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Dragon Ball Z: The Catalyst:

Special Chapter

Chapter 42: Chronology

He had no idea how long he'd been out for.

Every motion was agony. His whole body felt like it was rushed through a pool of molten metal, his face burned with pain, he could feel the hot blood dripping down the side of it. His left arm was a mangled mess, it'd be amputated for sure unless he got some serious help, in the form of a senzu bean.

They'd beaten him, again. His body was scarred from years of duels he could never win. He'd committed the worst sins against his friend, Trunks, he'd trained him and given him hope for a different world. It was increasingly clear that he wouldn't be able to deliver on that.

Gohan had watched everyone he cared about, die. Piccolo died, Krillen died, his father died. Vegeta hadn't even been his favourite person, and he died. This world was a living nightmare that seemingly never ended. It was one tragedy after another. Every time it was unbearable, unbearable as it was right now, Gohan reminded himself of something.

"What would your father do?" Gohan barely managed as he looked at the last remaining senzu bean.

He'd just been in a severe battle with the Androids, 17 and 18. Their victory was supreme, not only had they destroyed the amusement park, they killed most of the occupants. He'd been next to powerless to stop them.

But there was one life he could save. With each dragging motion he made towards his student, Gohan felt a level of desperation. He could barely stay awake, blood loss was starting to take its toll. Trunks... didn't look good. With a feverish push, he managed to pull himself in front of the boy, the boy he got into all this. Putting his hand at the base of his neck, he felt no pulse, no pulse at all. Carefully he took the last bean, placing it in the boy's mouth.

Trunks, please, eat the bean.

The thought was a fog, his own world was getting increasingly blurry. He tried to even force the bean in with his one good arm, as if shoving it down the throat further would change things. Trunks couldn't swallow, because Trunks was dead.

Gohan sat there for almost thirty seconds, waiting for a miracle. The same way he'd waited for a miracle to save Piccolo, Krillen, or his father. Gohan knew what this was, it was the end. Carefully and shakily, reaching down to Trunk's mouth and pulled the bean out, the boy's head helplessly moved. Carefully and shakily he placed the bean in his own mouth, chewing and devouring it. As soon as he did, his new wounds healed, his arm slowly mended back together.

But he was utterly alone in that moment.

His eyes couldn't leave Trunks, he felt exhausted even after the bean, his heart started to race when he realized what had just happened.

He was gone, just like those people in the park. Just like everyone else.

"Trunks, I'm sorry I got you into all this," Gohan finally managed, his words being broken up by a sob. "Please Trunks."

As if begging a corpse to be alive would do anything at all. Shakily he placed a hand on the boys back, kneeling over as he felt his own body finally tremble with sobs. He'd failed him. He'd completely failed Trunks, just as Vegeta had failed him before. But where as threw his own life away, depriving Trunks of his father, he'd done much worse. He'd given Trunks hope, and let Trunks' throw his own life away in the same way Vegeta had.

Rage and sorrow wrapped around him, his heart pounded in his chest.

A golden aura blasted out around him as hot tears poured from his eyes.

The scream he let out almost was inhuman, the sign of another loss, another thread cut in his life.

"Trunks!"

Bulma, I'm so sorry.

There was even an after thought. Bulma had no one now, just him. He was going to have to bring her the body of her own son. It was her last connection with the past, and her last connection to the future. Trunks' whole life had been robbed from him. He'd encouraged him, caved into him, dragged him along in this god forsaken quest. With him gone, Bulma would be utterly alone in the world.

The boy was dead.

Finally, Gohan managed to pull himself together, his body heaving to catch his breath. Carefully he folded Trunks' arms together and hoisted the... corpse from the rubble. He'd bled out, Gohan realized as he liberated the body. Trunk's left leg had been mangled in the explosion, he'd died soon, perhaps five minutes after the blast. Worst of all, he'd died alone out here, bleeding out. He'd probably wondered where everyone was as he died.

Gohan felt sick, he couldn't breathe, his strength failing him again.

"You need to get up Gohan," the words struggled through his voice. "You've gotta get Trunks home."

