Chapter Five: "In that case screw the mission and put me on a one way ticket to…heh, never mind. I'm married, it's a bad idea."
A/N: Okay, this has taken me ages but it's finally here and…well if it's good or not is really in your department guys.
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"You want to WHAT?!" Bulma yelled. Natalie squirmed underneath the older woman's stare and then laughed nervously.
"I want to use your machine thingy to travel to an alternate timeline where this has already happened so they can give us some pointers…type thing." Natalie said. Bulma began to laugh. "I'm glad you see the humour in this…"
"Do you realise how many alternate universes there are?!" Bulma yelled.
"I'm guessing an infinite amount?"
"Yes an infinite amount! There are so many universes that we are not even aware of! I mean, even the universes on TV shows and movies really exist somewhere in there!" Bulma said.
"Really? I mean, seriously?" Natalie asked. Bulma nodded. "In that case screw the mission and put me on a one way ticket to…heh, never mind. I'm married, it's a bad idea." Everyone else sweat-dropped. "Okay, so finding the universe may be hard…can't you just look for universes with signatures similar to this one?" Bulma, Trunks, Goten and Zophen all looked at her like she had grown a second head. "I have no idea if that makes sense, I watch a lot of sci-fi."
"Surprisingly, what you said did make sense. Even if it is in the most simplest of terms." Bulma said. Her eyes lit up as if her brain had a million thoughts going through it at once.
"That's me, simple." Natalie smiled. "Oh, but a favour. Can we not tell any of the others about this until we're certain this is going to work?"
Elsewhere in CC…"This is my training room." Vegeta said. There were various whistles and sounds of amazement.
"Very Star Trek, I like it." Nicholas said.
"Are you sure it's alright to train in here Vegeta-san?" Gohan asked.
"Yes, but not yet. I think it's better if we test your powers outside." Vegeta replied. "It takes the woman weeks to get this thing up and running after I train in it and we don't have that kind of time now."
"So, can we go and question Zophen now? I'm really bored." Goku said. Vegeta rolled his eyes.
"The fate of the planet is at stake, and you're bored?!"
"And hungry actually."
"You never seem to fall below my expectations of a 3rd class idiot Kakarrot."
"Maybe, but I'm the only 3rd class idiot to have ever kicked your butt." Goku said. Vegeta shook in rage.
"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO BRING THAT UP?!" Vegeta roared. Everyone else sweat-dropped.
Bulma's lab…"Mother, we have been searching the cosmos for hours. Can't we take a break?" Trunks asked. "I'm starving."
"No, not yet." Bulma said. "We need to get this thing ready as soon as possible."
"Please Mom…" Trunks said.
"I suppose we're not going to get any extra work done tonight. What time is it?" Bulma said. Trunks looked at his watch and then looked like he was going to cry.
"It's 1am." Trunks said.
"Holy cats…" Goten said. "No wonder I feel so tired. Dad and the others have been training and going through strategies all night."
"No, they quit about an hour ago." Natalie said, looking up from the datasheets. "And I'm gonna quit now. Oh by the way Trunks, I checked in on everyone about ten minutes ago. Marron says hi." If it was possible, Trunks looked even sadder.
"Those aliens better count their blessings that I don't have my powers." Trunks said. "I would so kick their ass right now."
"You and me both kid." Natalie said. "Are you sure it's okay we crash here Bulma-san?"
"Yeah. When there's a crisis it's usually my house that's the bed-sit." Bulma said. "Now, where's the caffeine?" Bulma trudged off to the kitchen, followed by Trunks and Goten. Natalie started to put away some of the papers when she felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around her waist. She rolled her eyes and elbowed the person in the gut.
"Not tonight Josephine?" Nicholas asked, sadly.
"I really don't know what to do with you." Natalie said, taking off her glasses and rubbing her eyes. "I'm giving you the silent treatment, our kids are in evacuation because of these alien bastards, there are actually alien bastards to be worried about and you guys are training to fight an opponent you have virtually no knowledge of. Yet all you can think of is one thing?" Nicholas blushed and looked at the floor. "Ladies and gents, the fate of the planet lies in this man's hands."
"Not just my hands you know! There are a lot of hands involved!" Nicholas protested. David, who was walking pass them, shook his head.
"You two have the weirdest conversations." David said. Nicholas rolled his eyes.
"It's not my fault. You know what this is doing to me. I hate not being on good terms with you." Nicholas said.
