Disclaimer, in case it wasn't obvious. I don't own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, or really any other property. Thank you.
The Catalyst
Chapter 45: Truth
Future Gohan:
It was hard to even pull himself forward. His head was ringing in his ears and it wouldn't stop, and he could tell that his head had received some level of trauma. Even then everything was in a haze. The taste of copper in his mouth was another thing he noticed as he groggily moved his head up, trying to keep himself awake. Barely, he tried to sit up, trying to get his bearings, when he immediately felt a hand on his shoulder, trying to ease him down.
"Easy, you don't want to exert yourself," a voice he'd not heard in years said.
It was unreal when the full realization hit him. It was his dad. For a second he just wanted to let joy overtake him, Hell, he could just grab him into the strongest hug he could. After all the nightmares he'd faced in his own time, the idea of finally being home was almost foreign to him. But part of this working meant that he couldn't just give that away, not readily. The others were scattered around them, trying to piece together what had happened, and trying to see what they could salvage of themselves.
Dad, there is so much I want to talk to you about. There is so much I need to warn you about and so many people who need you. I tried to replace you but I never could. I just want-
All of his thoughts began to fail him as he sensed something far more tragic.
Trunks.
The apprentice he'd failed. The body he'd delivered, stiff and cold, to Bulma to deal with. The whole reason he'd stepped in and fought Cooler was to keep Trunks alive, and now he could sense him slipping. It was so faint already and... and he started to panic. Sitting up again, this time aggressively, he looked over, seeing Bulma kneeling over the body of her son. The image wasn't lost on him. She had no idea who it was, and standing statically behind it all was Vegeta, watching with ever... suspicious eyes.
The only hope Trunks had was a Senzu Bean, or a hospital.
When Goku moved to help him up, Gohan grabbed his father's Yadrat garb, before shoving him back.
"Don't bother with me!" he shouted immediately, before pointing at Trunks. "Him! You need to get him help! Now! Instant Transmission!"
There was a stunned look on Goku's part, and of course Gohan knew why. He hadn't told anyone about the technique yet, but it didn't matter. He needed to use it, or Trunks was finished.
"How did you-"
"NOW!"
Steeling himself, Goku nodded in turn, and Gohan felt relief wash over him in that second. As soon as his father disappeared and appeared next to Trunks, kneeling down and grabbing his arm, the two seemingly vaporized into nothingness. The idea of Trunks dying here, and never being able to go home, was too much for him. It happened in his own world, and where ever Trunks came from in his own world, it was wrong all the same. Everything else seemed secondary to him, if only because in some strange way, he felt like he could somehow save him where he'd failed before.
I'm not going to let it happen again, no matter what I need to do.
"Well, aren't you interesting," a voice cut in, and Gohan turned towards it.
It was him again. This was the Saiyan he'd seen at first and thought it was his father. But the darker complexion to his skin told him otherwise, as well as his completely different garb. Standing next to him was another sight he'd never thought he'd see again... Raditz.
"It's not every day that someone gives orders to our dear brother Kakarot," the Saiyan remarked. "Especially when they're weaker than he is. In fact, its strange that Kakarot entirely disappeared. Without a trace."
"He's using a new technique called instant transmission-"
"Show me how it works," the Saiyan ordered. "I want it for myself."
Whose giving the orders now? Man this guy has a bad attitude. How did he get here? And what the Hell is Raditz doing?
"I don't know. Who the Hell are you anyway? You look just like Goku, only you're not-"
Spitting in front of him a second later, the Saiyan's false, and poorly acted, compassion completely disappeared.
"I am Turles. I am not as weak as Kakarot in character," he responded coolly. "And who are you exactly? Another Super Saiyan? Another duo of Super Saiyans?"
Well, he asks more questions than dad ever did.
Slowly rising to his feet, even if it was with a wobble, Gohan stared back at him coolly, tightening his jaw as he refused to answer the enquires. He wouldn't have told his own father who he was right now, let along this guy. When he looked over towards Raditz, he felt himself almost nervously stare back at him. How different was this world, where his father had a double, and his uncle was here and not trying to kill them?
"Well brother, I can see that he's quite interested in answering your questions," Raditz remarked, stepping forward himself. "Where did you come from? Answer me now."
