In yellow text in front of the stars…
Part Two of A Red Son: Imperial March
Earth has been conquered! Kakarrot and his Empire have occupied it. Kami has been captured. Roshi, Krillin, Yamcha, Launch, Tien and Chiaotzu are all dead.
The Emperor now free of his enemies has his party and his armies dig into the planet earth. He has begun his further plans of conquest with his soon to be built fleet and army of power armored soldiers.
The Emperor's grandfather the mad Dr. Gero meanwhile continues his cruel experiments to realize his dream of improved human race.
However, not all of the Emperor's enemy are dead. As a unfortunate aide is about to explain to the Emperor. In the briefing room in Imperial army headquarters formerly Red Ribbon army headquarters.
Chi-Chi and her friends along with group of commandos have escaped the now occupied Earth. They go in the hope that salvation from the shadow of the handled trident can be found.
But now they are in the unknown dangers of the cosmos were other monsters lie. Such as the other cruel tyrant that the universe fears known as Frieza.
Adding to the uncertain future is a baby growing in Chi-Chi from an unfortunate lapse of judgement in a night with the cruel overlord.
Far away from home the group struggles to cope with the loss of so many of the friends and deal with the triumphs of evil.
But they are alive and though a hope lives with them and those that still believe in mankind's freedom. Dark days still lie ahead but A New Hope is coming soon. Destined to bring down the forces of evil and restore balance to the cosmos.
His blood thirst voice screamed out to the unfortunate officer that had given this news to him "WHAT DO YOU MEAN CHI-CHI'S ESCAPED!" He said as Kakarrot hands seemed poised to rip the man's head off. His palm hair fizzed out. His hand's approaching the man's throat.
The generals and other officers in the meeting room look a mixture of nervous and scared while General Green and Colonel Teal just looked bored. The two looked like small children about to be yelled at by their father for breaking the neighbors window like they knew they did something wrong but didn't care to hear about it.
General Copper, General Silver, Staff Officer Black, Colonel Violet and Colonel Grey all look a bit more serious about what is happening.
Copper the chess master had very few tells but he was tapping his finger on the table quite quickly. Silver was sweating a bit, but it was hard to tell if it was because he had been forced by Kakarrot to wear a shirt especially for any sort of meetings. Black eyes were opened wide he was quite sure he was about to see his Fuhrer demonstrate his anger once again.
Violet was more in the middle she knew that this wasn't her fuck up and she saw that Green and Teal weren't worried, so she was just worried about some blood getting on her. Grey didn't seem nervous so much as agitated. He knew the Briefs and Chi-Chi would be a point of Resistance that some would gather around.
But as Kakarrot hand seemed to come at the young officer throat an older wiser voice piped up that just seemed to come into the room. "What is with all the angry shouting?" It was the good doctor Gero. The old man who had a smile on his mustached face which stopped newly declared emperor of the world.
The young officer slinked away as Kakarrot asked "Grandpa why are you smiling? Major Stryker, Captain Mai have possession of Chi-Chi and the Briefs the only people that could pose a threat to this new beginning. So why are you smiling."
Kakarrot seemed not the usual mad man but more like a child confused at why his parent was possible laughing at him. He didn't seem capable of imaging his adoptive parent could have anything but praise for him. This was alien territory and he didn't like it and that was clearly visible on his face.
"My child you have conquered the world today, the leaders of the Earth just kneeled before you and your worried about a beaten woman, two scientists and a small child?"
His hissed out and said in an almost whiny shout "But grandpa, Chi-Chi is mine! I claimed her. She is also the World Martial Arts Champion. I beat her yes, but she beat me once upon a time. Bulma and her father managed to copy easily a great deal of your work. His improvements may have turned the tide in the conflict if they had been allowed to. They are the last people on Earth that could interfere, and they are free."
Dr. Gero to this waved his hand dismissively and said to him "Then it is a good thing they are not on Earth." He took out a cigar and lit it as Kakarrot seemed further confused as the Doctor took his seat.
"What do you mean not on Earth?"
"Have I ever been one for riddles my son? They are not on Earth. During their pathetic world announcement my instruments detected a ship leaving the atmosphere. It was them I'm sure of it. Your enemies are running from you. You have won the day, but you are too busy being miserable to see this. Well unlike like you son I have waited a near lifetime for this moment and I plan to savor it." He said as he puffed away on his cigar.
