Chapter 20

Dende´s lookout

"Shenlong - can you bring back all the people who had been killed by the Androids controlled by Doctor Gero during these last days?" Gohan asked him. "That of course includes the ones 21 had absorbed."

"That should be possible," Shenlong stated. "There is however one exception. The one named Freeza had already been revived with the Dragon Balls before."

"Is that truly still a hindrance for you with the upgrades Dende had made?" Goku asked.

"Ahm - well." Shenlong seemed a bit hesitating.

"It is not just that the wish is hard to fulfill. It is also that several higher forces have doubts if this special individual should be resurrected," he explained. "Myself included."

"I see," Goku replied.

Normally Shenlong didn´t question the morality of the wishes made to him - or the persons they involved.

He might tweak something a little bit in one direction or the other from time to time, but mostly he was a neutral force.

"So you don´t want to bring my brother back?" Cooler stated matter of factly.

"You understand what exactly your brother had been?" Dende asked him pointedly.

This words were not coming just from the God of Earth, but from a members of a species that Freeza had once nearly wiped out.

xxx

Yes - Cooler understood all too well.

He himself was a warlord who had single handedly conquered the greatest part of a sector in the unclaimed space. But even he had been shocked by some of the stories he heard about Freeza.

The countless worlds that had been completely annihilated or devastated and decimated.

The Z-fighters had told him about the Tournament of Power between the universes. That Universe 7 had taken part of because of the complete lack of civilization and life quality.

Something that his brother and father and their many global massacres should be to blame for in the first place.

And long before them it had been beings like the Demon Buu, Bojack or the World Eater Moro, who was now loose again.

His father and brother were just the last of an entire line of world destroyers running all over this universe.

Even to him - before he had met him here with amnesia - Freeza had been a monster.

Even when he had teamed up with the Z-fighters to free him from that lab, it had more been out of obligatorical family pride than actual worry about him.

He did not really have any personal relationship with him, until the point where they had found him in his amnesic... and mostly harmless, state. That had only changed as he started to interact with and mostly guide his now clueless brother.

The question was: Did even Cooler himself truly wanted his brother to be revived, knowing what he had been and what he could eventually turn back into?

xxx

"It does not matter what I want," Shenlong said. "But what others think do."

"Ahm - who exactly are you talking about?" Mai questioned.

"Us for example," they heard a voice speaking up.

It was the Kaioshin, along with Lord Beerus, Whiz and Kibito, who had just appeared on the lookout.

"We believe bringing Freeza back is a bad idea," he said.

"He has really changed now, you know?" Goku reminded them.

"Yes - but that was mostly because he has lost his memory," Piccolo stated.

"These memories should be pretty much permanently gone by what 21 told us," Gohan pointed out. "With the computer having swept his mind clean."

"I wish I could fully believe that Gohan," Piccolo replied. "But we are talking about a being here who can survive being cut to pieces or being in open space. Can you guaranty that his brain can not regenerate itself as well over time?"

"Piccolo has a point here" 21 stated quietly. "Freeza was different from any other species I have seen. The truth is, I could not really guaranty that nothing like this could happen."

"Well - maybe I should have a say in this too, don´t you think so?" They all suddenly heard a voice in their minds.

"Freeza." Several of them called out at the same time.

"I see Master Kaio let you communiate telepathically," Goku said.

"Yes I do," the North Kaio´s voice told them. "I am currently standing right next to Freeza in front of King Yemma´s desk. There is a message we wanted to give to you all."

"Okay?" Gohan said.

"What is it?" Cooler asked.

"You see," it was now Freeza talking once again, "since I arrived here, King Yemma had been informing meabout all the things I did in my past life. And given the circumstances, I would ask not to be revived."

"What?" a few of the people on Earth - that included Vegeta, Piccolo and Cooler - were calling out.

"Given that I can not remember anything and that I tried to save everyone from 21, King Yemma has given me an offer," Freeza stated. "Instead of spending eternity in Hell, I am to be reincarnated.

