Three Rivers of Justice

Chapter Eleven

The new Gohan smiled, looking calm and self-assured. As if this appearance of a second Gohan did not shock the girls' enough, behind him was Vegeta and….….Goku.

"I don't know how you got free, but you'll be sorry." The evil Gohan said.

"Bring it on." Gohan said, his smile fading to a more determined expression.

As they faced off, Vegeta shot into the sky. He grabbed the back of Piccolo's shirt and threw him to the ground. Then, he hovered, glaring at the Saiyan in front of him. "I may not be fighting the real Kakarott, but all in all, you'll do." He smiled evilly.

On the ground, Rhyne and Rikola hurried to their father's side, as did Goku.

Piccolo's eyes shot open when he saw the Saiyan, but Rhyne and Rikola tried to hold him back. "It's alright!" Rikola said, not really sure if it was or not.

Goku smiled. "These other guys are clones." He told Piccolo

"What?" Piccolo asked, still not sure if he were hearing accurately or not. Then, his eyes drifted over to Rideria's motionless body. Piccolo crawled over to his eldest daughter, a puddle of purple blood under her.

"Rideria?" Piccolo said, gently stroking her face. "Can you hear me?"

She made no sounds, but Piccolo noticed she was still breathing, however shallow it was. His eyes went up to ward the sky where two separate fights were now going on. He was stunned to see two Gohans. Then, a few yards away, Vegeta and the one he had presumed was Goku, were now fighting with an enormous amount of intensity.

"I don't understand." Piccolo said, looking at the Goku in front of him. "How is this possible?"

"After Namek exploded, Frieza's father, King Cold found us both." Goku began to explain. "Technically, Frieza was dead… and I was barely alive in a disabled pod. When I woke up, I found myself in the rejuvenation tank. Apparently, King Cold had acquired several doctors with knowledge of duplicating DNA. He immediately cloned his son, then me." Goku frowned. "It was the clone who returned to Earth and kidnapped Gohan. All the while, I was in a frozen state in the tank, unable to move, but aware enough to know what was going on."

"That's why Gohan couldn't hear me when I tried to establish a link." Piccolo said, speaking of his last attempt. "His mind was disabled due to the tank."

Goku nodded. "Yes. Once you are inside the tank, you become almost like a zombie within a few hours."

"I can't believe it." Rhyne said. "Gohan….he's ok…." She glanced up at the sky. "Can he win? Against the clone?"

"I'm not sure." Goku said. "They are identical in every physical aspect. However, mentally and emotionally, they are not. Some memories were transferred to them, but the rest of their minds were developed by Frieza."

"I thought you had turned on us….on Gohan." Piccolo admitted. "I'm sorry."

"Not necessary." Goku said. "I would have assumed the same thing….especially if Gohan were the only witness." He tried to help sooth the situation. "Right now, we have to defeat these clones. Because Frieza is here as well."

"Where?" Piccolo asked, knowing the urgency of the circumstances.

"I'm not sure. Vegeta did not see him on the ship, but I'm sure as soon as he knows we're gone, he'll come." Goku finished.

Piccolo picked Rideria up. "I must get her some help." He said. "Perhaps, there was is a healer on the planet. If I head toward the caves where Kaizer and Gowan went, maybe she has a hope of surviving." Piccolo knew she was losing blood. "Can you handle this situation?" He asked Goku.

The Saiyan nodded. "Gohan told me a little about these girls." He said. "You do whatever you have to do to protect them….I know I would."

"Father, I want to stay." Rikola said. "I can use my powers to destroy them." She was determined, not asking permission.

Piccolo was uncertain. "You do not have enough fighting experience. It's too dangerous."

"All I need is a good shot." She reminded him. "And I'll turn these clones into Popsicles."

He could see how stubborn his daughter was and that her mind was made up. "All right." He said reluctantly. "But, if things heat up, you get out of here."

"I will." She said, thankful that her father was giving her a chance.

"You come with me." Piccolo said to Rhyne. "I'll need your help with Rideria."

For the first time in her life, Rhyne wanted to stay and fight instead of running away. "No, father." She said. "I want to stay. Gohan might need me."

Piccolo was stunned. "No." He said. "You are not strong enough. I won't allow it."

"But…." She begged, but Piccolo refused.

"I said no. End of discussion." He told his youngest child.

Rhyne did not argue with her father, partly out of respect for his years of experience as a fighter, partly out of fear.

With his injured daughter in his arms, Piccolo and Rhyne left, headed South in hopes of finding the caves and hopefully a Namekian healer.

Left behind were Goku and Rikola. Both stayed on the ground, watching the intensity of the fighting above.

Gohan verses Gohan was a dead end tie. Neither boy seemed to be getting an upper hand. But, with the Goku clone and Vegeta, the Saiyan Prince was easily the winner. The clone was covered in blood and Vegeta was still pounding away, sending blasts and kicks to the midsection and back.

The real Goku and Rikola waited, not sure when their chance would come.

Two soldiers came running into the control room, where Frieza was examining several radar reports. "SIR!" One soldier shouted. "The Saiyans have escaped!"

Frieza's stood up and looked angrily at the soldiers. "Speak quickly." He said.

"Sir, the Saiyans from the tanks are gone!" The soldiers weren't sure if Frieza would kill them just out of anger or not.

Frieza checked the latest radar controls, which showed several large power levels around the planet. "Get your men together." Frieza said. "Then, we are going out and retrieving my men, and kill the other intruders."

The men turned and hurried away, thankful to still be alive.

As he glared out the large window, Frieza was beyond angry. He was past any point of no return. This new Frieza, as hard as it as to believe, was even more calculating than the original tyrant. "I'll get my special soldiers back." He said. "And I'll have you as well, Vegeta. I know you're here….I can smell you….."

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