Risk

Chapter 16

In the present timeline, Son Gohan, son of Son Goku and Chi-chi leaned back in the chair where he had been doing his homework at Capsule Corporation. Since his parent's refusal to return to Earth roughly a half year ago, he had grown to resent their decision. He assumed that his parents didn't love him the way they did before the fight against Frieza. Vegeta had returned weeks ago with no word about his parents and just stalked off to be alone. He assumed that the Saiya-jin prince would never even tell if he had seen his parents while he was out in space or of his own training to reach Super Saiya-jin.

Glaring down at the coursework that Bulma had purchased for the boy, he knew all of the answers to the questions before even daring to put a pencil to the paper. It was way too easy for a boy at a college learning level to understand; however, he did not tell Bulma that so she would find more work for him to do.

Speaking of the blue-haired scientist, she had been left for a meeting only an hour ago to discuss something about an unidentified flying objects within the solar system. He assumed that it was some meteors floating around before a familiar power level told him otherwise. What felt like an eternity after feeling that unnatural power, the phone rang next to him. Numbly, he picked up the phone.

"H-hello?" Gohan spoke into the receiver of the phone in a morbid trance.

"Hey Gohan, it's me, Krillin. Do you feel that?" The monk questioned on the other end of the phone.

"Yeah, it feels like Frieza," Gohan growled in hatred to that name. Ever since he had seen his mother die to the hands of that monster, he hoped beyond all hope that he would never return.

The memories of Frieza were still the reason he had nightmares of his mother dying and woke up screaming for her each night for the past year. He had hoped beyond hope that she would be at his bedside to comfort him and confirm that she was okay and was no longer dead. Though he had been told that she had been resurrected, he had not seen her alive since her last moments alive.

"Goku, I'm sorry…" Even her last words haunted his nightmares before she fell to the ground lifeless. It was then replaced by the golden warrior that took the place of his father. The harsh voice, the cold, raging look in his eyes…

"…still there Gohan?" Krillin's voice interrupted the boy's daydreams. Gohan instantly snapped out of the trance that he had been in.

"Y-yeah, sorry." Gohan apologized. It was not like him to space out like that; especially on the phone with one of his father's friends.

"We should meet and find out what this is," Krillin noted. "If it's Frieza, we ought to stop him before he does anything to Earth."

"Right, see you soon," Gohan hung up the phone and went for the armor that he had since Namek before putting it on. Without a second thought of telling anyone where he was going, he ran out of the building and flew off into the heavens.

"You mean HE's alive?" Chi-chi asked her husband over the intercom on the ship. She had calmed down from her crying about a half hour ago and was now talking to her husband who had long since apologized for his hastiness. "How did he survive what you did to him?"

"Like I said, I have no idea, but Kakarrot's not very happy either." Goku hissed in irritation. The power of a Super Saiya-jin had left him, but he was barely keeping himself in check so he did not transform again while within the spaceship. "We're over three hours away from Earth though and he's already ahead of us."

"Then we should use Instant Transmission to get there and take him down," Chi-chi noted. "That way we can…"

"Only as a last resort…" Goku attempted to reassure the female so she wouldn't do anything reckless.

"Forget it, I'm going," Chi-chi focused her energy before the other ship became deathly silent.

"Gods, this woman's going to be the death of me," Goku growled in irritation. It was almost though Kakarrot was channeling his thoughts through the male. Seconds later, the other ship became unoccupied.

"Seems Frieza's here," a masculine voice from behind the rocks . "And he's brought his daddy. How pathetic."

"Now's not the time to be joking around," another male voice chided. "We have a job to do, Trunks."

"Lighten up Goten," Trunks looked back at the other male dressed in black gear with a red sash around his waist. His hair was spiked up like Goku's; however, a ponytail fell to the small of his back and was tied back with a red hair band that looked like it had seen better days in its ragged shape. "Things here aren't as serious as they are in the future and we're both stronger than those goofballs."

"Look, we have to give Goku a message and the medicine," Goten glared angrily at Trunks. "I rather we do that and get ourselves back home as soon as possible if it's okay with you."

"We will, okay? Until then, just hang back." Trunks shook his head.

"Men! I want you to…" Frieza was cut off when Chi-chi appeared. Goten's eyes widened in shock when he saw his mother. He had heard stories about how beautiful she was; however, he never imagined the woman to look like a prized doll. Seconds later, Goku appeared and his tail snapped in irritation.

"Seems like HE's here…" Goten leaned back against the rocks; almost mocking his father behind his back. "Let's let them handle this since they seem to have it under control."

"Fine, but after they finish Frieza and his daddy off, we're going to tell him the message." Trunks rolled his eyes at the childish behavior the other male seemed to be giving off about his jealousy towards his father below for how he mistreated his mother. Goten snorted in irritation before choosing to ignore Trunks for the moment.

"So, it's true that my men have seen you poking around Stolkim," Frieza's voice casually drifted towards his direction. "I'm surprised that whore that you call your wife is alive. Maybe I should have blown her up so you wouldn't be able to pick up the pieces."

Chi-chi growled and would have gone at Frieza had Goku not lifted a hand. "Stay back," Goku commanded. "This is between him and me."

