Ch 6 - It's All Different but Same
The older saiyan flew over the formations to find Trunks turned to greet him. The kid looked confused as he demanded from the mystery man, "It's you… Who are you?!"
Raising his hands in defense, the man assured, "Don't worry, Trunks. I don't bite."
The kids' eyes bugged, "How… How do you know my name?!"
The man looked smug as he crossed his arms and revealed, "I'm much like you, in a sense. I request you bring me with you in your time machine. Seems as though I got myself roped into this mess so might as well help clean it up."
"Wha-what are you saying?" Trunks took a step back. What could this mean? How could he know about his time machine? It couldn't be possible, unless… He did look an awful lot like Vegeta… "F-Father?! Could you be my father?!"
In annoyance, the man before the kid burst, "Blast it, Trunks. Just decapsulize the machine already."
Taken aback by the insistence, Trunks hesitated before pulling out his box of capsules. His hands felt unsteady as he fumbled with opening the container and throwing his time machine out into the open. The machine appeared with a poof and Trunks watched the expression of the man before him. He was stoic and Trunks just couldn't get a read on the guy.
The teen cleared his throat to get the man's attention back on him, "It'll be a tight fit. It wasn't made for two people."
"Yes, yes. Just sit down," the man that resembled his father floated up to take a seat in the pod.
Trunks joined him a second later and the two men squeezed together onto the seat. The both of them blushing at the close contact. The violenette boy pressed the buttons he knew well in order to close the pod's top and lift the machine into the air. He maintained a hover over the plateau that still held all of the friends and family of the past.
"What, are you feeling sentimental?" the strange Vegeta grunted. Well, with that response, he didn't seem so strange, actually.
Trunks' cheeks blushed deeper as he struggled with explaining, "I… Sorry. It's just… That was the first time I got to meet my father. He's so proud and cold. It's kind of hard to believe he can feel, but I know he will. And my mother…"
The man pressed against the kid groaned, "Don't get mushy on me now, boy. We're sandwiched in here as it is."
"Right," Trunks agreed, wanting to stop the awkward feeling rising in the pod. He gave a small wave at the group below before launching the machine into the rift of space time. In a moment, the machine flashed and vanished. Off to the future in three years time.
~~~ An Outside View ~~~King Vegeta's presence in the past has an effect on time just as Future Trunks does before him. King Vegeta is the main protagonist in this tale, so the story follows his presence even though it is in third person. This being said, it is still important to follow the changes in time to understand where the characters are coming from.
In the past, Piccolo is aware that King Vegeta is some man from the future as well. He's pretty smart, so can connect the dots that King Vegeta was actually just Vegeta. However, the Namek has no context. To Piccolo, Vegeta had to have come with a purpose, and Piccolo would assume it is to warn him to get everyone in gear for an even more powerful threat because they weren't just fighting two androids as Trunks said but multiple. King Vegeta had warned only him, so it was up to Piccolo to push the group towards this new threshold. Piccolo doesn't mention to the others that King Vegeta was also from the future, but is sure to correct anyone that claims they are only fighting two opponents. Piccolo trains with Goku and Gohan in preparation for numerous opponents against one.
Not only would they be training for more androids, but they would also already be far stronger than the original timeline. Remember, Goku trained for eight months with King Vegeta while in space. Goku has a major strength advantage, and he'd bring Piccolo and Gohan up in strength with them as they train together. He would be a bit battle-wiser from the tips and tricks King Vegeta would have taught him. King Vegeta was about as much of a mentor as the Yardrat guru was and this would leak onto Piccolo and Gohan. They would refine their techniques and Piccolo and Gohan are far more receptive to strategy than Goku is, making them both highly important to the upcoming fight.
But speaking of Goku, he's pretty suspicious of King Vegeta. He questions what King Vegeta had to do with the Future Trunks as Goku knows that Trunks is from the future and isn't even born yet. It's weird that King Vegeta would know Trunks and leave with the kid. Goku just thinks that maybe King Vegeta just wanted to ask Trunks how he was a saiyan or to check out the technology. [After all, King Vegeta has technological prowess after being with Bulma for so many years and he knows his way around the circuit boards as he'd fixed the ship on occasion. The gravity simulator is always known to be buggy when faced against a saiyan's fiery, so it could only be expected that King Vegeta would have had to maintain the ship as they flew back to Earth.] But back on topic, Goku would think that King Vegeta was just interested in Trunks or Trunks' time machine. He's not smart enough to put the pieces together. But he doesn't think it isn't possible for it to be the real Vegeta either now that he knows Trunks came from the future. It's unlikely, but possible. Goku spent eight months with the guy, so it's harder for Goku to believe the man was someone different than he thought.