"For two guys a lot weaker than I am, you're making a lot of demands. And who said anything about me having to cooperate with anything either of you say?"
Immediately two glares were directed towards him, before Gohan carefully took a few steps, making sure he was still okay to walk, moving past them. As he moved past, he could definitely sense the anger rolling off the two of them. Even as he did, he looked over the others, trying to see what else was different in this world.
There was Tien, Yamcha, and Krillin first. They looked exactly like they did in his time, and all of them seemed to be exactly as he remembered, which was relieving. He'd have to speak to them more in-depth to really know, but right now he didn't have time for that. Next of course, he looked towards his younger self. There he was sitting next to Piccolo, the two of them looking utterly exhausted. It was hard not to rush towards Piccolo and talk to him. The guy was his second father in most respects, but again, he knew not to right now. Of course, Piccolo had ears. The only risk right now was that he'd heard Cooler call him Gohan.
"You're wearing Kakarot's garb, and yet your not anyone we've met before," Vegeta remarked, bringing Gohan's attention to the last of the Saiyans here.
Man, its still weird trying to figure out what changed in this world to have this Turles guy and Raditz here. Wait, didn't Raditz call him brother just a minute ago? I've got another crazy, Saiyan uncle? Man, this is nuts... wait a second, did he just ask why I'm dressed like dad?... Uh oh.
It figured Vegeta would be the first one to really notice.
"Can't answer that right now," Gohan responded.
"Then tell us where you and the other Saiyan came from, boy," Vegeta added. "And don't presume us to be stupid while you're doing it."
"It's kinda hard not to, because I'm stronger than everyone here except for Son Goku," he said with a casual shrug to his shoulders. "And you, as well as Goku-lite and Raditz over there, keep trying to push me around when I'm stronger."
That's right, play up the fact your more powerful to get them to back off. Man, I just wish I could sit down and have a normal conversation. I hate pulling off this tough-guy look, I'm bad at it, especially with people I know.
"That's enough," Piccolo called out. "We'll wait for Goku to get back before we find out what's going on. I'm sure that our friend here is really here to speak with him anyway."
Oh he definitely knows, shit. I know that kind of attitude too well. Don't drop the act, let's just keep things going. I really, really can't let them know how excited I am right now to see all of them alive.
And it was true. He was even happy to see Vegeta. These were the people who really defended the Earth. These were the people who'd tried to defend his world from the Androids. They were the people who bled next to him, and the ones who'd... died. In a lot of ways, he imagined the world would be a better place if only... someone like Vegeta, or Piccolo had lived instead, and not him. They'd started from such a higher point of power, maybe they could have trained hard enough to stop the androids. Maybe if they'd been the ones there, Trunks wouldn't have died as well.
This place had everything his own world didn't. The more he realized it, the more he wished this were his own time. It was of course, just the reminder of his boyhood dreams. It was everything he'd wanted since he survived the first encounter with the androids. It was to see everyone alive and well, from his father to even Vegeta. But this wasn't his world. His world desperately needed someone to save them, and he was the best they had. If he could save this world, or at least help save it, then maybe he could save his own world as well.
When Goku reappeared a second later, blood staining his clothes from all of the wounds Trunks had sustained, he just looked uncomfortable.
Gohan had a feeling a small piece of his happiness would be stripped away from him.
Trunks.
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Vegeta:
This is ridiculous.
Only a year ago, he was the strongest Saiyan alive. Even Kakarot would have lost to him in true single's combat. Now look at him. The only Saiyan he was stronger than was Raditz and a child. Turles still outpaced him, Kakarot overwhelmed everyone, and now there were two more Super Saiyans who came seemingly out of nowhere. It was an an insult to him and everything he'd been told as a child. He was the chosen one, the Saiyan which all others would look to. Or at least that was what he was supposed to be. Now he was increasingly ignored, and mocked by these false ones. Every one of them didn't deserve what he had always been destined to become.
As soon as I become a Super Saiyan, we'll see just how smug all of you are.