Kakarrot seemed to absorb his words like a man reading words of the genius. His mood changed the invincible monster reappeared with a wolfish grin. The word of the doctor reminding the brutal blood-soaked tyrant who he was.
Kakarrot looked to Green and asked, "Are my Skulls at least in order?"
"Yes, my Emperor. You didn't crack any of them and the UNIT attack did not damage them. The flesh is already being removed from them. Soon the skulls of Tien, Yamcha, Krillin, Roshi, Launch and Chiaotzu will all be on your mantel in a day."
"I do love trophies… Alright Grandpa like usual is completely right. We have no remaining adversaries on Earth that could anything to me. We can hunt them down later. As for the rest of you it's time to put our plans into action. Copper" Copper got up and heiled. "As a part of the new restructure I name you Grand Moff my right hand. I want you to take the armies of Earth and fuse them together to recreate my new Imperial military along with Grand Admiral Grey" Grey jumped and heiled. "Build me a fleet one to conquer the stars. I want my new army and fleet familiar with the ships and power suits as we mass produce them. Which gets me to Black" He gets up and heils. "I name you Moff Black Vice President of the party, Prime minster of the Earth. We need to build up this planet. It will give the people jobs and will end this planet's poverty. Which gets me to money General Silver" Silver gets up and heils. "Under Black you will be the treasure czar. You will oversee the roll out of the KD (Kakarrot Dollar) to replace the Zenie. All traces of the old system must be erased. It will be a strong currency a currency of the people not banks. Violet" She rises and heils. "It's now General Violet in charge of PI (Public Information). You are to destroy every independent news source KT (Kakarrot Today) is now the only news on Earth. Take over for Mr. Foxman and have him killed. He has done his job but he is a part of the 1% and he needs to go. You need to convince everyone of the greatness of what is occurring. Make them remember their enemies are in space and that we are working for them while they work for us. Silver" He gets up quickly and heils. "Your job is also making my new palace. I'm thinking Ancient Rome meets Saddam make it bigger than Versailles I want the record for biggest Palace. I conquered the Earth. I think I deserve it. Green" He gets up a bit slower than others and heils. "Uncle despite this little fuck up I still trust you with hunting down my enemies along with cousin Teal. So, I name you Moff and put your sort of probably son to hunt down UNIT survivors and die-hard enemies of the new autocracy like Liberals, Republicans, Commies, Anarchists they all must go. Also, Teal" He gets up and heils. "…you're a General now and in charge of my new secret police the Moral Order, they'll police the army and the populace."
"Well thanks but don't expect me to not be in the line of fire and sit at a desk all day but I have some other good news for you. I have found a way for you to be a lot stronger."
"You have my attention."
"In addition to finding some upgrades to the power armor that Black is going to mass-produce I found what is called a Gravity chamber. You turn it on and suddenly you weight like you would on Jupiter or more. You said your home world had heavy gravity. Now's your chance to feel at home."
Kakarrot looked beyond ecstatic there was a spark in his eyes as he said "I have announced the Empire, but it is now truly born. A million-year Empire just got started today ladies and gentlemen. History is just going to love this."
9 months later…
In a dull sparse room maybe, an apartment there was a man in a chair was watching TV in this dim room. On the screen was the vapid stooges announcing the tenth marriage of the Emperor and the birth of his first daughter Livy with Tanman.
There was a man in the chair in this room with grey hair, glasses and a white mustache. He looked miserable watching the TV. He knew somewhere out there in that void his grandson and daughter were safe but here no one was safe.
The Morality Order as they called themselves were everywhere. Anyone who they didn't like were disappearing. None of the Royal officer captured in battle had returned home nor any UNIT agents. Anyone of any other pollical party or anyone who was a little to vocal about their beliefs, anyone who was an immoral minor as they put it disappeared.
No now the order of the day was subservient. Women ordered to breed, Men order to be in his army or work in his factories.
His despicable face was on the money now. The TV, internet the phones all his. The poster all shown on all the walls his likeness or his message 'Obey, Serve, Work, Hate.' They said things like 'were watch, were helping and war is peace.' He had seen them burning books in the streets on the TV. The lunatics truly now ran the asylum.