Vegeta is also suspicious. He's annoyed at the fact that Future Trunks and King Vegeta exist. Two saiyans off his radar? What are the chances of that? But he doesn't do anything proactive about it because he can't find them as they travel through time. Vegeta would suspect that if there were two mystery saiyans alive, then maybe there were more and his race wasn't completely lost to Frieza. Not to mention, these new saiyans seemed to be super strong. Goku confidently states that King Vegeta was far stronger than him even in his super saiyan form. King Vegeta never once went super and it made Goku believe the man couldn't transform. [In reality, King Vegeta just didn't ever need to.] This pushes Vegeta harder. Maybe he wouldn't need to be a super saiyan, but he did need to surpass Kakarot/Goku. They'd remain evenly matched as Vegeta would push himself over the edge faster and harder, much to Bulma's disapproval.
The relationship between Bulma and Vegeta would remain pretty much the same. She'd still care for him when he'd damage his body, and she'd distract him with her beauty as implied by Trunks' existence. He'd push himself harder, which would just mean that Bulma would be even more adamant about his health and safety. It would be a nearly weekly occurrence that he'd work until he passed out and she'd have to care for his wounds and watch him in the medical bed as he slept and recovered. Just to repeat over and over again. She'd grow a tad more attached, but not enough to really say there's much of a difference. They're just as fiery and chaotic.
Vegeta's nightmares are just as present as the original, taking him through memories of the two super saiyans and his father speaking highly of royal bloodlines. He'd feel conflicted of King Vegeta being his relative, and it makes him angry that this imposter was stronger than even Kakarot/Goku, but then again he should be able to catch up to Kakarot/Goku no problem if this guy really was his relative. It drives him.
~~~ Returned View ~~~As the time machine reappeared three years into the future, King Vegeta quickly escaped the pod once the hatch was unlocked. The older man checked the dash as Trunks clambered out of the machine. 11:25 AM on May 12th, age 767. The fight started an hour ago, and they had to make their way to the battle because they were in the same location they left by Idiot Rock. It'd take a whole 20 minutes for them to fly all the way to that island off the coast of South City.
Vegeta complained, "You're late. Do you make a habit out of being unreliable?"
The older man crossed his arms as Trunks capsulized his time machine and pocketed the small pill into his capsule case. He made the connection between Trunks and a six year older version of his heir, Shorts. Always reckless and a "act first, think later" kind of attitude. It certainly didn't help how the boy he knew kept the brat's looks besides the dark hair. The old man knew he would mistake the two at some point moving forwards. They were so similar it was uncanny. But this was his son from the past. Not his grandson, or the alternate version he'd met before.
"I didn't try to be! I typed in the coordinates like Mom said to! Grah! And I don't have enough energy to go back further or else I won't be able to make it back to my time…" the teen whined, truly showing his young age with such a reaction. So young, yet grown up.
"Tch, well come on. They're this way," Vegeta said, taking flight in the direction of South City.
Trunks easily caught up to the older saiyan and stayed dutifully to the man's side. Curiosity got the better of him as he stumbled with his words, "I… You didn't explain… I mean… Why are you here? Did I fail or something?"
Honestly, Vegeta filled in, "Hmph, no. Your meddling was dangerous, but we pulled through. I'm not here for a purpose. It's been years since I've had a challenge and my ship just so happened to get bumped off course. My being here is probably screwing with time, but if anything it's the woman's fault, not mine."
Trunks digested the information, "Wait, you mean you're here just for leisure?! What are you, crazy?! Mom said you were proud and hot headed, but this is just asinine!"
Vegeta bared his teeth at the accusation, "Tch, you don't know anything about me, boy."
Trunks shrunk away from the edged response. The future boy didn't know what to think about this version of Vegeta before him. Could he really be so arrogant as to mess with the timeline just because he could? Or was there a deeper meaning behind it? He couldn't imagine his father wanting to be here saving the Earth, but then again maybe he would? Trunks' mom had said that somewhere deep down she saw something in Vegeta.
This Vegeta was older, after all. Trunks didn't know by how much, but it had to be by a lot considering the condition of the man. He was lean and his face just looked tired. Something Trunks never imagined his father to ever be able to become. He drew the connection between his own future mother to the one he'd just seen in the past. This Vegeta knew peace time.