When Kakarot had dragged off the weakest of the Super Saiyans, he'd assumed that a Senzu Bean would be provided for the boy, but the look on his face right now, and the blood on his attire, told him otherwise. How had Kakarot travelled so quickly? It was confusing to say the least. The fact he'd arrived from seemingly nowhere as well, meant that it was even more confusing. Just how was Kakarot jumping from place to place like this?
"Well, Kakarot," Raditz' voice cut in, breaking the silence. "You're certainly moving from place to place with great haste. And that power of yours has only grown. What exactly-"
"How is it?" the mysterious Saiyan, dressed like Kakarot cut off. "He's not with you, which means you couldn't get him a Bean. So, hospital then?"
This has gotten ridiculous.
With a sneer forming on his face, Vegeta stepped forward again, his arms still crossed.
"Ridiculous. You know about the beans, you are wearing the same fighting gi that this idiot normally wears, and you seem to know all of us. And you're a Super Saiyan. I demand answers, and if Kakarot weren't such a moron, he would demand answers as well."
As if completely ignoring him, Kakarot just stared at the man before uncomfortably rubbing the back of his head.
"Your friend, I'm guessing he's your friend, is doing really bad. Korin told me he'd have a senzu bean for me tomorrow or the day after. So he's in the hospital right now in West City, but he's really banged up," he said patiently. "And uhm... I dunno if he's going to make it until we get a bean."
The reaction was almost instant. The blood drained from the other Saiyan's face. It looked almost exactly like someone had told him that his brother had been killed, which Vegeta only further added to his mental notes about this duo of Super Saiyans. The two shocked eyes stared at Kakarot for almost a minute as he struggled to response.
"Well," Turles remarked. "It looks like something has finally hit a nerve for our Super Saiyan comrade. It's so tragic that there will be one less Super Saiyan for me to-"
Boom.
Everyone almost jumped back as Turles's head snapped back and up from an uppercut none of them were able to follow. In the brief second before his body shot back, Vegeta could see the glassy look in his eyes. Raditz seemed to be in utter shock. Of course, Raditz had always been a lapdog. So the fact that he was now orbiting Turles didn't surprise him in the slightest. Of course, the fact that someone who'd humiliated him was knocked out in a single blow, would normally bring a smile to Vegeta's face, but in this instance it built in him a caution.
Everyone was in a brief rustle, before Turles's frame hit the ground unmoving, save for the shallow rise and fall of his chest.
"That's enough," Kakarot ordered, which immediately made the man freeze in place.
"That's my best friend," the figure then said, turning to look at Kakarot. "You have no idea what we've been through together. I'm not-"
Raising his hands as if to calm him down, Kakarot slowly started to walk forward.
"No one is going to hurt your friend, alright? Besides, I wanna know just how you guys got so strong! Gosh, I didn't even think I'd run across someone stronger than Frieza or his dad. And both of you did, which is crazy. And you're even wearing a fighting gi like mine, which is nuts. How do I know you? How do you know us?"
Looking around at everyone else, the man just breathed out evenly.
"All of that doesn't matter, all that matters is trying to save- my friend. Look, I'll tell you everything in private. I came here to- look it's complicated. I just-"
"nna?" Turles mumbled in the background as he started to slowly come to, Kakarot's brat walking over to see how he was doing.
"Alright," Kakarot responded. "We'll speak in private. But if you want to help your friend, he's going to need some blood apparently-"
It was an outrage that Kakarot was going to speak with this upstart on his own, and leave the rest of them secluded. It was even more outrageous that he'd leave him out as well. Very shortly, Vegeta would reclaim the title of the Prince of all Saiyans. He would surpass Kakarot, Turles, and anyone else. Whether it be these two newcomers or otherwise. His power would climb to the highest peaks-
"Vegeta and Piccolo need to come as well," the figure then said bluntly.
Immediately black eyes moved to the fighter. Now that was interesting. With a smirk Vegeta cast a look towards Raditz, who glared back at him.
Well, how very interesting. The low-level scum isn't going to learn anything. My only disappointment is the fact this warrior is bother to invite Kakarot at all.
Stepping towards Kakarot, Vegeta just crossed his arms, trying to conceal how entitled he felt at that moment. The Namekian moved forward as well, only adding to his own disappointment.