He hadn't been allowed out much. Bill's friend Major Sonnenburg said it was far too much of a risk to have him out and about. Dr. Brief as he said was a household name he was going to be recognized. He was used to wandering around a massive house with tons to do but now for the most part there was nothing to do but watch TV. He got to see that the world was further spiraling downwards.
The door smashed open and in a second the doctor took the gun out that the Major had given him pointed at the door. It wasn't however the stormtroopers here to take him but his friends in the Resistance.
They were carrying someone who was screaming. It was Miguel. She was screaming as they placed her on the table. The doctor didn't even need for them to say anything to him. She was very pregnant, and he knew what was happening. Worse yet through she was shot. Evidently the mission they were on must have gone south.
Hercule was hysterical while holding her hand as the doctor and the medic got to work. The baby was coming, and she was losing a lot of blood. The bullet was in the thigh. Based on the amount of blood that was coming out of her it was her Femoral artery.
'Fuck' he thought even in a hospital dealing with this is a dangerous. She would have had a better chance if she lost her leg. It would be easy to know what to do. There was only one thing that could be done.
He yelled to the medic to get some claps and he dug his fingers into her leg. He couldn't put her under. The baby for one, for two he needed her to tell him if he found the artery and third, he had no anesthesia to give her.
She was screaming but due to the situation he ordered one soldiers to inject her with adrenaline. She needed to stay awake he couldn't have her passing out from the pain.
The Brief was crying. He knew how much pain he was causing. He wasn't even a medical doctor. This was all just from memorizing textbooks and learning a few things from his college roommate who was a Resident a lifetime ago.
He got the claps and finally found the artery. She was going to make it he though. He squeezed down on the artery and she stopped screaming. He could feel her heartbeat.
She in her pale face and that pale face said some words that he just couldn't hear. He had blood in his ear and a heartbeat on his mind her words were just lost to him.
He got the clamps down on the artery but the pulse that was his enemy of a sort that was making her bleed more stopped dead. He could feel it stop.
Instantly he went into panic mode. His hands seemed to move on their own as they went to her chest trying to beat the breath life back into her. His mouth when to hers trying to breath for her.
One compression, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. It was after ten that the medic stopped him. She was dead. It was time to think about the baby.
Thankfully they had a medical textbook and turned the page to c-section. Unluckily all they had on hand was a butcher's knife. Meat was meat he figured but still all of this felt cruel in some way.
The knife sharp worked like it did with any meat. It easily sliced through her belly. He could at least say he was a good butcher. He got her open. The baby was lying in her motionless, making no noise.
It was a second patient that he lost to today he thought. He took maybe too long with the mother or just the shock but then a cry came from it. The baby was still alive. He pulled the babe out of the mother. He cut the cord. The medic wrapped the girl in a towel.
She was given to Hercule who was in agony. He hugged her as Brief told him the sex. He repeated the name that Miguel had wanted if it was a girl "Videl…"
The doctor felt himself breathing again as he was not sure if he was earlier during this. He was trembling. He was covered in her blood to the point that his hands and shirt were dripping. His eyes burned there was blood in his eyes that he hadn't noticed. He took out a cigarette that was red from blood that covered him and began to smoke as he sat in his chair.
The others took care of the body. He didn't know what they were going to do with her. He figured the best they could do for her was a shallow grave. Not that he was really thinking about that.
He was known to busy thinking about the baby. No hospitals, no vaccines the child will be exposed to a great deal hardship. They will have to steal baby food and the vaccines that she needed.
It was going to be a tough road ahead, but he heard her loud screaming. This girl was a born fighter by the sounds of it. She was going to need to be after all this was just the first fight there would be many more ahead for her.
Unknown World…
Bill's one eye stared out onto the bleak world in front of them. 'It was a city once' he thought as he stared at the crater below him. He was in his suit with his helmet off. His greying hair whipping in the icy wind as snow fell. His unshaved face wasn't doing much it wasn't really a beard yet.
This planet was colder than Earth, but it was still temperate. Plenty of oxygen more than earth in fact. He breathed like it was sea level even at this high of an elevation. Its suns were warm but weak.
The days were weird. The binary stars had awkward hours so even though it had just become daybreak suns down was coming. Then they would reappear just an hour later. So, a day just lasted an hour on this planet. A year as Bulma explained it was just one thousand days. A forty-one-day year or so. He would be an ancient on this planet.
