable beam and unbuckled her crash webbing. She climbed out, commanding Trunks to do the same and follow her closely.
The lavender-haired boy carefully hauled himself out onto the beam and steadied his body after losing his balance slightly. He did this all without his brilliant blue eyes losing focus of the dark-cloaked figure far ahead…
"Go back and you will find a man on his way to find you and the boy." Vegeta's voice brought Trunks back into the past to when he was two-years-old…
The two-year-old boy clung tightly to his father's tunic as he gazed upon the silver-metallic entrance to the Jedi Temple. His purplish-hair blew wildly around his face. This was not his first visit to the Temple. His first had been when both Bulma and Vegeta had come to the Temple when he was only 6 months old. It was there in the Council Room where he was declared to be Force-sensitive. Despite Vegeta's rebellion of the rules concerning marriage and attachment, Trunks would be trained when he was a little older.
And now that time had come. Trunks was more than able, especially after frightening his mother when he unknowingly lifted a toy of his off the floor.
The doors separated revealing the tall Goku, who also held a baby in his arms. Goten, only a year old, would not start official training until a few months later but Goku felt it was appropriate that Trunks should get to know Goten so that neither would be afraid when left alone in the Temple with other students. "Vegeta." Goku nodded smiling. "Wow, Trunks has grown, hasn't he?" Vegeta nodded shortly and Trunks reached out to Goku. "Huh? Hi there, Trunks!" Goku cooed, meeting Trunks' hand with his own. He turned to his son and said, "Goten, this is Trunks. Trunks, this is Goten. You two are going to be best friends, I just know it!"
"Humph." Vegeta set Trunks on the floor. "Kakarott, take Trunks with you. I'm going to go meet with the Council."
"Okay," Goku replied, offering Trunks his hand. "We'll be in the nursery area. You're coming back, aren't you? I'm sure Trunks will want to say good-bye before you leave." He let the question hang in the air.
"Perhaps," came the short answer.
Goku sighed, shook his head in amusement, and headed for the nursery.
Sometime later…
"Tunks!" Goten gurgled happily, not able to fully pronounce his new friend's name. "Tunks!"
"Hey, that's your…tenth word!" Goku grinned, ruffling his youngest son's hair. Goten's first word had been "ca-wow". The translation was "careful" after Goku had tripped right in front of Goten and his wife had scolded him, telling him to be more careful.
Trunks smiled shyly, fidgeting with the sleeves of his own, new padawan training tunic. He missed his father, terribly.
"Dad?" Gohan, who was now six, had long since stopped referring to his father as "Daddy". He was growing up fast, it seemed, but showed much promise. To most of his teachers, he was a smart, polite boy who was eager to learn and eager to help out. "Mother needs to speak with you," he said quietly, watching the two little boys.
"Oh!" Goku straightened up. "Would you mind watching these two for awhile? I won't be long."
Gohan nodded and sat down with the two boys as Goku disappeared from the nursery. "Hi, Goten. Hi, Trunks," he greeted each of them with a smile.
"Ghan!" Goten laughed in delight as Gohan made a face to keep them happy.
Subsequently, Vegeta entered the nursery and glanced around, looking for his son. When he spotted Trunks and the Son brothers, he slowly walked towards the trio and stopped right in front of them.
"Master Vegeta!" Gohan scrambled to his feet and gave a quick bow.
"Back so soon, Vegeta?" Goku asked, re-entering the nursery. "So, where are you going this time?"
"Missing assistant to Senator Cuorsye," Vegeta responded seriously. "Said to have ran off with some important files. Last seen near the Korriban system."
"Korriban?" Goku repeated, his brow wrinkling. "That planet? But isn't it-"
"You are correct," Vegeta interrupted, not bothering to let him finish. 'Idiot...'
"Papa?" Trunks whimpered, stretching his hands upward.
Goku knew how Vegeta hated to show any kind of affection in public. "Gohan? Let's take Goten back to your mother and then you have to go for your lesson with Piccolo."
"Yes, Dad." Gohan picked up his baby brother and left the room with his father, leaving the other father and son duo alone.
Vegeta reluctantly kneeled down so he was almost eye-to-eye with Trunks. "Well, brat, I'm leaving now. Your mother will come for you in the evening."
"Papa," Trunks whispered and suddenly hugged his father something fierce.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow and patted his son's back lightly.
Trunks smiled sleepily.
With a faint smirk, Vegeta stood up and left the nursery. He stopped at the doorway and looked back once at Trunks who hadn't said a word and was still watching him. "Good-bye, brat…Trunks," Vegeta whispered ever so softly and the doors shut behind him as he made his way to the hangar, to leave for the mysterious planet, Korriban…
"Is this going to pay more?" Juuhachigou demanded tonelessly.
Trunks was brought back to reality.