"Alright, where are we going to talk?" Kakarot sounded off, trying to sound serious, and failing like he always did.
"We're going to have to go where Tr- my friend is. We'll talk there."
"Alright! Instant Transmission!"
Instant Transmission?
Before the thought could be finished, Vegeta felt Kakarot grab his arm.
"Hold on a secon-" before he could finish, everything changed.
The world suddenly blurred into motion. It was as if everything in the universe froze, and then blurred into nothingness. In a furry of colour and motion, Vegeta then felt himself appear on a well cut grass lawn. Noise filled the air, familiar to a human city.
Incredible. We must have travelled across the entire planet in the blink of an eye.
The Namekian looked equally fazed by it, however the newcomer seemed utterly used to it. He immediately looked up to the medical facilities they were now in front of. Humans bustled past the sidewalk, some with the look of medical professionals. Turning towards the building again, Vegeta just crossed his arms.
"So, what is so important to-" Vegeta couldn't finish his sentence before the Saiyan newcomer stared at him.
"Vegeta, I know you're used to be difficult. But I need you to do something extremely important before we-"
"Answers," Vegeta responded, before giving a smirk to the Namekian and Kakarot. "Or you can't expect anything from me."
Reluctantly, the orange clad warrior breathed out carefully.
"My friend and I come from the future. We come from two different futures. I don't understand how we got here separately, given each time line should have its own past. But if you've gotta know... I'm Gohan."
The Namekian's eyes widened first, before Kakarot's did next as the two came to the realization. It fit, of course, given that he looked like Kakarot and his stupid family. The fighting gi now made sense as well, given that he was dressing like his father. With a small flinch of his cheek and a half smirk that lasted only a second, Vegeta just continued to look unimpressed however.
Why did this boy come all the way across time? Is he so weak in his future that he somehow needs our help to go back? I'm only guessing so-
"In my time, there are two terrible androids who killed all of you. They arrive in three years near South City. First they killed you, Vegeta," Gohan said, pointing his finger at him. "And then you Piccolo. Dad," Gohan paused before staring at his father. "Dad, they-"
"This is crazy," Kakarot managed, looking at his son with huge eyes. "Oh man! Chi-Chi's not gonna believe this. This is going to be so weird-"
"Dad, this is serious. I need you to-"
"Jeeze, you're taller than me! No offence, but I didn't really imagine you'd get this big! Oh! Did you learn any new fighting tech-"
"DAD!"
Kakarot finally stopped, and Vegeta felt relief wash over him.
"Gohan," Piccolo's voice cut in. "What's the point in telling us this-"
"In my time, there isn't much hope. I'm the only one left. Everyone else is dead. This world is a lot different than my own time's however. In my world, Raditz died on Earth fighting dad and Piccolo. And I don't even know a Turles."
"You're lucky," Vegeta cut in, still glaring.
So, Kakarot's son became a Super Saiyan. And I was killed? That's impossible. How could this come to pass? These androids he mentioned managed to supersede me, even in my new form? Ridiculous. It's impossible, and... I let them humiliate me again.
"What about your friend?" Piccolo asked, looking towards the hospital. "He seems strong."
With another pause, Gohan swallowed before shaking his head.
"That's what makes this so weird. Trunks... Trunks came here too. But I don't know how. I can only guess that he's from another time line. I don't know how we both got here, Bulma just made the ship for me."
Typical woman. Weak and unable to fight herself, so she conscripts the boy to go in her place to-
"In my time. Trunks. Died."
With a roll of his eyes, Vegeta just turned away. As if he cared that Kakarot's other brat got killed in some future time line. It didn't matter to him if he got killed in this time line. Knowing the moment of your own death, or at least its destination, didn't discourage Vegeta at all. If anything, it was knowing that a powerful foe was coming that it reinvigorated him.
Not only will I be the strongest of the Saiyans, it will be I who defeats these androids. I will train harder than anyone has ever attempted. And when I finish, when I am perfected, whole worlds will tremble not at the spoken name of Vegeta, but at the mere thought of me.
With the shock lifted, Vegeta smirked again.
"So, you're sad to see the boy in such dire straights? It was truly foolish of that imbecile Turles to open his mouth then, wasn't it?"