Finally, Trunks broke the silence, "What's it like? The future for you, I mean. You said we pulled through."
"You're happy," came the simple answer.
Trunks waited for more, but more never came. The teen encouraged, "That's all you're going to say?"
The man said calmly, "I don't know what you want me to say. You need me to spill the details? Gods, you're just like your mother." And the silence remained, to Trunks' disappointment. With a sigh, Vegeta continued on his own, "I don't know what kind of impact my presence will have on this universe. If I tell you things, they might not happen. Hell they might not happen even if I don't tell you. So you're just going to have to suck it up until we end this and go to your time."
Trunks gulps at Vegeta's harsh tone, but nods and thinks quietly. He was confused. This Vegeta actually seemed to care about his affect on the timeline, so he isn't here to screw things up on purpose. It isn't the man's intention to ruin what Trunks was trying to do, so he had to have a heart or at least a less stubborn one than he'd given the man credit for. But, then what? And what did he mean by… "We?"
"I'm going with you. After all, this is a pleasure trip. Might as well stop by and say hello. Your mother is available…" the older saiyan smirked evilly as a look of horror spread across Future Trunks' face.
"What?! Eww! Gross! I did not need that image in my head!" Trunks coughed and wiped his eyes with his hands as if to get rid of the mental image he'd been given.
The future Vegeta laughed outright at Trunks' reaction. The old man had teased the younger generation with such topics numerous times throughout the many years of his life, but Future Trunks' reaction took the top spot for his personal amusement.
Vegeta calmed his laughter and suggested, "Maybe it'll teach you to keep your questions to yourself, then."
He was being entirely sarcastic with that comment about the boy's mother. Vegeta was certainly not intending for anything to occur between himself or anyone of the past. He did, however, have every intention of seeing the future Trunks had to live though for himself. He'd never known what it was like for the future boy, although he had a good idea from the devastation that occurred from the last enemy: Striker. [Not to mention his own dark past with Frieza, but those were always from the outside, not the inside.] He didn't want to admit it to the people of the past, but he felt a duty to help Trunks rebuild his world since the kid didn't have dragon balls to wish things better. It was a fatherly thing to do, even if it was strange to consider this child from the past's future as his son.
The two passed by the island city on their way north towards the battle between saiyans and androids they could feel was happening there. As they flew, they passed a capsule jet containing the anxious Bulma, Yajirobe, and Baby Trunks. Future Trunks blinked before he recognized just who they'd passed in the sky.
"Wait a second, was that Mom?!" Trunks asked his future father in concern.
Vegeta confirmed, "Yes. The woman's got a death wish."
Trunks then questioned, "Shouldn't we stop her?! The androids are still out there!"
The old man sighed, "Trying to convince that woman of anything is a waste of time."
But even after saying that, he paused in flight. Trunks stopped abruptly after, a look of surprise on his face at Vegeta's actions. The boy gasped, "You stopped…" before looking down and noticing evidence of the fight that had occurred earlier that day. And a white head of an android he didn't know lay ominously in the dust by a crater caused by a powerful ki blast.
Trunks panicked, "Wh-what? What is this? What does it mean?! This isn't one of the androids I know! Father, did you know about this?!"
An explosion went off in the distance and Trunks cursed aloud. Vegeta rushed, "Make up your mind already, brat. Are you stopping the androids or the woman?"
To answer the question, Trunks burst off into flight again towards the fight that lay ahead. Vegeta to his side instantly, keeping up with the increased speed. Trunks asked, "Is it possible that the androids' appearances changed?! Or are there more androids?!"
"Tch, you're worse than the brat. Always whining," Vegeta grumbled, talking of another kid of which Trunks did not know.
As the two future travelers joined the Z Fighters in the sky above the terrified android 20, Piccolo announced their presence, "Trunks is back!"
The future Vegeta looked to his present version. Yes, just as surprised at the name as he should be. His power was phenomenal, but Piccolo's was pretty beefed up too. Perhaps his tampering with time didn't change much in the long run after all…
"I see it, but I don't believe it. This one's different too," Trunks informed as he studied the android below. "Yeah. Even though I've never seen him before, I can tell that he's one of Dr. Gero's creations."
"Say what?! What do you mean you haven't seen him before?! Isn't he one of the androids you warned us about?!" Vegeta of the present yelled at the boy.
"You don't mean this is a different android, do you?!" Kakarot asked… Wait a second… Kakarot's here?!
"Yes. This one's different," Trunks answered.