"Be careful," Chi-chi remained behind him; not wishing to go against his desire to protect her. She figured that despite his acceptance of Kakarrot, he was still worried that he might snap if she were injured or killed.

"Frieza, I'm glad you're alive," Goku darkly grinned. "I was hoping to get another shot at you since that incident on Namek to show you my true power."

"You're bluffing," Frieza waved it off. "You are no different then you were back on Namek."

"There's a difference between then and now," Goku warned before he shifted into a fighting stance. His hair wavered in the golden aura that had gathered around his body as his eyes became teal.

On the cliff side, the warriors that gathered were watching in awe at Goku standing there on the ground. Even Vegeta found himself gawking in both anger and irritation at the idea that the Earth-raised Saiya-jin was preparing to fight Frieza once again.

"It's… it's my dad!" Gohan replied in an excited voice.

"What are you all doing here?" Trunks asked as the warriors looked over where the two mysterious youths were at. They had sensed others and were heading that way to find out what was going on.

"Huh?" Gohan looked at the darker-haired male in confusion. "Dad?"

"Not quite Gohan," Goten replied; slightly in awe of the innocence his older brother had when he was younger. He remembered the threat that took away that innocent look he had and replaced it with a cold and unforgiving glare that he had worn in battle. He rarely had shown any innocence outside battle after the loss of their parents towards him and was surprised he did not seem bitter towards his parents not being with him for a year. "Your father's down there with Frieza right now. He's with your mother."

"W-wow…" Gohan looked down as the golden aura intensified and the rocks and debris raised around him. It was almost though he were on Namek again.

"Who are you two and what gives you the right to approach us?" Vegeta scoffed; not believing them at that moment.

"If you really want to find out Vegeta, we could transform," Goten grinned in anticipation. He had heard stories about the arrogant prince and wanted to try him for himself.

"Transform? Don't tell me…?" If anything, Vegeta was disgusted at the idea that two more Super Saiya-jins were standing in front of him.

"That's enough," Trunks told Goten. "We're here to deliver a message to Goku, not encourage Vegeta to fight us."

"Geez, take away all the fun," Goten rolled his eyes. He knew that Vegeta was nowhere near his level and it would provide some entertainment for a little while.

"If that's your idea of fun, you have a sick imagination!" Bulma yelled at the darker-haired warrior. He winced at the voice.

"My apologizes Bulma," Goten apologized for his rashness moments earlier.

"H-how…"

"We can't tell you, I'm sorry," Trunks admitted. "If either of us tell you why we're here, it might cause either one of us not to be born."

"I see…" Piccolo looked at the darker-haired warrior. He looked so much like Goku and yet, he held the same arrogance that Vegeta holds in high regard. 'By the way he's acting, I am going to assume that's Son Goku and Chi-chi's son…'

…

"T…there's no way!" Frieza backed away in horror at the fully transformed Goku as he glared coldly at Frieza. It was the very look that Goku had given him during what felt like were his last moments in life before he fired the blast at him. "Die!"

Goku did not budge as the blast flew at both him and Chi-chi. As an explosion rocked the area, Gohan; who thought he would be soon reunited by his parents, had thought in horror that the blast had killed them both.

"MOM! DAD!" Gohan cried before Piccolo and Goten managed to grab him.

"Calm yourself, they're alright," Goten replied; knowing they were able to handle anything down there with ease.

Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, a force field surrounded both Goku and Chi-chi; the female's hands were up ensuring that the blast did not hit either themselves or the Earth. Their clothes also weathered the very blast that could easily level a city within moments.

"I told you to let me handle it," Goku told his wife in a serious tone.

"Sorry, you know I don't always listen," Chi-chi grinned playfully before letting the force field down.

"W-where did she learn how to do that?" Gohan watched in shock. He had known his mother only until Namek and never imagined her to improve that much.

"I'm sure they'll tell us what had transpired once they're done tangling with Frieza and his goons," Yamcha grinned. "They're a fantastic couple!" 'I almost wish that I could have been the one for her…' He silently added to himself in jealousy.

"I'll handle it from here," Goku started towards the terrified Frieza.

"How… you should be…?" Frieza only had seconds before Goku unleashed a blast that destroyed Frieza and the ship that was directly behind him. King Cold managed to get out of the way as he flew up in the sky. His youngest heir was dead thanks to this infernal monkey and the woman he was with. Deciding an eye for an eye, he lunged at Chi-chi who was currently defenseless.

"Chi-chi!" Goku yelled as King Cold flew towards the female. Almost thinking he was about to make contact, Chi-chi smirked coldly and raised two fingers to her eyebrows. A spear-like blast hit her as it caused dust to explode upon contact. He growled before he felt his wife's chi.

"Now that she's out of the way, I shall ensure that you suffer greatly Saiya-jin…" King Cold vowed.

"Who says she's dead?" Goku grinned darkly; his tail twisting in excitement.

"Wha…?" King Cold suddenly saw Chi-chi appear from his right side with a glowing orb of light in her hands. The tyrant's eyes widened in horror as he turned towards the blast rather than away.