There was just a cool look from Gohan in turn.
"Vegeta, it may be important to you. Because if Trunks needs blood-"
"Kakarot is right here, isn't he? Is he a matching donor for your little friend?"
"No, he's not," Gohan said. "Vegeta, I invited you here and told you all this, because I thought this would be the only way for you to give blood. Trunks is one of the strongest people I've ever known, in spirit and in power. He's a good kid, and he's like the little brother I never had. I can't let him just die again. Even if he's not the Trunks I knew, I could see just by looking at him how much the same-"
"Me? Why would I need to give blood to some low level?" Vegeta scoffed.
Ridiculous. Some human or another Saiyan can give to this lapdog. If he dies, he dies.
"Because he carries the royal linage of the Saiyan's in his blood, Vegeta. In my time, without you around, there haven't been any donors. He had a few close calls until Bulma developed her synthetic blood substitute for Saiyan-"
Both Kakarot and the Namek's eyes widened as they came to a realization. It took Vegeta seconds to catch up to them, and exactly what this Future Gohan was saying.
... Impossible.
"Trunks is your son, Vegeta."
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Raditz:
More Super Saiyans around. More dangerous Super Saiyans around at that.
Turles was still recovering from the sucker-punch the other Saiyan had landed, sitting there with a far off look in his eyes. It was quite a blow to land his younger brother on his back and out cold. The only one beyond himself who seemed concerned in any way was his nephew. Gohan was standing nearby, knowing better than to ask if his uncle was alright. Raditz knew that far too well himself. Looking out across to the humans, he could see Yamcha and Bulma standing off to one side, as she glared towards Turles.
The serves him right stare he was getting of course, let Raditz know more than enough. The others were holding back themselves. All of them were now beginning to blather on about the battle, or about the new arrivals.
"It's so weird, more Saiyans, but from where?" Krillin asked.
"Who knows? Maybe they travelled here from another planet?" Tien responded.
"Yea right," Yamcha called in. "That one looked almost like he was from the future. It was crazy. Maybe they're time travellers."
What a joke.
"Enough speculating. Kakarot and the others will get back here with the real answers soon," Raditz responded.
They killed Frieza and defeated him and his father as if they were child's play. The only one which stood a chance was that older brother. Kakarot, you fool... letting him escape may damn us all.
Turning back towards Turles, he saw his brother trying to rise.
"Thought because he dressed like Kakarot, he'd respond like Kakarot?" Raditz asked, smirking as he did.
"Think because I look like Kakarot, I'll take you shit like Kakarot?" Turles countered, which immediately made Raditz tighten his lips in turn.
Taking a few steps back himself, Gohan gave the other Saiyan some distance. It was hard to read Turles sometimes, and right now he seemed entirely too calm. After everything they'd just went through, Raditz knew something was off. He could see the resentment in his brother's eyes. For almost a year he'd been the most powerful being on this planet, with the only opposition to his wants being himself, Vegeta, or Piccolo. Now he was cast down from his place atop the mountain, unceremoniously, by a single blow from a stranger.
"Where is Kakarot?" he sneered, the mask of indifference disappearing.
The long haired Saiyan stepped closer to Gohan, feeling his own nerves rising.
"You saw them leave, brother," he responded. "Were you still too out of it to notice? They'll be back."
"Kakarot is going to show me how to transform, now."
Well, this is deteriorating.
"Turles, my dad isn't here," Gohan's voice cut in. "I'm sure he'll show you later-"
"I will not be humiliated. Not by Frieza, and not by these wretched creatures pretending to be Saiyans. There are no other survivors. They can't have come from this world. They're-"
"Look," Raditz stopped him. "We're stuck here. We're waiting for Kakarot, Vegeta, and Piccolo. That's the end of the discussion."
Part of him was already kicking himself for having ordered Turles to do anything. But he stared back at him harshly, letting his brother know that there was no room for argument. The tired eyes of his younger brother seemed to slowly retreat, before his features hardened. Taking a dangerous step forward, Turles slowly closed his right hand into a fist.
"What did you just say to me, brother?"
Much to Raditz's surprise again, it was his nephew who responded.