"Well you should've thought about that before." Natalie replied. "Trying to seduce me to forgive you isn't a good idea."
"Well I already tried the humour thing…" Nicholas said.
"That may have worked if I found you funny." Natalie replied. Nicholas felt like her words were a sharp knife to his heart. He could take it when she was telling him off but not when she was insulting him. She didn't realise how important her opinion was to him.
"I'm sorry." He said, as he walked away. She sighed. She didn't want to be angry with him, she didn't even mean what she said. She was just so angry.
"Nick, wait I…" She turned to look for him but he was gone.
Elsewhere…"Gohan?" Videl asked. Gohan, who was standing on the outside balcony, turned around and smiled at her.
"Hi."
"Hi." There was a small pause. "Are we doing the right thing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are we doing the right thing by fighting instead of being diplomatic?"
"They've given us every sign that they don't intend to give us a chance to talk." Gohan replied. "We have to defend ourselves. We're responsible for a lot more than just ourselves this time."
"How can you be so black and white about this? Isn't this the least bit hard for you?" Videl asked.
"Of course it is. I don't want to kill anyone Videl, I never have. Sometimes the right thing to do is the best thing, no matter how hard it may be for you to swallow it."
"I still think that if we tried to talk this out…I don't know. I just have so many unanswered questions about where I came from. Like why we're here and not living there. And why we're being hunted." Videl sighed. "I wonder what the planet looks like. Sometimes I have vague impressions of it, but maybe I just watched one too many episodes of the Magic School Bus as a kid."
"Weren't you a little old to be watching that when it was made?" Gohan asked. Videl chuckled. "Besides, if your ancestors hadn't come here I wouldn't have you in my life."
"Yeah. I guess so." Videl said, not sounding so convinced. Gohan sighed inwardly. Every time anything Tocopheran related came up, Videl distanced herself from him. It was as if she thought that he wouldn't understand what she was going through. She forgot that he too came from a planet that he had never seen, and had powers that he at first didn't understand. Once the subject was dropped or forgotten, she would return to normal. Gohan couldn't help but have the nagging feeling that…he shook his head.
**You're being ridiculous.** He chided himself. **Videl loves you as much as you love her.**
Next morning…"I don't think I got enough sleep." Goten said, rubbing his eyes. "Just because the power active are up at eight doesn't mean we have to be as well."
"Goten, I know being the brains is a new concept for you, but please keep the whining down a few decibels." Trunks said, as he gulped down a cup of coffee. "I never knew how essential this stuff was. Thank the Lord for whoever invented coffee."
"It must be terrible not having your abilities." Zophen said.
"I'm just extra tired is all." Goten said. "Something that could've been cured if I was allowed to sleep even more."
"What did I say about whining?" Trunks sighed. Bulma walked into the room with a vibrant smile on her face.
"Okay, so far we have found three different universes which are similar to ours. I'm guessing one of them is Mirai Trunks' timeline and the other would be where Cell came from." Bulma said. "In any case, I can't tell which is which so the two of you will have to go visit each one."
"And you can do that instant moment thingy right?" Natalie asked. Bulma nodded. "Awesome."
"For a doctor, you sure do say thingy a lot." Goten said.
"I'm not very eloquent but I kick ass in Science. Go fig."
"You nervous?" Goten smirked.
"No, I am not nervous about my molecules being disassembled and then reassembled through the very fabric of time." Trunks replied.
"You sound nervous to me Mop Top."
"DO…NOT!" Trunks yelled. "You've been spending way to much time around Ms Executive."
"Take that back! I haven't been spending nearly enough time with her." Goten said, blushing furiously.
"Ooh, are you guys talking about that little girl with the hat that Goten used to like?" Natalie asked.
"NANI?!" Goten exclaimed.
"Yeah." Trunks said.
"Cute! You guys would make such a good couple!" Natalie squealed. "I always knew you liked her."
"Really?" Goten asked.
"Well, actually just about everyone knew you liked her." Natalie said. Goten face-faulted.
"Everyone?!"
"To quote Bill and or Ted, totally dude."
"I feel so embarrassed!"
"Can we get back to business please?" Bulma asked. The others looked down at the floor, embarrassed. "Okay, you have the watches on right?" Trunks and Natalie nodded as they stepped inside the machine. "According to my calculations, you should be dropped right outside the CC in their time. About one year after the Mirai's first visited you. Okay, here we go." Bulma entered a combination of numbers and letters in the computer and then pulled a lever. Trunks and Natalie disappeared.
