Chapter 20: The Rebels of the Darkling Universe

3rd P.O.V.

Mirai and Gohan had been hiding in the cave for more than a day, and Katie hadn't returned yet. They didn't like that.

"I don't like this. She should have been back by now."

"Yeah, but at least you found some clean water deep in the cave."

"I figured there had to be some in here somewhere." Mirai replied, "What's taking her?" Mirai said, walking the mouth of the cave. Gohan was leaning against the cave wall.

Gohan still wasn't recovered. The water was barely a mouth full. Both were dirty, tired, and hungry. Worrying over Katie and Codie only added to the bad situation.

The sky was dark, the stars were out, and Katie was still missing. Mirai wanted to go look for her, but also knew he couldn't leave Gohan.

"Gohan… do you hear something?" Mirai stopped pacing at the sound. It sounded like footsteps.

"I did, but not now." Gohan replied.

In a flash Mirai was knocked back and the mouth of the cave was surrounded. A laser pistol was pointed at his head. Mirai froze, fearing for his life. He looked up and saw the person holding the laser was human. The clothing was ragged, but it wasn't Sayjin armor.

"Don't shoot!" Mirai said. The people all around laughed.

"What's this? Prince Trunks asking us not to shoot?"

"What… I'm not Prince Trunks!"

"Mirai, they think we're the darklings." Gohan said.

"And Kakorot's eldest son here as well?" the speaker came into the cave. His bald head and third eye gave him away.

"Tien?" Mirai said. They all had Scouters.

"Sir, what do we do to them? Ransom or go ahead and kill them?" Mirai recognized the one holding the gun was just a kid.

"I don't know yet. On your feet." Tien yanked Mirai to his feet.

"I know this sounds crazy, but we're not the enemy." Mirai said, holding his hands up. He looked over to see Gohan unconscious again.

"Funny, you look like Trunks and Gohan." Tien retorted.

"We're not. If we were, why are we wearing human clothing?"

"You're right, you'd be spotted right away if you were trying to spy on us. I bet you don't even know who we are." Tien said.

"Sir, he called you by name." the kid said.

"He doesn't have a tail. Neither does Gohan. I bet you're from the vortex, aren't you?"

"Yes! We are!" Mirai said, relieved a little.

"This could work for us." Tien said, looking at Gohan, "Bill, get Gohan, we're going to take them to our camp."

"But sir!"

"That's an order, Bill!"

"Yes, sir." The kid known as Bill agreed reluctantly as he hoisted Gohan over his shoulder. Tien put an arm over Mirai's shoulders.

"Alright kid, you cooperate and nobody will get hurt. Agree?"

"Agree. Gohan needs some water badly." Mirai stated.

"Yeah, I noticed." Tien said as they started walking out of the cave, "So, what's it like in your universe?"

"Normal compared to this." Mirai said, looking toward the castles in the distance.

"Listen, just for our sake, we gotta blindfold you. You understand." Tien said as they walked up to a hovercraft of Sayjin origin. It was similar to a jeep from earth.

"Yeah, that's fine." Mirai agreed as he was helped into the craft, "By the way, how'd you know you could trust us?"

"This third eye ain't no tattoo. I got it when I reached enlightenment as a kid. I can tell when someone is lying to me." Tien said as Mirai's eyes were bound.

XxX

Every bump in the road made Mirai all the more nervous. If Katie came back she'd be alone and have no idea where he or Gohan had gone to. But under the circumstances, he really didn't have a choice.

Once the hovercraft stopped the blindfold was removed. Mirai's eyes fell on a small camp, barely 100 men visible.

"Alright, home sweet home, or some such bullshit." Tien said as he led Mirai toward the closest tent.

"How is this possible?" Mirai said, looking around.