"He said that you're going to have to wait," Gohan shot up. "And we all have to."
"Yea," Krillin's voice cut in, as the humans slowly started to rally around them.
"What makes you so special anyway?" Tien added. "If we have to wait, so do you."
To say that his brother looked like he was ready to boil, was an immense understatement. A deep purple aura washed over him as he glared back at all of them. Fragments of rocks scattered away from him as he scowled hatefully back at all of them.
"I'll go to them myself then! And if you think for a moment that we're done playing this little game, you have another thing coming."
In a flash of motion, the body bolted into the air before thundering with a sonic boom as his frame was carried off into the clouds.
"That guy, has some serious mental health problems," Yamcha's voice cut in.
"Shut up, Yamcha," the only pure blooded Saiyan there quickly shot back.
Brother. Now is not the time for this.
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Vegeta:
"Trunks is your son, Vegeta."
...
Son?
Almost immediately, Vegeta just wanted to be alone. Part of him wanted to reject it immediately, to cast it aside. But if this was indeed Gohan from the future, than there was no doubt that it was his son now lying in a hospital bed. The mother of the boy didn't matter, not right now anyway. The first thing that came to his mind, was that his son was a failure. Even his progeny couldn't seemingly keep up. It was his son that died, in this Gohan's time line. And even now that this other Trunks... what an odd name... came, he was still much weaker than Gohan as well. It was like the future was mocking him.
Before he could even protest it, Kakarot grabbed his arm, and Gohan's, before they appeared inside the building. It was almost disorienting before he looked around the hospital room, looking over to see doctors worrying over the broken and beaten body of his son. Even now he searched for something common about his features, as if to confirm this new vicious rumour. And he saw it right away in the unconscious boy's features. They were hardly identical, but they were close enough... too close for comfort. The cuts and slashes across his body, most of which were from his own sword, made Vegeta just give a long slow growl.
So I'm the blood bag you need? I'm expected to swoop in and save this boy? A Super Saiyan shouldn't need my help.
This wasn't his son. He didn't have a son. This was some time travelling aberration. It was an alternate reality's creation. He, Prince Vegeta, would never sully his bloodline with human blood. It was obvious given that there were no Saiyan women on this world, and because of the boy's bizarre hair colouration. The slow beep of the monitor watching his chest, as well as several other readings, procured Vegeta's attention briefly before looking back towards Gohan and then Kakarot.
"So, we'll grab some doctors and they'll-"
"Do no such thing," Vegeta cut off Gohan.
Immediately, Vegeta felt the tension spike in the room. The other Saiyan's eyes widened with surprise, and he could see his stance stiffen. The shock was quickly replaced by a serious, almost angry look.
"Why the Hell not, Vegeta? That's your son, and he needs help. A little bit of blood isn't going to kill you, and if he gets it, he has a much better chance of-"
Every Super Saiyan he'd seen was now like this. All of them were weak. Kakarot was weak, this Gohan was weak, and the boy laying on the bed bleeding, was weak. What kind of son would he have, if he simply died like this? If he was really his son, then he wouldn't need his help. There wouldn't be a need to coddle him like some child. This boy was a Super Saiyan. If he died, then so be it.
"That is not my son. I wouldn't touch some lowly human, let alone spread my blood through this wretched planet's blood. If he has my blood flowing through his veins, as you say he does, then he can prove it by surviving this on his own."
With that, Vegeta started to walk.
"Vegeta, wait," Kakarot implored, to which Vegeta just caste his hand behind him flippantly.
"You died before you could ever have met him, Vegeta," Gohan's voice followed. "All he's ever wanted was to be as strong as you were. He asked me every time we saw each other, what his father was like, and I told him you were a proud warrior, Vegeta! Vegeta get back here! VEGETA!"
The words calling after him were designed to make him what? Care? As if he knew this Trunks somehow? Trunks... what an awful name. Walking into the hall, he left it all behind him. He would prepare for these Androids himself. He didn't need anyone, least of all Kakarot, Turles, Trunks, Raditz, or anyone else for that matter.
My destiny is to be alone at the top of my power. To be unreachable.