"Froopin scranzels…" Goten said in awe.
"Hey woman!" Vegeta yelled. Bulma's eyebrow twitched.
"That is not my name!" Bulma said, as she walked into the living room.
"I was just going to ask where Trunks is." Vegeta said. Bulma laughed nervously.
"Um, bathroom." Bulma answered.
"And where's Natalie?" Gohan asked.
"Other bathroom." Bulma said.
"Oooh, I like this game. Where's the City of Atlantis? The other other bathroom?" Nicholas asked.
"Nick!" David said.
"Fine." Nicholas said, folding his arms.
"Zophen, if that is indeed your real name, we have a few questions we'd like to ask." Videl said.
"Okay, shoot." Zophen said.
"I wouldn't tempt her if I were you buddy." Nicholas said.
To the time travelling duo…"So, you're saying that we don't actually need the machine? We just have to wear these watches and we can get back?" Natalie said.
"That's right. Mother said that it'd save the hassle of worrying about the condition of the machine." Trunks answered. They had landed a few blocks from the Capsule Corp and were making their way there.
"Did you tell your mom to set the machine to send us back instantaneously?" Natalie asked. Trunks gasped.
"Ohhhhh, please don't kill me!" Trunks said sheepishly.
"Don't worry, if we take half an hour here it'll be half an hour there right? It won't make that much of a difference. We're just going to have to be extra quick here." Natalie said.
"This city seems deserted. I wonder if there are people still here." Trunks said, looking about the streets. There were cars that looked like they hadn't been moved for years and the stores on the street looked like they had closed down for good.
"There must be. Let's wait until we get to your house."
"Okay, it's right around…oh my God." Trunks said, looking at the CC. Or at least what was left of it. The building was barely standing, there was a giant hole in the roof and all the greenery outside the CC was gone. They both ran to the building but before they could enter, they were stopped by two armed guards at the door.
"You'd think with all the TV I've watched, I would've known better than to run to a pre-assumed deserted building." Natalie sighed.
Elsewhere…"I can't tell you that." Zophen said. Everyone groaned. "I don't want to endanger anyone."
"Well we're pretty much on the doorstep of danger right now, so why don't you just tell us?" Gohan asked. Zophen sighed.
"I can't. I'm risking all your lives just by being here." Zophen said.
"Well then why don't you vamoose? You're not being much use anyway." Vegeta said angrily.
"Bulma-san, shouldn't Trunks and Natalie be back by now?" Goten whispered to Bulma. Bulma gasped.
"Oh no! I forgot to set the machine for instantaneous return!" Bulma whispered back.
"What does that mean?"
"When they come back depends on how long they stay in that dimension."
"Someone's gonna notice that they're gone."
In that alternate timeline…"Hey, not so rough." Natalie shrieked. Both her and Trunks were taken to one of the rooms still standing in the CC. They were tied to a wall and guarded by two guards. "Why have you tied us up? We haven't come here to hurt anyone, we came for help!"
"Like I'm gonna believe a bitch like you." One of the guards replied.
"Boy, if I could get my hands free…" Natalie muttered angrily. Footsteps were heard coming down the hall and then some more guards came with what appeared to be their leader.
"Hey, isn't that your husband?" Trunks whispered. Natalie smiled.
"Nicky!" Natalie exclaimed. Mirai Nicholas, the guy who appeared to be the leader, looked at them both with wide eyes.
"It…it cannot be! How are you alive?" Mirai Nicholas asked. Natalie and Trunks exchanged glances.
"Maybe we should explain before you…" Trunks tried to explain but Mirai Nicholas had already walked over to Natalie and had planted a very passionate kiss on her. "…do something you shouldn't. Whoops."
"I knew it! I told the others you weren't dead but they just said I was crazy." Mirai Nicholas said, looking at Natalie happily. Natalie in the meanwhile looked very dazed.
"Why are Mirai guys always kissing me?" Natalie asked out loud.
"Mirai…you mean, you're not…" Nicholas said, looking very sad.
"It seems whatever timeline I go to, you have the hormones of a teenager. Was your height the only thing that developed into adulthood for you Nick?" Natalie sighed. Nicholas blushed.
"I guess it was too much to hope for huh?"
"Sorry." Natalie said. "Wait…I'm dead in this universe?"