It was not a permanent stop. It was too cold. Someone had already been here and stopping didn't seem like a good idea. The quantum entanglement radio that the doc had installed told him all he needed to hear.
Earth had become according to the doc a nightmare ala 1984. He was eventually going to start sending people looking for them so better they keep moving. No one was here so no one could teach Chi-Chi anything.
Behind him he could hear the crunch of maybe footsteps. He didn't get nervous he already knew who it was Mai. He could hear her taking off her helmet. She was probably wearing the green knitted cap that Chi-Chi had made for her.
"You seem to enjoy the scenery."
"Earth would have looked like this if not for Gero."
"Are you saying we should thank Gero?"
"No. This would have been better."
"Now that is a dark thought. At least with life there is a chance."
He wished to chance the subject quickly so he asked, "How is she doing?"
"Fine, she has Bulma and Dietrich. But she seems to want some else there."
"She asked for me?"
"By name. She seems to want you around."
"I'm waiting for Gorman and squad one."
"Funny, it kind of looks like your staring into space."
"I'm just seeing if anything's coming."
"No, you're avoiding coming back. The last month or two you have been so nervous around her."
"It called vigilance Mai."
"I'd call it 'I saw the tail in the sonogram', and it freaked you out."
Bill's eye twitched at that and he said to her "I wouldn't say that."
She then asked with irritation in her voice "Let me ask you? Are you scared of the kid? Now that she asked you to pretend to be his father."
"No. I'm not"
"Then what is it?"
"I'm scared of what I will do."
Silence hung in the air as the snowflakes kept dropping. He knew she was thinking of what to say to him. He appreciated her for trying to be his conscious for him, but he knew what was going on in his head. He need not burden her with his dark thoughts, but she brought it out of him.
"The night terrors and such. They returned?"
"Never really left only got worse. The alcohol helps."
She said almost like she was trying to be his mother "I told you not to do that."
"Mai, I'm your superior officer you can't tell me what to do. But I tried to stop it didn't really work."
"Drinking you know is the worst possible thing you can do right now."
He then said back to her with an annoyed tone "Well since you think you're my therapist. You should damn well ought a know that I must think of reasons to get up in the morning. Now let's change damn the subject. Did Bulma confirm what killed these people?"
"It was ten years or so ago, non-Nuclear. It would appear to be someone or ones with powers."
"Like we thought. So, the Frieza does exist or another third party. The universe appears to be as dangerous as I thought it was."
"It would appear so. The plants and animal of this planet have been okayed to eat by the ship's computer. I figure we should stock up. Ration's will last quite some time. Better that we keep them around."
"Agreed. Tell the team to stock up."
"Bill we all lost someone. You don't have to suffer alone."
"I'm leading this expedition. If the troop see me sobbing, they will lose hope. My pain is my own. Better I keep it to myself then let it infect the others. If I pretend things are alright, they will assume things are alright and everything will work out. They deserve peace and I will try to give it to them."
"You're not the last man standing Billy."
"Maybe but it looks better if I am. We haven't run into anyone yet, but we will. Where or not they be friend or foe it'll be better to meet them with bright eyed gung-ho marines then a bunch of exhausted sad beaten dogs."
"Of course, you know we can't keep this up eventually you'll break. You know this I mean just look at what you're doing talking to yourself in the middle of knowhere."
Bill looked behind himself to confirm what he already knew because he already knew that right? Mai wasn't here. She never was. At least it wasn't Diane or Frank this time. He took a swig of the flask that was in a suit pocket.
The talks as he put had started after the Diane's and his family's death. They could be cruel. But mostly the ghosts just wanted to talk about his feelings. No need to concern the others with his problem. He always knew the difference between the fakes and the real things they only came to him when he was alone. It was the first time they pretended to be Mai, but he still knew it was them.
He heard more snow crunching it was real this time he was sure. Out of the bush appeared Gorman, Hudson, Hicks, Vasquez and Drake. The Lieutenant appeared puzzled as he looked around.
"Sir I thought I heard you talking?"
"I wasn't Lieutenant you were just hearing things. What did you find on your reconnaissance mission?"