Once he stood to his full height, Trunks in his arms, he felt a cold wind blow over him. More pain, more suffering would follow him. His father in many ways had cursed the world by saving it. He was the legacy of his father... continuing that curse.

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Bulma quietly worked on the Capsule 1 Time Machine, her eyes and heart fixed on its completion. It would only be a little while longer and everything could be solved. They could save Goku, and that would change everything. It would give a whole other world a second chance, and maybe it would help their world as well.

At the computer terminal, which she'd been slaving away at now for nearly 2 days in a row, Bulma's eyes began to drift, before she silently fell forward and began to sleep.

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As with many of her dreams, it was the demons of her past which haunted her.

"Vegeta, we need to talk about this!"

"No, we don't. I told you I didn't want to have the child. And now you're having a child! For what? Do you think that will make me want to stay, woman? When will you realize that I do not care."

The words hurt, a great deal. She really did love Vegeta, or at least she thought she did. The closer she got to him, the harder he pushed away. It was just getting to the point where she couldn't do it anymore. The pregnancy hadn't exactly been her idea either, mutual irresponsibility had been a large part of it.

"Vegeta I know! But we can't exactly do much about it! I wanted to wait for you to get back, and you went into Space for 7 months! Its a little late to talk about alternatives now!"

Vegeta sneered at her before walking past.

"Fine, have the blasted child. I don't care Bulma, either way we are through."

Bulma felt herself beginning to sob. Vegeta froze for a moment, turning towards her as if he hadn't expected that, through blurred vision as she tried to hold back tears she saw the genuine shock on his face. For a second, she could swear she even saw regret.

"I don't care about your child, Bulma," he finally said. "Son, daughter, it doesn't concern me. It is your burden, not mine." his words were utterly indifferent and final. It was the last time she spoke with him, and a year later, shortly after Piccolo died, he died. Worst of all, he'd never even met Trunks, his son.

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It was then that she heard two footsteps behind her. Eyes flashed open as she turned her head. She was so relieved. She'd not seen Trunks in... in...

All thought stopped as the very quiet figure of Gohan emerged from the shadows, in his arms the body of a boy. He looked like a broken doll. The way his head unnaturally hanged to the side, his mouth half open. One of his arms was broken, and the leg... the leg looked terrible, worse than she'd seen in a long time.

The boy in his arms was her son. Her own body began to tremble before she jumped to her feet.

"Quickly, we have to get him to a bed! I'll get a doctor!"

Gohan didn't move however, his eyes unable to meet hers.

"That won't help him, Bulma," his voice was very, very quiet.

It was first when Gohan wasn't moving, and then when his words cut through the noise buzzing in her head about how to help Trunks that Bulma felt something break inside. Her heart fell out of her as he said those words. He couldn't look at her.

Without another second, Bulma broke into tears. Sobbing she walked over to Gohan, huddling over the body of her son. The son she'd always been proud of, the son she'd always wanted. The boy who had dreams as big as saving the world, and as normal as wanting to see the father he'd never met. But that was all gone now, those dreams died with him.

And her dreams died with him.

There was almost an inhuman cry of pain that escaped Bulma's lips as she tried to coddle the body. Gohan held firm, looking ahead as he tried himself not to give in to the sadness. He'd already shed so many tears for others it was hard to produce more. But Bulma's pain was enough to overwhelm him, a few stray tears shedding from his eyes. He couldn't reach up to wipe them away, of course, because Trunks was still in his arms.

Finally however, the question came.

"How?" Bulma barely whispered. "How did this happen?"

But he knew he didn't have to answer, Bulma wasn't asking him, the one person she should ask. She was asking the world how it allowed her child to be taken away from her. Something countless other mothers and father's had been asking for over a decade since the Androids appeared.

This couldn't go on anymore.

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Bulma spent a week almost in a trance. There were no burials anymore, it just didn't happen, because you knew the Androids would attack a funeral, or blow up a cemetery anyway. Trunks was in an urn, on the table in front of Bulma.

Gohan had been with her the most of the time since Trunks' death. He had to be, he was guilty in all this himself.