"Todd, get them down from there." Mirai Nicholas ordered one of the guards. "I think we better sit down and talk."
"Damn straight. My head hurts from all this." Trunks said. "And no talking telepathically, it's cheating!"
Current universe, at the CC…"This is getting us nowhere!" Vegeta sighed. Zophen looked down.
"I'm sorry." Zophen said. Vegeta's eyebrow twitched.
"Sorry? You're SORRY?! SORRY ISN'T GOING TO GET MY POWERS BACK YOU LITTLE PUNK!!" Vegeta roared.
"Okay Vegeta calm down, we won't get anything done like this." Goku said.
"Is Trunks really constipated or something? He's been in there for hours!" Vegeta said.
"Nat's been up there for ages too." Nicholas said.
"Okay, something is going on. Bulma, would you care to explain?" Gohan asked.
"What? What makes you think I have anything to do with it?" Bulma said, trying to look offended. "And how dare you talk to me like that? I have known you since you were a little boy. Some respect if it's not too much trouble."
"I'm just asking because you were the one who told us where they 'supposedly' are." Gohan said, using his fingers to make air quotes. Bulma's bottom lip quivered.
"Okay, don't freak out but Trunks and Natalie have used the dimensional transporter to go to another universe where the Toco guys have attacked before to get some information that might help you and they didn't want to tell you because they knew you'd stop them before they had a chance to test it out." Bulma said, as she breathed a sigh of relief. "I suddenly feel so much better." Bulma looked at the shocked faces before her. "This I wasn't expecting."
"Do you know when they'll be back?" Videl asked.
"It all depends on how long they stay there." Bulma answered.
"They'll be fine." Videl said.
"Excuse me, they'll be fine?!" Vegeta asked.
"A recap for you Vid, they've gone to a different world and no one knows what awaits them there." Nicholas said.
"They can take care of themselves just fine." Videl said. "We have more important things to do now."
"More important?" Nicholas asked.
"Yes." Videl said. "Now Zophen, are you going to help us or what?"
Meanwhile, on Medilan's spacecraft…"There are two of them missing." An officer reported.
"Damn it. Have the Pher Squad come back yet?" Medilan asked. The officer nodded. "Good, send them in here. Along with the two that didn't go." The officer left and returned almost instantly with Iloxane, Anthius, Dimethic and two other Tocopherans, one female and one male. They were dressed in similar uniforms to Dimethic. The girl's name was Thelia, she had emerald green hair and eyes. She was not as tall as Iloxane, but she was much more beautiful. The other one, Hamelis, was wearing headgear that covered his face and gloves to cover his hands. All that could be seen of him were two red, glowing eyes under the headgear.
"You summoned us sir?" Iloxane asked.
"Yes, it is time for us to execute the next phase of our plan." Medilan said.
"Why have you asked for us sir?" Thelia asked, indicating her and Hamelis. "I thought we weren't necessary for this particular mission."
"Something has come to my attention." Medilan said. "I think we will be needing your services after all." Thelia and Hamelis nodded. "Excellent. I shall teleport you there now." He pulled out a device from his chair and pressed a button. First Illoxane, Anthius and Dimethic disappeared and a few seconds later the other two disappeared as well.
Back at CC…"We need answers Zophen and the only person we can get them from is you!" Videl yelled. Zophen looked at her and clenched his fists.
"I've told you, I can't tell you. One of you cannot be trusted, and until I found out who I am staying silent." Zophen said.
"What the…" Before Gohan could finish sentence, Illoxane, Anthius and Dimethic all appeared in the living room.
"Huh. I wasn't expecting that to happen so soon." Nicholas said.
"What?" David asked.
"Well I always expected that never would take a lot longer to get here." Nicholas said.
"Before you draw your weapons, we came here to talk." Dimethic said.
"I somehow doubt it." Goku said.
"Yeah, the fact that I have the strength of a little boy gives me enough reason to kick your ass." Vegeta added.
"Even if you could, that wouldn't be an issue. We have come to talk about our situation." Dimethic said. "Our boss has decided to call a truce, on one condition."
"Which would be?" Gohan asked.
"If the rightful heir to the throne comes forward and talks to him personally." Dimethic said. "I believe that would be your wife."
To Be Continued…
I know it's a b*tch of a cliffhanger but I seriously am having trouble with the placement of the next few scenes if you get my meaning. I will update as soon as I can ok? Bye!