"I will leave the money right here," Vegeta answered, still not facing either of them. "Extra included for your trouble."
"Very well." Juuhachigou spun around and stalked toward her speeder, giving no second glance to the lavender-haired boy. She had a job to do.
Trunks sucked in a breath as Vegeta turned and looked at him, dark eyes meeting troubled ones.
Knowing the Temple vehicle would be needed, Goku quickly deactivated the security lock on an air-bike, utilizing the powers of the Force. There was no time to waste on trivial codes and numbers. Not while a life was in danger.
With a roar, the air-bike burst forward with such enormous speed that the Saiyan was almost thrown off the bike. Gaining complete control of the bike, Goku headed towards the west, following his feelings. He sensed the coming confrontation and knew Vegeta had probably sent the bounty hunter back to throw him off track. With grim determination, Goku grabbed his lightsaber, already spying the blonde huntress, dead ahead.
Juuhachigou deftly lifted her blaster out of its holster and aimed for Son Goku. Blaster fire ripped through the night air as Juu steered her speeder to the right, narrowly avoiding the air-bike.
Blinking away moisture from his eyes, Goku instantly turned the air-bike around, following her like a malia. He had only just managed to move around the blaster bolts. 'Maybe now is the right time to use the ol' lightsaber,' Goku thought, almost looking forward to the battle. But he knew he shouldn't. Being a Jedi meant not welcoming battle.
"Besides, what is wrong with power and strength? We are Saiyans, Kakarott, and I'm the Prince of all Saiyans! We are a strong and respected race. A strong…and respected race…"
Jedi did not wish to fight, but Saiyans did because it was in their nature to desire such a thing. It tested one's limits, developed tough, hard muscles and ever-growing strength.
Not only that, fighting was the product of anger, a step to the Dark Side.
'No!'
With a heavy heart, Goku continued the pursuit, igniting his lightsaber. A snap-hiss sounded. It had not come from the activation of his lightsaber.
Rain droplets splattered on his bare skin. It was beginning to rain.
Thunder echoed all around and lightning flashed.
"A storm!" Goku knew it wasn't exactly safe to be out during a storm, especially one on Coruscant. There was always the danger of lightning damaging the power couplings and factories of anything and everything.
Realizing that her "prey" had lagged behind, Juuhachigou made a quick U-turn and sped after him, already sticking her gloved hand out of the speeder, shooting to kill.
Goku deflected all of the bolts, purposely aiming them upward, hoping no starship was nearby. He had to think of the safety of the people below and of this bounty hunter. She might be trying to get rid of him, but her life was still life, regardless. He would have to capture her and question her about the whereabouts of Trunks –
Trunks!
He had almost forgotten about Vegeta. There was no doubt Juuhachigou had taken Trunks to Vegeta. Maybe it was the Force but somehow he knew that his missing friend was here on Coruscant.
Was he still a friend?
Goku sensed undeniable vibes of the Dark Side.
Unconsciously fending off the huntress' blaster fire, Goku failed to divert a stray bolt that ended up blowing a piece of his tunic away, scraping his skin. "Ow! Gee, that really smarts!" Goku ducked as Juuhachigou's speeder flew over him, nearly clipping his hair. "I've got to stop her – fast! But how?" Goku directed his saber behind him as the bounty hunter carried on in her attack.
"Goku!"
Relief coursed through his veins as he recognized the voice of his other old friend, Krillin.
The android's fire abruptly halted as Krillin came into view with a speeder of his own along with a fellow Jedi Knight, Aidan Bok.
Aidan guided the vehicle while Krillin leaped out, landing awkwardly on Juu's speeder. "Goku, go!" he yelled, while desperately hanging on to the rear burner of the huntress' speeder.
Goku was already gone.
Trunks suddenly felt dizzy as his father edged closer, slowly, as if purposely trying to unnerve him. The Force was sending him so many warnings, signals, waves of potential danger. The feelings surrounded him, clung to him. Every pore, every hair, every bead of perspiration cried out, longing to be back in his bed, to be sparring with Goten, to even be listening to Piccolo of all people! Every muscle, every bone, every heartbeat fueled that desire to be anywhere, anywhere but here.
The rain fell and with it, the walls of courage that Trunks had hastily built during the moments of the ride with Juuhachigou, crumbled. His breath quickened and he could almost hear his heart thunder with anxiety. The boy perceived that this was not normal nervousness he was experiencing. Something was happening to him – something that he was not intentionally doing! Trunks licked his lips as he tried to fight off the cloak of darkness that had suddenly descended around father and son.
Vegeta had finally reached his son, drinking his whole appearance in. Startling blue eyes, soft, lavender-colored hair, and indisputable, familiar features. This was his son all right. Lightning flashed illuminating the fear in the boy's eyes. For awhile, all other lights and all other sounds were shut out and the two were in a world of their own creation, or rather Vegeta's creation. The Saiyan Prince knew perfectly well that Trunks had discovered that whatever trepidation he was undergoing, it was not...reassuring.