"Easy, we got Bugs surrounding our base. The Bugs disrupt Sayjin Scouters. We've fixed up them so our own Scouters won't get screwed up by the Bugs. And since only a handful of people can sense Ki, we really don't have much to worry about." Tien said, taking off his own Scouter and taking a seat. Mirai sat across from him.

"What about Gohan?"

"He's in the med-tent. Just so you know, we got rehab-tanks in there too. They ain't the best, but it's better than using a M.A.S.H. all the time. Looks like you both could use a safe place to stay for a while." Tien said.

"Yeah. By the way, I'm not Trunks, not really anyway. I'm Mirai No Trunks. In our universe I came from the future to stop the androids."

"Oh, I see. They were evil, right? And then Cell absorbed them? That traitor. Gero built him to stop Kakorot, and instead he Bonds with her."

"Listen Tien, we have another friend. She disappeared yesterday looking for water. Her name is Katie Briefs, my wife. She's the counterpart of the Empress."

"Damn! Is she as powerful?"

"She doesn't have the Angel power, but she's strong."

"Well, I hate to tell ya, but there's a good chance you won't see her again. Either the heat, wild animals, or Sayjin soldiers got her. If it's the last one, she's probably dead."

"No, you don't know Katie. She won't die, she's too strong and smart for that. We're here to get our son back." Mirai said, squeezing the arms of the chair. The metal bent under the pressure.

"Sounds like you better explain what's been going on."

Mirai explained about how the learned of the vortex and how Empress Katrin and Cell stole away Codie.

"…Then you found us in the cave." Mirai concluded.

"Holy shit… sounds like paradise compared to here, though."

"Any idea why the Empress would take my son?" Mirai asked.

"Yeah, it's common knowledge over here, almost. A few years ago… HFIL, probably about 18 years, same age as your boy, the Empress was with child. It was stillborn."

"So then it's true. My mate Katie thought the same thing." Mirai said, shaking his head, "Losing a child…"

"Yeah, I can sympathize. The Empress killed Choazu."

"Geez, sorry Tien. You two were best friends, right?"

"He was almost a brother to me." Tien said, picking up his Scouter again.

"Even though our universes are supposed to be opposite, I'm seeing many similarities. Maybe this isn't just about us…" Mirai said, "Maybe… maybe this is how things would have been in our dimension if Frieza never destroyed this planet, but Katie- I guess I mean Katrin still got the Angel powers."

"They're still opposite in most ways, kid. If your wife is still alive, I know where she is. She'll be at Purgatory, the only prison in the universe."

"I don't like the sound of that." Mirai said.

"It's the highest security place on the planet, even more secure than the castles. But if she's as strong as you say, we needed to break her out. She'll be able to defeat the Empress." Tien and Mirai headed out of the tent, "Let's see how Gohan is doing. Then together we'll come up with a plan."

Mirai spotted Yamcha in the crowd, and he, along with most people, gave him a dirty look. They were confusing him with Trunks, so he didn't blame them for hating him.

The base was small, maybe an acre in total size. Tents were spread across the area for homes, meeting rooms, a med-tent, and supply storage. One fire lit in the middle was used for heating water and cooking.

"Here, catch." Tien tossed a canteen to Mirai, who started drinking from it immediately, "Careful with that, we can't afford to waste any of it. The only clean water comes from the castle to the cities."

"How'd you get hold of it then?" Mirai asked, playing suspicion.

"Stole it in a raid. On Planet Vegeta it's the only way."

"How'd you get here anyway?"

"We were all brought over as slaves at first. We escaped, that is, Yamcha, Krillen, Choazu, and me. We freed others, then slavery was abolished. We still fight the Empress, no matter how sugar-coated the truth becomes."

"She's hard to figure out. Then again, she is my mate's double. Katie can be a hand full sometimes." Mirai laughed.

AS22: How bad is this world? R&R!

Cell: it isn't that bad, you just haven't seen its beauty.

Katie: Cell! You're giving away the plot!

Cell: ooops…

AS22: (snicker) Cell said oops…