Since I don´t remember much of anything anyway, this would actually not be that bad. In fact, knowing you guys would be the only real loss. But given who you are and that my reincarnation would retain much of my power, I am sure we will meet again some day.

And since 21 had already pointed out that there is no full guaranty that my memories would not return some day and I simply not want to become like I had been before... I have decided to accept King Yemma´s offer."

All of them were more than a bit surprised by this development.

Son Goku had to think about the reincarnation of the evil half of the Demon Buu, who lived on Earth somewhere. Would it be similar with Freeza? Or would he be reborn in a different part of the universe?

"You are sure about this brother?" Cooler asked him.

"Yes - it was nice to know you. Even if it was just for a short time brother," Freeza replied. "That goes for the rest of you as well."

"Goodbye then - Freeza," Goku said.

"Yes - I guess I should end it here, King Yemma and Kaio are already looking impatient. Goodbye."

"I hope then that your new life will turn out better than your current one. Farewell Freeza," Cooler told him.

"Okay Shenlong - then fulfill the wish like that. Bring everyone back except Freeza," Gohan stated.

"It shall be done. It has taken you long enough to make up your mind anyway. Next time I won´t be that patient," Shenlong declared. "Do you have a second wish? Tell me now, I won´t wait any longer."

"Well?" Gohan said a bit unsure.

"What about all the damage the Androids have caused?" Piccolo questioned.

"Better not," Bulma replied. "The people are still coming to terms with all the revelations about Goku and the rest of you. And on top hundreds of people have just come back to live just like after the Cell Games. Another `miraculous event´ right now is possible more than they can deal with."

"Bulma has a point," 18 said. "Let them repair the damage by themselves instead of giving them another shock to their world-view."

"Can we not just wish to be stronger?" Caulifla asked.

"Does not work," Piccolo stated. "These Dragon Balls have limitations and we are already far beyond them."

"Well - I guess getting stronger like that would not really be satisfying anyway."

"We could wish for me to be ruler of the world," Pilaf suggested.

He saw that everyone was starring at him.

"I was just joking," he called out. "I have given up on that a long time ago."

"Lord Pilaf - you should really develop a better sense of humor," Mai commented.

"Right," Trunks agreed, "and a better timing, so much is clear."

"My crew is also back alive?" Cooler asked.

"Yes they are," Shenlong replied.

"Then what about my space-ship? 21 has destroyed it, right? Can you restore it?" he questioned.

They had found the wreck of his ship that 21 had left, when she attacked and absorbed his men, just before they came here. There was not much left.

"Yes - I can."

Coler looked around. They all were okay with that wish.

"Then please to that," Gohan told him.

"Your wishes have been fulfilled," Shenlong said a moment later. "Farewell."

With that the Dragon disappeared and the Dragon Balls once again turned to stone and spread over the planet.

In this moment Bulma´s cell-phone rang.

"Yes?" she said. "It are my parents. They say that Son Goten, the older one, is alive again."

"Can I talk to him?" Future Marron asked.

Bulma gave her the phone.

"Marron?" Goten´s voice asked over the phone. "Are you alright? I have just heard about what happened. Well - most of it I guess. You know how Bulma´s parents are with telling you something straight. What about your mother and your uncle? Are they...?"

"They are right here. They are okay I guess. As okay as you can be after something like this," she said.

"Thats good," he replied. "I am glad that... its just - I never thought our trip to the past would turn out like this."

"I know what you mean. We nearly ended up making everything worse."

"This is not your fault," 18 told her. "Gero had clearly been planning to do that anyway at some point."

She and 17 had so far been standing aside for most of what happened.

"The only reason this hadn´t happened in your timeline is that we were already gone," Seventeen stated. "At least this gave us the chance to deal with this matter for good."

"Don´t worry about us Marron," Eighteen said. "We have seen worse and lived through it."

"Okay," Future Marron replied.

"We should go home," 18 said. "The younger you is still with Muten Roshi."

"And Videl and Pan are with Mister Satan," Gohan stated as well.

"I will see to my men and then we will leave this planet in a short time," Cooler said.