"Trunks, my son," Vegeta murmured, not bothering to call him "brat" like he had done so, years ago. "The time has come at last," he whispered, more to himself, if anything.
"Pa-" Trunks stopped himself. He was not a baby or a little boy… "Father." Trunks took a deep breath, hopelessly seeking out serenity, knowing he would not find it. Had the Force left him? He croaked out one word, "Why?" Perhaps he had meant why he could not feel the Force so easily now, that peaceful, tranquil oneness. Or maybe his question had been directed towards his father on his sudden appearance after being branded as missing or dead…
Whatever his intent, only one question would be answered.
His lips curling up into a smirk, Vegeta responded, "You are going to train with me, boy."
"T-Train?" Trunks was bewildered. "Train with you?" Unexpectedly, Trunks' eyes filled with angry tears. "Why did you leave us? Why did you go?" Trunks glared and continued. "I-I hate you!" he shouted, and before he knew it, he was on the now-wet surface of the structure, nursing a bruise in the making on his chin. Had his own father just hit him?
Vegeta, now stoic looking, stood over him, the lightning and thunder making his presence seem sinister. His black flame of hair swayed in the wind and his onyx eyes held a fierce gleam in them. "No. You don't."
"No. You don't."
Truthfully, Trunks did not hate his father. His anger had caused him to say things he did not mean. However, he hadn't wanted his father to have the satisfaction of knowing Trunks was relieved to see him, despite the other, contradicting feelings.
Trunks tried again, determined to prove himself worthy…
"Dad," he grunted, not concerning himself with formalities. "Where were you?" he demanded quietly, deciding he would have to depend on his martial arts training should the need arise to defend himself.
Vegeta chose not to answer right away. Instead, he turned from his son, closing his eyes, enjoying the coolness of the rain on his skin. Finally: "I was off, learning, training to become stronger," he replied, gathering the Dark Side of the Force around him…
Trunks instantly snapped to full attention. The Dark Side! "No," he rasped, "no, Dad. You didn't-" He was unable to continue, the words lost within his soul, the very dread he had unconsciously anticipated.
His father couldn't possibly be a Sith! He just…couldn't!
Could he?
"Tell me, brat, have you ever wondered why people die?" Vegeta asked, almost coldly. "Have you ever wondered why the Jedi fail in their pursuit of higher understanding and comprehending of the Force? Why they can't save everyone? Why can't they stop wars themselves? And they claim to be the guardians of the galaxy and of the peace," he added bitterly.
The rain fell and mingled with hot tears. "The Jedi do not fail!" he cried, forcing himself to believe it. "It's impossible to save everyone!"
"Nothing is impossible…not if you learn both ways of the Force!" Vegeta spoke with such passion that the inward battle Trunks was fighting suddenly dissipated.
"Think about it, Trunks," Vegeta began sharply, "if you knew the power of the Dark Side and the Light Side, you could do great things. You could stop people from dying, you could save the ones closest to you…even your sister."
Trunks blinked. How did he know about Bra? Vegeta hadn't been there when she was born! If anything ever happened to his little sister… Trunks shook his head clear of the thought and focused on the argument. "But, people dying…it's natural!"
"Maybe old age is," Vegeta said dryly, "but innocent lives of a futile war?"
"The Sith care nothing for the innocent!" Trunks snapped. "All they care about is destroying the Jedi and ruling the galaxy!"
"How little you know," Vegeta sneered, taking a step closer. "Is that the kind of pathetic lies the Jedi have been stuffing down your throat?"
"They're not lies!" Trunks protested wildly. "They're not!"
"And how would you know?" Vegeta gave a humorless laugh. "You're nothing but a little boy—"
"Stop it!" Trunks clenched his fists, squeezing his eyes shut. "Stop it! I'm not a little boy!" A power he never knew he had rose within him and he opened his eyes, hoping his father was surprised.
Surprise was the last thing on Vegeta's mind as he grasped the boy's shoudlers firmly. This was what he wanted. This was what he needed.
"Come with me, Trunks, and you will become the most powerful being the galaxy has ever seen," Vegeta finished, letting go of the boy, narrowing his eyes.
Trunks could only stare into his father's eyes, knowing it was…true. If he became the most powerful ever…he could save people! He could save everyone, even his sister and mother. The galaxy wouldn't be such a bad place anymore. No criminal would ever dare to commit crime.
Everyone would respect him…everyone would fear him.
"Father…" he breathed, standing up. "I…"
Goku pressed his foot hard against the accelerators on both sides, ignoring the rain that drenched his tunic and stung his eyes. There was no time to lose, no seconds to waste!