He knew she wasn't just thinking about Trunks, Trunks' death brought up Vegeta in a lot of uncomfortable ways as well. She barely ate, he knew she was barely sleeping, and she didn't even throw herself into her work.

He'd known she was working on the time machine. If he could go back and save Trunks he would. If he could go back and save everyone he would, even his father. But that was just a fantasy...

Briefly leaving Bulma, he walked into her lab, looking at the project she'd assembled. It was so close to being finished, according to Bulma the last few times they'd spoken about it, before the tragedy. His eyes didn't leave the vehicle for a second as he slowly backed out of the room.

Rushing down the hall, Gohan stopped in the room which Bulma still resided in.

"Bulma."

Her face didn't look up from the urn.

"Bulma. Listen to me. We have to complete the time machine," he told her. "Think, we can go back, we can make sure this doesn't happen."

Slowly, the middle aged woman turned her face towards Gohan, her eyes almost pleading with her to tell her more.

"You told me we might be able to save my dad. If I go back in time, we can save my father, and stop the Androids."

"But it won't bring Trunks back," she finally responded quietly.

"What?"

"It won't bring Trunks back. It will just... It will just make a different time-line," she bitterly whispered.

"Even if it does, Bulma. That will mean that someone else, won't lose their son the way you lost Trunks. The way we lost Trunks."

With a glance towards the urn, she carefully placed her hand on it. Her eyes wouldn't leave it for that moment. This was what Trunks would have wanted.

Standing up for what seemed like the first time in years, Bulma cautiously took steps towards the door, towards her laboratory.

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Two Years Later:

"What are you still doing here? Don't you have that cute Devil girl to comfort you?" Bulma asked with a half smile.

"Videl, Bulma, her name is Videl." Gohan corrected. "And yea, we see each other a lot, basically when I'm not here or training," he half laughed.

The comment made Bulma very, very quiet however, her eyes tracing up to Gohan seriously, it was like she was looking through him when he said that.

"So you never see her," the voice that said it was one of a woman burned, someone who'd been left behind by her own past. It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Vegeta.

It didn't take much for Gohan to realize where the comment had come from. The truth of the matter wasn't as simple as he'd liked either. Really, he didn't see Videl enough, it was true. They'd nearly broken it off a dozen times now, she was constantly afraid for him, and rightly so. One day he was sure the Androids would finish him, and she didn't want the burden of his death in her life, but they could mutually never go through with it.

The last time they'd talked, the pair had wondered about a family. And that was over a month ago now, because the truth was any family they had would be in constant danger, just as everyone else was on the Earth. But worse, his family would be the victims of the Androids much sooner, as he'd die much sooner.

"It's been a little while, yea," Gohan admitted to Bulma. "It'll get better once the Androids are destroyed though."

In a brief moment, Bulma remembered an all too familiar conversation.

"When will you spend more time with me?"

The irritated look Vegeta gave her said everything. He didn't want to talk to her about it. What was she, just some piece of meat? Anger rose in Bulma's core as she scowled at Vegeta. It was always like he didn't care. But he had to care deep down, she knew it.

"When I am finished with my training, woman." Vegeta responded, waving his hand dismissively towards her. "Now if you are done, woman. I am going to continue training."

Silently, Bulma stood there feeling... empty. Vegeta hadn't meant done training for the day, and she knew it. He'd just told her he never intended to spend time with her. Just what had she gotten herself into?

Bulma felt weak, before looking at Gohan. It couldn't be the same as what she'd gone through, it couldn't. The young man in front of her was... he was much kinder than Vegeta had ever been. It was painful to admit that, but it was true, and if she'd learned one thing it was the truth mattered. But he was probably hurting her as much as she'd been hurt by Vegeta.

"Gohan, you can't do this to her," Bulma finally said. "I don't even know the poor thing, but you need to make a decision. Are you going to be stronger than the androids training like you are? If so, you need to leave her behind. If you are going to need the time machine, if you need to go into the past, spend time with her, have a life beyond just this. Whoever she is, she must be amazing, but don't string her along. Don't abandon her like... like I was. Like your mom always was."

When the words came from Bulma, Gohan felt guilt wrap around the pit of his stomach. He knew where she was coming from. It was something he'd seen his whole life with his father, and he knew Bulma had seen it with Vegeta.