"Goten and I will return to the future as soon as possible," Marron said. "To stop that Android. And..." she looked around.

"I will come with you," Goku told her. "And I am sure a few of the others will as well."

"Someone also needs to go to Namek and stop Moro," Gohan mentioned.

"I am ideal for this job," Vegeta stated.

"So are we," 18 pointed out.

"We are immune to his energy drain, you can reverse it," 17 said.

"A few of us should also stay here and guard the planned," Piccolo suggested. "Just in case Moro gets away despite everything or maybe changes his plans compared to the other timeline and doesn´t go to Namek at all."

"The time-machine I still have can not carry many people anyway," Future Marron stated.

"Okay - let us split into teams," Goku said.

"What do you think - Cabba, Kale?" Caulifla asked.

"About what Sis?" Kale replied.

"What? Which team we should help of course."

xxxxxxx

Back in Mister Satan´s mansion

Mister Satan and Videl, together with three year old Pan, were sitting together in the living room and watching one of the many TV announcements about the Z-fighter´s victory.

The news showed people on the streets celebrating and many praising their saviors - Son Goku, Gohan, Piccolo Jr., Tien, even Vegeta. Many comments already called them `Mister Satan´s successors.

The same Mister Satan was a bit unsure about this outcome. He knew that Goku and the others had never wanted to be famous. But he was sure they would deal with it.

In this moment Buu, who had until now been asleep, entered the room.

"Oh - hello," he said.

"Buu - you woke up," Mister Satan replied.

"Yes - did I miss something?" he asked.

At this Videl could not help to burst out into laughter.

"Yes - a lot actually," she said. "I guess there is a lot we have to tell you."

xxxxxxx

Seventeen´s Island - a short time later

Android 17 was back at the beach where this entire nightmare had started for him personally.

He was however not alone. Standing next to his was and his wife Ruby, who he had carried back with him.

In opposite to them were the chief-ranger and several of 17´s colleagues.

And standing aside from them the group of poachers that had been killed and then revived recently.

"I am telling you, he has killed us!" the poacher leader was yelling at the chief-ranger, pointing at 17. "He and that blonde girl."

"You mean my sister?" Seventeen replied.

"Yes."

"Don´t be ridiculous," 17 said, folding his arms. "We did no such thing. Besides, if I had any intention to kill you, I would have done so long ago."

"He did it, I saw him," the poacher ranted.

"It was maybe someone who looked similar to us. But it for sure was not us," 17 stated.

The chief-ranger knew that Seventeen was an Android. It would be pretty unlikely to let someone guard an entire island by himself without knowing about the origins of his superhuman power. He also knew about 18 and Doctor Gero and the connection to Cell - information that the wide public only found out from Mister Satan, a short time ago.

"Actually, he is right boss. There were two others who looked exactly like them," another poacher said.

"Yeah," another one called out.

"Shut up you idiots," their leader shouted at them. "They had been working together, do you hear me? They and these others. Even if it had not been them who shot us, they had just been standing around."

"Seriously," the ranger boss said, "what exactly are you even accusing Seventeen and his sister of?" he asked sarcastically. "If you want to frame our best man for something, maybe you should at least get your story straight."

In this moment a very small ki blast impacted on the ground beside them in the sand.

As they looked upwards, they saw Son Goku, Gohan, Vegeta and Piccolo above them, with Cooler - who had fired the blast - and his three men elite-unit beside them, floating in the air.

"Now then," Goku said. "I am Son Goku. Seventeen here and his sister Eighteen are friends and allies of us and part of our team. Doctor Gero had created new Androids who looked just like them. But they had helped us to defeat their doubles."

"And I am the Interstellar Warlord Cooler," the obviously alien creature declared. "I originally came here to attack this planet. But the Z-fighters here not only defeated me, but even convinced me to join them as their ally and help them against the Androids.

And I promise to personally vaporize anyone who tries to bad-talk or frame my allies," he said more than a bit threatingly.

The poachers visibly paled at the declaration of the creature.

"So - do you have anything to say to that?" the chief-ranger asked the leader of the poacher group.

The man staid silent.