Goku could feel both Trunks and Vegeta's presence in the Force but also…he could really…feel them...but how?
Losing his concentration, Goku almost was not able to avoid the arch in front of him. Dipping the air bike downward, Goku whizzed by and brought himself back up again, seeing a lone starship on top of an unfinished building…
"No!" Goku shouted, increasing his speed.
Vegeta's starship, the Executor, slowly rose above the structure, and then blasted off towards the sky, towards space, towards freedom…
Goku landed the air bike and shut it off. The rain was ceasing, the lighting becoming less and less frequent, and the thunder fading away. The storm was leaving…
Goku, the Jedi Hero, the husband and father, the valiant and strongest, the most compassionate and forgiving Saiyan man, sank to his knees and dropped his head into his hands in despair.
He had failed.
ChiChi moaned and her eyes fluttered open. "…Maybe she left a message…"
"Who left a message?"
"Mom? Mom, are you okay?"
ChiChi rubbed her eyes and it all came back to her. "Goku! Bulma! The children!" The wife of Goku looked at Krillin and then at her eldest son, Gohan. "That woman, that hussy, she-"
"She got away," Krillin broke in glumly. "We failed to capture her."
Those were words Goku did not want to hear as he stepped through the doorway, shivering.
"Goku!" everyone cried.
"Dad!" Gohan was the first to reach his father but he stopped short when he sensed an overwhelming sadness. "Dad, what's wrong?"
"Goku, the bounty hunter escaped," Krillin explained, "but Aidan and I were able to attach a tracking device on her speeder. No doubt she'll leave the speeder somewhere and take off with a different starship but it's the best we could do."
"Yes," Piccolo agreed, standing in a far corner. "The bounty hunter is not our concern at the moment."
"Not your concern!" Bulma shrieked, sitting by her sleeping daughter. "That bounty hunter attacked my daughter – and ChiChi! She also took my son to who knows where and all you can say is she's not your concern!"
"Bulma, calm down," Yamcha said.
"Don't you tell her to calm down!" ChiChi chimed in. "She has every right to be upset!"
"He said, 'at the moment.'" Krillin sighed. "That doesn't mean we're going to forget what she has done."
"Where is my son!" Bulma screamed, sick of it all.
"I suggest we all listen to Goku now," Dende, the Namekian healer, said, his soft voice managing to reach even the most ignorant of ears. Along with Piccolo and Aidan, he knew Goku had some possibly disturbing news to deliver.
Goku had not said a word the entire time. He was seated on a chair with a blanket wrapped around him. Gohan stood close by as well as ChiChi, both worried about him.
Bringing his head up, Goku kept his expression even and calm. "Trunks is gone."
A collective gasp from certain people filled the air.
"Gone?" Bulma shouted. "What do you mean he's gone!"
"Vegeta took him," Goku responded, looking at her with dejected eyes. "I'm sorry, Bulma."
For a moment, there was only silence.
Aidan quietly tugged his hands inside his robes and left the room.
Piccolo shook his head, knowing the truth completely at last. 'A master…and an apprentice.'
Everyone else did nothing, not knowing what to say.
And Bulma gazed at her daughter, tears falling like rain, until her voice rang shrilly throughout the Temple in anger over her shattered world…
"Blast you, Vegeta!"
Covering his ears, the little boy who sat outside the room in secret wiped away a single tear. He was supposed to be in bed. Aidan had almost spotted him…maybe he had. Goten didn't know. All he knew was that Trunks was gone. Uncle Vegeta had taken him…but where? And why?
"Trunks." Goten's voice was barely above a whisper. "Wherever you are, I'll save you. I'll find you so that Auntie Bulma won't be sad."
On a distant and lonely planet, far, far away…
Xsanoff was the next planet Vegeta had migrated to after staying for many years on Korriban. He made his home there while training and meditating. He didn't dare visit his homeworld or any other world for that matter. Nobody was to know of his existence; it was best that everyone think him dead. Only now, they knew he was very much alive.
Vegeta, with Trunks in front, sat on a large, scaled silver-blue dragon. With a roar, the dragon dove downward, stretching its mighty wings. This dragon was trained to do his bidding, unlike the other dragons. It was young and strong, having been found as a baby by Vegeta, who gripped the reins he had constructed a year ago.
"Training starts tomorrow," Vegeta told his son.
"Yes, father…master."
Vegeta thought back to Goku. He had seen Goku coming at a distance before he had left Coruscant. 'Sorry, old friend,' he thought sarcastically. Goku had all but forgotten one thing:
Treachery is the nature of the Sith.
A/N: Please keep watch for Across the Stars II: Recovery, which will have a lot more then three chapters and more interesting revelations… Executor is the name of Vader's star destroyer (I'm sure) so I don't own the name.