"I... I understand," he finally said.

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It would be almost three years before the machine was completed.

All Gohan could do was stare at the device.

Bulma had written on the side "Trunks", in memory of her lost son. Below that she'd written "Hope!"

Gohan felt it was fitting. Looking at Bulma a second later, he swallowed nervously.

"So, this thing will work, right Bulma?"

The smile she gave in response was of course, typical Bulma. "It should work."

Oh great, being a comedian when you are going to have me bend the walls of space and time, thanks Bulma.

"Gohan," Bulma finally said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

Gohan looked at her, seeing the look on her face and knowing she wanted to say something. He smiled quietly in response.

"I just want to thank you, for staying here with me as much as you have. Its meant the world to me, I don't know how I could have gone on without you here."

Gohan's guilt weighed heavily on him in that moment. He didn't just have to set things right for his father and his friends, but also for Trunks, his student. He had to save them all. But there was something he couldn't keep in anymore.

"Bulma. I."

Bulma looked up, hearing Gohan finally beginning to speak.

"I remember when you asked, after Trunks died. How could it happen?" he said finally. "I trained Trunks. I trained him even after you told me not to. I was there when Trunks died. He tried to intervene in a fight I was having with the Androids. I failed him, Bulma. I let him come along and when he did, he was so eager to prove himself, he pushed himself too hard, too fast," Gohan said, the words pained as he spoke them. "I lead him into his death, Bulma."

His head turned painfully away from Bulma as his eyes closed from the a quiet agony of finally saying the words which had haunted him for three years.

Bulma knew that Trunks had been killed, she'd just not known how the Androids did it. She'd not known why he'd been where they were at one time. It was something she'd never asked Gohan because she didn't want to know the answer. It felt toxic, it was the answer she'd been terrified of hearing for three years. She'd trusted Gohan so deeply, and he'd promised her this wouldn't happen.

She grasped his hand a second later, looking up at him as he slowly turned back towards her. With a firm push, she delivered the pills for Goku's heart into his hand.

Gohan saw the look in her eyes, a quiet anger, but also a sympathy.

"My son is gone, Gohan," Bulma finally said. "That is something I have to live with for the rest of my life. And I know its something you'll have to live with as well," she finally said. "I am not Trunks, I cannot accept any apologies you have for him. But. I forgive you for not telling me this sooner." Bulma's eyes almost seemed to lower with the last words. "I love you as if you were my own blood, Gohan. You are as much my son as Trunks."

"Please, end this nightmare for all of us, Gohan," Bulma said quietly, though loud enough for Gohan to hear, as the pod to the time machine slowly opened.

Gohan nodded, slowly rising into the air, before landing in the machine, his face solemn and resolved.

Quietly standing there Bulma watched as Gohan looked back up at her from the controls, his eyes almost seeming soft for a moment.

"Goodbye Bulma,"

When he disappeared in a blinking flash, Bulma fell to her knees and felt herself choke back several breaths. He was gone.

Something in her stomach was terrified that she'd never see him again. And her mind thought that feeling was right.

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The Past:

The time was exactly right, everything looked as it was supposed to. Watching from the rocks, Gohan had seen the massive ship of Frieza and his father's touch down. This was it, the moment of their emergence. Within the next few minutes, his father would arrive by Instant Transmission, after Piccolo and Vegeta were defeated, and he'd crush Frieza and his father.

The moment had been ingrained in his mind since he was a little boy, since he saw it happen before his own eyes.

But, at the very moment Frieza and his family emerged, Gohan knew something was off... this wasn't what happened at all. Who was the third one there? The purple skinned alien looked like Frieza and his father, but somehow more collected. Something was very wrong. His mind raced to what it could be when... Trunks emerged?

Trunks? How is this possible? You aren't even born yet? What the hell are you even doing here?

The Trunks he saw looked... older. Perhaps two, maybe three years. But it was everything Gohan had not to fly out to see him, to try and find out what was going on. He couldn't come out, not now. No matter what it looked like out there, he needed to speak with Goku, and interference wasn't the right course of action.