"Confirmation of our suspicions. This was no simple family quarrel like the cold war." He shows a piece of armor like the kind that Kakarrot wore. "We are not alone Sir it would seem like we're in a dangerous neighborhood."
"Yeah it's called the universe and its full of assholes."
Corporal Hicks spoke up "There were millions here and they killed them all."
"Bulma didn't even say this world was resource rich."
Private Hudson asked the group "Maybe they pissed of the wrong people?"
"Doesn't matter their all dead now. If we fail our people will suffer a far worse fate." They nodded in agreement.
Vasquez turned to Drake and she asked, "You think our Heroine gave birth yet?"
He said back "Don't know. Be nice to have another kid around to call us awesome."
She smiled at that "I know right. Trunks ain't got nothing but praise for us."
He grinned thinking of the future "I just can't wait until he's old enough to start shooting with us."
Hudson enter the conversation "Kid's great and all but the mom that's what I'm looking in to."
She chuckled and asked, "Yeah you realize your probably on the bottom of her list, right?"
Drake laughed and said, "She has a point buddy."
Hudson said quite offended "Screw you if I'm at the bottom who's on the top of that list."
Hicks intervened and said "Well buddy. He's about six foot something, has one eye, is kind of our boss and he broods like he's Batman or John Snow."
Bill had a dower face it was clear he was not a fan of this conversation and said "Ladies and Gentlemen may I remind you that the woman you have been are talking about is a widow with a young child. I don't want any of you bothering her or Chi-Chi. We are their guards and nothing no more."
They all nodded in agreement. Gorman embarrassed that his troops had said those things if front of the Major.
"Alright then children you heard him. No bothering our precious passengers. Now let's gets back to home base. You are coming sir?"
Bill thought back to his conversion with fake Mai. It may have been him he was talking to, but it had indeed a point. Chi-Chi was going to save the world one day. It would dishonorable for him to not be there, even while six months pregnant she was working out in the gravity room on the ship.
That pure hearted girl had been through the ringer. That bastard had trick her and defiled her. He had a duty to her and a duty to that boy. It would be that duty that would keep him from doing anything to that babe and keep anyone else from doing anything to him.
Unsure of himself he said to them "Okay let's head back."
The walk back to the ship seemed to take forever. Only done in the interest of not overusing their equipment as they have the ability of flight on their suits. The wind seemed to be trying to whisper to him. Its voice spoke but it didn't say anything. All it was just another ghost of this haunted dead world playing with him.
They arrived back. He could hear her pained grunts as soon as they entered. Mai was waiting there at the airlock. The fake was just speaking for her. She looked a little miff that he had not come yet.
"All the systems are set. We restock. So, do you want to see her?"
"Alright." He said in a not sure at all tone of voice.
Bill entered the room as apparently the baby was finally coming out. Chi-Chi looked a wreck. Bulma looked tired and so did Dietrich. The boy had taken his sweet time. His eyes found the thing he was dreading the tail. His eye looked limp as the boy started to cry. The women had been passing him around. Chi-Chi he liked, Bulma he liked, Dietrich he didn't for some reason.
Chi-Chi announced the name was going to 'Gohan Ox.' After her Uncle Gohan.
There were smiles all around except for Bill. He was too busy being afraid. The baby was then passed to him. It looked at him curious. It knew not what to make of him. He didn't seem as enthused as the others to see him.
Bulma placed him in his hands. Bill was sure he was about to freak as his mind flashed back to the church and UNIT command. His face was close enough to the man to trigger these things. He lost control of his breath and was about to start hyperventilating when something stopped him.
A golden warm light came through the window shining upon the boy. The clouds must have lifted before sunset. The light reflecting off one of the mountains of crystal.
Gohan tail wrapped around his wrist and gave him a smile. It was like the babe was trying to comfort him. The horror all seemed to be gone for a while. Gohan had chased it away with that smile.
A tear dripped from Bill's eye as he smiled back. He thought to himself that this child was perhaps the only unsoiled soul left alive in this universe. His life's mission just became clear again. It would be to protect this child by any means. To save this unsoiled garden of hope from the multitudes that would seek to harm it. Yes, life just became very clear to him.
A little somber and horrifying I know but the Bad guys did just win, and we are still a long way from liberation a very long way. Reviews please. I'll get these out slower once I get to some more major changes.