Sensing the air around him quiver for a moment, Vegeta already knew that Gohan had moved past him in a blur. Random trays with medical supplies flipped over around him, and there was a huge woosh of force, knocking several patents and staff over. Two hands grabbed him by the front of his shirt, hoisting him into the air furiously.
"You're just going to walk out on him? You're going to walk out on him like you walked out on his mom? I just told you, that is your son back there! Do the right thing, for once Vegeta, do the right thing!"
For all of his power, Gohan was helpless and he knew it. And quote honestly, that made Vegeta happy. He could see how helpless the other Saiyan felt. So attached to someone else. Vegeta would have disposed of Nappa, Raditz, and a dozen others he knew for decades. He didn't know this boy, and quite frankly, he didn't want to.
With a sneer, Vegeta just looked down at Gohan as he was held in the air.
"Are you done yet, Kakarot's brat?" he asked bluntly. "I need to train to defeat these androids."
The fury in the other man's eyes dimmed as he stared back at him. For a brief moment, he almost did feel pity for him. The disappointment that swirled into it next, just reinforced Vegeta's decision.
Within moments, he felt the hands slip away, dropping him to the ground.
Smirking back at his adversary, Vegeta just shoved past him with one shoulder.
"I never had the heart to tell Trunks what you really were, because he wanted to be just like you. He just wanted to know what his father was like, and I never wanted to disappoint him with the truth," Gohan shot from behind him, though Vegeta only continued to smirk. "I could never bring myself to tell him that you were a bastard to everyone, even his mom. That you only ever cared about yourself. And that even with that, you were never strong enough in character, or power, to surpass my father or Piccolo."
Even as his steps continued, Vegeta felt his smirk disappeared as the other Saiyan's words cut deep. It was enough to make him almost turn around and fire back with more than just words, but instead he just walked.
As if it matters what he, or any of these other fools thinks.
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Author's Notes:
Feels so weird adding the update to this story! lol
Well, a lot of people have asked for it, and they're getting it. The first chapter of The Catalyst posted in a long time. I really wanted to focus on Vegeta for this chapter more than anyone, as I really wanted to show his flaws. Even with the information that Trunks is his son, at this point, he wouldn't go out on a limb to save him. It's not done entirely maliciously, a lot of it is his perspective, even if its tainted with hypocrisy. Any son of his, any member of his family should be able to survive a day or two near death. If they can't? Well, that's not his problem, and it wasn't his son really anyway, so why lower himself by donating blood to save him?
Not sure how long it'll be before the next chapter's up, but it'll depend on how much attention the story gets. If people review and lots of people read this, then sweet, I'll probably have more routine updates.
The Long Road will be updated next week, with Chapter 50.
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Reviewers:
DaOneInDaCorner: Surprisingly close to who it is, though it's still canon characters.
Simgr101: I wouldn't expect Doctor Gero to turn non-humans into androids. Also, expect Doctor Gero related chapters at some point.
Perfect Carnage: Expect Cooler to get a chapter soon, that shows a lot of what's to happen. And expect a Slug Saga soon as well, even if its short.
Masenko56: Neat.
The Dark Wizard: I'm pretty excited for the coming up saga, if I find the time to write it. It really shines for Raditz, Turles, Vegeta, and Goku. The "Three Years" Saga, where they train.
Super Mystic Gohan: I wouldn't expect the humans to become breakout characters in regards to strength. Don't worry about the power levels broski :P
Jason9000: Will it haunt him? DUM DUM DUMMMMM
tomorrow4eva: Turles and Goku getting mistaken for one another is a major plot theme :P
Peter1398: In regards to King Cold. Cold could potentially be much more powerful, but he's too old now. Cold may even be stuck in his current form, around Frieza's strength or a little above it, because transforming further may be too stressful on his body, and may kill him. O.O
Runtu: Nope.
OMAC001: I agree.
Richardc269: You will see more King Cold, I just can't promise transformations.
Lmc9389: There are always more character deaths in my stories :P
wheathermangohanssj4: Yea, don't expect much on the pairings front for a while. There will be romance in the story to an extent, but I just think people want to see something spontaneous come out, and it's not going to happen. I won't list any pairings, as they'll be evident for themselves as the story goes forward.
PetrusMagnus: Thanks.