"No! Stop!" King Cold pleaded for his life.

"Not even a monster like you deserves mercy!" Chi-chi yelled before thrusting her hands forward. "Shintou…" The light intensified as she cried out the last syllable, "…ka!"

King Cold tried to stop the blast that came straight towards him; however, it was stronger than he perceived and was slammed into the cliff side. The blast wasn't strong enough to kill him, but it was enough to paralyze him. Cracks were in his armor where the blast had pierced the armor with little to no effort; causing blood to spill rather easily.

"W-what?" King Cold realized that he was still alive despite the agonizing pain he was in.

"I'll let my husband kill you since I'm sure you insulted him enough." Chi-chi snorted. Hell hath no fury for an enraged Super Saiya-jin as King Cold wished that he had died when Chi-chi fired her blast at his chest in the first place.

"She's improved greatly, but she shouldn't underestimate her opponent," Piccolo growled at the thought of her carelessness. "Had Son not killed him, he could have attacked her from behind."

"How did she get that strong?" Tien gawked at her strength.

"She's been with Goku all of this time," Yamcha looked down at her in pure amazement. "I wonder where she learned those new moves…"

"Idiot! What we should be asking them is why they haven't returned to Earth after a year had passed!" Vegeta yelled at them.

"Isn't it obvious?" Trunks smirked and in a teasing tone of voice. "He was probably getting stronger than you."

"Why I ought to…" Vegeta growled at Trunks before the mysterious men vanished from the cliff side.

"Huh?" Chi-chi looked at both men that appeared out of nowhere.

"Chi-chi, do you mind going to join the others on the cliff?" Trunks questioned.

"Why? What is it?" Chi-chi did not trust them for a moment. She felt some unknown intent from them both.

"We have to talk to your husband," Goten replied while sizing up his father.

"Whatever you have to say to him, you will have to tell me also," Chi-chi glared at both of them with a suspicious intent. Both men looked at one another before nodding.

"Very well, but we ask you to not to get involved in what we're about to do." Trunks asked the female. Goten removed the hair band that held his hair back from his face as it spilled slightly down his back.

"Huh?" Before Chi-chi's eyes, both men transformed into Super Saiya-jins. Surprise crossed both hers and Goku's faces as the men lunged. "Ah!" Goku did not move an inch as both men stopped within inches from the Earth-raised Saiya-jin. They were equally surprised that he did nothing to defend himself.

"Why didn't you get out of the way?" Trunks asked with his sword inches from Goku's face. Goten, who favored a familiar red staff also wondered why he did not move.

"For starters, both of you came with no intent of causing any harm to me," Goku spoke in a cryptic way. "I knew you were going to stop."

A chuckle came from both mysterious Super Saiya-jin. "I see." Trunks shook off his shock. "Well this time, we're not going to stop."

"Do as you wish," Goku held out both hands as the aura intensified around his arms in preparation to fend himself. Both men did what they had promised and Chi-chi watched her husband fend off their attacks without a single slip of either arm. The last attack aimed at his fingers; however, Goku had easily deflected Trunks' sword with one finger and Goten's staff with his other hand's index finger. Both of them glanced up at one another before pulling back and putting their weapons away.

"Impressive," Goten grinned slightly at the idea he had just had a small tussle with his father and did remarkably well. Seconds later, his hair returned to normal before he tied it back again.

"All of those stories were true," Trunks seemed excited at the idea that the one he heard stories about stood there in flesh and blood. His own hair returned to normal and unlike Goten, it did not get in his face. "You're greater than the stories. I bet this sword could have cut Frieza in half."

"You weren't coming at me with all you had," Goku reverted with a smug look on his face. Chi-chi looked his clothes and fingers over. Not one mark seemed to be on him at all despite the small tears that were in his sleeves.

"Let's start by telling you why we have come to this timeline…" Trunks began.

"Though we appreciate it if you keep much of what we're about to tell you in absolute secrecy," Goten continued before looking at his mother in worry that she might go against what he might say. "That includes you."

"What? I won't blab any secrets!" Chi-chi huffed. She felt insulted by her unknown future son that felt like she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

"Seriously, what we're going to tell you both might surprise you and you may not wish to believe it…" Goten started off.

"…but we are from twenty years in the future." Trunks continued.

"What?!" Goku and Chi-chi looked at them dumbstruck. "Twenty years?!"

"Yes," Trunks said. "My name is Trunks and I am the son of Vegeta."

"Whoa! Back up! You're Vegeta's son?!" Chi-chi couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"That's not the half of it," Trunks pointed at the dark-haired male. "The male beside me is Goten. He's your son."

"No way!" Goku was beside himself. He NEVER in a million years would have been able to guess that the boy standing there was his son.

"M-my son?" Chi-chi blinked rather surprised herself. If anything, she wasn't ready for that statement.

Not far away, Piccolo, who had heard everything said thus far, was equally surprised as Gohan looked at the Namek.

"Are you alright Piccolo?" Gohan questioned.

"I'm fine," Piccolo lied to the boy. 'I knew there was something about those two. Goten and Trunks… the sons of Goku and Vegeta…'

To Be Continued…