For all he knew, this wasn't even the right world. Maybe the time machine had gotten it wrong.

I should go back now, and have Bulma recalibrate the device, maybe then I can-

Before his thoughts could continue much further, Trunks transformed into a Super Saiyan.

I always knew you had it in you, little brother.

For that moment, Gohan felt pride swell in his chest.. Trunks had struggled, and trained so hard to transform, seeing his golden hair standing straight up. It was incredible, and he was much stronger than he'd ever expected Trunks to be, even at that age.

Frieza didn't stand a chance.

The next few moments proved his suspicions right. A small dead pile of guards, and Frieza's attacks proving utterly impotent. It was when Trunks nearly killed Frieza a few moments later, that things began to turn...

The mystery one, the one he couldn't recognize, transformed. It was as terrible as watching Frieza change on Namek, his power was immense, far larger than Frieza's... and far larger than Trunks. What unfolded was a massacre, Gohan watched on with panic stricken eyes. It was getting bad, very bad.

This was no contest, Trunks was utterly crushed within minutes, he'd not even landed a real blow on Cooler. Feeling the power of the monster attacking Trunks, something began to rip into his mind.

I can't let this happen again. Where the hell is dad?! Why hasn't he Instant Transmissioned here yet? Is he waiting for Vegeta and Piccolo to step in?

Turning his head sharply, Gohan saw Raditz, his dad, Piccolo, Vege... his dad?

Standing there amongst the others, looking as shocked by the duel as anyone else, was what seemed to be Goku.

This world was different, it wasn't his. But this couldn't go on. It didn't matter if this was his world or not! He had to step in, he had to-

"S-somebody h-help m. ,"

The words were quiet, he shouldn't have been able to hear them, but steeled onyx eyes turned towards the scene. There was blood everywhere, and it was Trunks' blood. They'd even stolen his sword from him.

"No. I won't let it happen again."

The body of the frail teenager, dead on the ground in the shattered amusement park haunted his vision as he felt himself take off, white energy brimming from his still normal form.

Landing in front of Trunks, Gohan stared down the vicious monster which had destroyed his friend, his brother, so easily. This was it. He could sense just how powerful this Frieza look alike was, and ironically enough, he was guessing they were almost exactly equals.

It was a grim irony, as this wouldn't just be him coming to the rescue. This would be a fight for his own life, especially if Frieza and his father got involved. Quite bluntly he ignored the question of the ice named bastard in front of him, instead wanting to focus on Trunks' energy. This was bad, if they couldn't finish this soon, if he couldn't get Trunks help, he'd die.

Dad, please be a Super Saiyan in this world. I need your help.

Trunks was trying to speak behind him, trying to say something.

"Hold still," he ordered, before turning his head to Trunks. "I'll get you help as soon as I can Trunks. Just hold on,"

I just need you to hold on for me, please. I'll get you out of this Trunks, just... don't die on me again.

"I don't like being ignored, human."

The purple and white killer's remark was irritated, and rightly so. So far Gohan had done his best to ignore him, Trunks took priority. During the battle he'd have to get someone to get him out of here, or at least get him closer to safety. For now however, he had something to stop.

Power burst from his body in a golden aura, as his own hair spiked upwards slightly, turning golden in that very moment as turquoise blue eyes stared directly at the Arcosian. The beast Gohan would come to know as Cooler's entire posture changed, immediately going towards a more serious stance.

"Who... who is that?!" Frieza shouted from behind.

I'll deal with you next, or as soon as I can just in case you interfere.

"Be silent Frieza!" Cooler shouted back, his face mask locking over his face while he stared down Gohan.

I've got to stop him.

Blue eyes stared into red, as Gohan took up his own fighting position, preparing himself for a battle he had no choice but to win.

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A/N:

Sorry for the big delays everyone. I've been hugely behind on my writing and I'm trying my best to catch up. Neither this, nor the Long Road are being abandoned, I'm just dealing with a lot still right now. I apologize if these delays disappoint anyone.

I'll be answering reviews in my next chapter. I'm a bit strapped for time right now, but rest assured I thank everyone for commenting, and appreciate all feedback. :)