"I thought so. Arrest them," he said to his men.

"Seventeen - we actually only came to tell you that Cooler and his crew are leaving the planet now," Gohan told him. "But then we saw the discussio going on here."

"Okay. But I will say here. You know - always on the job," 17 said.

"Alright," Goku replied.

A short time later he and the others were watching Cooler´s ship as it ascended up into the sky and into space.

xxxxxxx

The next day

They had by now decided about the teams.

Vegeta and Eighteen would go to Namek. The Galactic Patrol they kept in contact with, including Meerus, had suggested to bring Buu as well - since he still possessed the personality and magic power of the old Grandkaioshin inside him - and they finally agreed. It could not hurt to have this as an option as well.

The team going to the future would consist of, of course Future Marron and Goten, Son Goku and a bit surprisingly the Universe 6 saiyans, who had volunteered for it.

The rest of them would stay here.

xxx

Capsule Corp

Future Goten and Marron had just prepared the time-maschine for the start.

They programmed it to arrive as soon after the point where they had originally left their future as possible. Without risking to accidentally arrive before the point they had left and so splitting their own timeline into two.

They could only hope that they would arrive before the Android 18 copy had caused too much damage.

The time-machine had a larger cockpit than the one Future Trunks had used. But with six people it would still be very cramped. Cabba, Caulifla and Kale were already sitting inside.

Goten and Marron were still talking a few words with Gohan and Videl, Chichi, Krillin and little Marron, Piccolo and the younger versions of Goten and Trunks, who were standing assembled in the garden to see them off.

Eighteen and had been there as well a few moments earlier to say their farewell too. Just after 18 and Future Marron exchanged one last hug however, Goku had already teleported her, Vegeta and Buu to New Namek via Instant Transmission.

The same Goku just reappeared before them.

The only one who was missing from Goten and Marron´s families was Seventeen, who was once again back on his island.

Goku already had an discussion with him a short time earlier.

xxxx

"So you will stay here," Goku had said.

"Yes - I would have really liked to come with you to put an end to this in the future as well. But as long as there is any chance no matter how small that we could be controlled again, it is just a bad idea for me or Eighteen to come with you," Seventeen had told him.

Bulma had offered to take a look at them to help to prevent something like that from happening again, using the old blue-prints from 17 she still had. But that would take some time. Far more than Goten and Marron were willing to stay here.

The others agreed it would be better.

xxxx

So it were now Goku himself, who just as the last one sat down in the time-machine, and the three volunteers Caulifla, Kale and Cabba, who would accompany Future Marron and Goten back to their time.

xxxxxxx

Meanwhile far away, the World Eater Moro was just looking down at the planet whose orbit his ship had just entered.

"So this is Namek," he said. "Not many inhabitants. But the few who are there have a high energy compared to most others. A valuable meal after all. Not that it truly matters. What is important is that the Dragon Balls are down there."

xxxxxxx

Alternate timeline - 9 years later

East City was under attack. Like it happened all too often to many cities during the last years.

They had just suddenly appeared and shot up people, cars and buildings. To their luck it were just some of 21´s weaker fighters - cannon fodder.

The copies of Android 17 and 18 and a couple of clones.

The older version of Trunks was looking stone faced at the scene before him, as the attackers were shooting innocent people left and right.

He asked himself if his time-travelling future counterpart had felt like this. But in their world, in opposite to his, the human civilization had not fallen (so far), only hurt by constant attacks.

With him were Uub - the reincarnation of the Demon Buu, Yamcha... and Pan.

"And remember," Trunks addressed the last one, "be careful."

"I will be," Pan replied.

Far away from them, the time-machine with the copy of Android 18 just arrived in their world.

Here is already the next chapter. Like already said, the rest of the Arc will play both in the alternate future and with the confrontation with Moro in the present.

The next chapter for my other story Unseen Timeline will take a bit longer. Mostly because contain at this point a final battle between Goku and Android 17 and it was hard to write two chapters with such similar contend without unconsciously copying stuff from each other.

So I concentrated on writing this chapter here first.