Krillin and Tien complained, "Man, that's not good. It can't be."
But there's a more important matter than their bickering… "Kakarot… What are you doing here?"
The younger saiyan questioned, "Hm? What do you mean? I'm here to fight the androids like everyone else."
"I can see that, but…" the future Vegeta stammered. Was is possible that he changed the timeline too much? If Kakarot didn't come down with the heart virus, what could that mean for the fights moving forward? Well, for now he could deal with the consequences since it appeared that everything except for the heart virus was remaining about the same. He could work with that.
"Listen, if that's not the android you warned us about, then who is it?!" Vegeta of the present screamed at Trunks.
Krillin lightly interfered, "Hey, Vegeta, cut the kid a little slack, would ya? So a few of the things he told us changed. Maybe this did too. We found two androids just like he said we would. Does it really matter that they don't look the same?"
Tien conceded, "I hope you're right."
The bickering was interrupted by the sound of a jet in the distance. Krillin announced, "Hey Gohan, look! There's Bulma and Yajirobe!"
As the jet got closer to the group, they could hear Bulma call out, "Helloooooo!" as she waved at the group and circled the jet around them. Yajirobe complained loudly about the android being there and Bulma looked curiously at the android on the ground.
"What are you doing?! Don't come down here!" Trunks exclaimed protectively.
The android saw his ticket and announced loudly for the group to hear, "Enjoy the short lived victory while you are able! For soon I shall unleash androids 17 and 18 to destroy you all!"
"17 and 18?" Piccolo and young Vegeta asked as the android released a powerful burst of energy which picked up dust and smoke and rock. The gusts of wind pulled Bulma and her jet out of the sky.
Within an instant, the two future persons rushed to the jet's rescue. Trunks taking his crying baby self and Vegeta carrying Bulma by the waist. The two floated to the ground as Vegeta grumbled under his breath, "Blasted woman, always the damsel."
"Aaah! Wow! I'm still alive!" Bulma cried out and let out a breath as the mystery man set her gently on her feet. "Ah! Where's my baby?!" she added as she looked around for her Trunks in the future boy's arms. She snatches the child from his gasp and calls, "Oh! There you are! Oh! Thank you! You saved Trunks!"
The irony was not lost on the future boy as he had indeed just saved himself from what could have been a gruesome death…
~~~ An Outside View ~~~Just a quick second catch-me-up here. The times have changed so random things are different. This time, Goku doesn't experience his heart virus (or at least, not yet). This means Goku was able to defeat Android 19 since his power isn't affected by the exhaustion from the virus. Instead, something much more Goku would happen… Goku would be excited at the idea of the android absorbing more of his power to make it stronger. He'd concern the group as if he wasn't thinking, but really he's just being classic saiyan Goku.
This would leave Vegeta coming in for the final blow, revealing himself as a super saiyan at a similar level as Goku, and claiming to be more intelligent as he wasn't foolish enough to give away his own energy. Of course, Vegeta was watching the whole time so technically he was letting Goku give his energy away to pose a threat, but still.
Android 20 would escape as normal. He'd be terrified of having a two on one battle against saiyans that are this much more beyond what he could have ever predicted. What would be different is the Senzu count. Since Goku doesn't need a bean for the virus, and instead uses one to replenish his energy like Vegeta did. This means instead of two beans being consumed, only one is. That'll come in handy later, I'm sure.
The two super saiyans would shoot off to find the hidden android in the mountain scape. Vegeta is very apprehensive and the two bicker loudly, allowing for Android 20 to avoid them easier. It'd get to the point where Vegeta would have enough and send an energy blast to which the android would absorb. Since Vegeta was frustrated, he'd have conveniently blasted the energy in a way that Goku and the Z Fighters would have to dodge and thus allow 20 to escape with the energy. Very similar to the original, but yet different. [Wow, almost as if that's the chapter title!]
There would be a lot more tension in the air, though. Vegeta and Goku bicker the whole time as Vegeta just gave up his energy after complaining that Goku had done so earlier with the other android. Vegeta is too proud to admit that he didn't mean for the android to absorb the energy. It makes the team distracted and 20 is able to pick off Tien to absorb energy from. Tien instead of Piccolo. Different circumstance, same outcome.
Piccolo and Gohan were able to fend off 20. Piccolo is far stronger than the android and can easily face him alone. Remember, Piccolo prepared for multiple opponents, so he expected this android to be his warm-up. The saiyans allow this as Piccolo easily mops the floor with the android just before the future duo arrive.