Risk
Chapter 17
"You're kidding me…" Chi-chi was awestruck after learning about the Goku-look-a-like being her second son named Goten. "W-when…"
"It happened roughly two years and six months later," Trunks confirmed. "I am roughly a few weeks older than him."
"We didn't come here to tell you that though," Goten butted in. "We're here to tell you about a threat."
"A threat? What is it?" Goku asked.
"Three years from now on the morning of May 12th, around 10 a.m., a fearsome duo will appear on an island 9 miles southwest of South City. Monsters beyond your wildest imagination." Trunks confirmed in a serious tone.
"Oh my…" Chi-chi's eyes were wide in surprise.
"Who are they? Aliens?" Goku questioned.
"No, they're androids created on earth," Goten spoke on, his voice wavering slightly.
"Their creator is Dr. Gero, chief scientist of the former Red Ribbon Army." Trunks added.
"The Red Ribbon Army?" Goku and Chi-chi questioned at the same time. Chi-chi had heard of her husband's exploits of taking them on as a child; however, she had no idea why this scientist would go through the trouble of trying to extract vengeance within three years.
"Though you may have crushed the army itself years before this, Dr. Gero survived and continued his research in an effort to crush you once and for all father," Goten spoke in a grim voice.
"Why? For world conquest or…?" Goku trailed off.
"We're not for sure, but we assume that was one of his ambitions," Goten assumed.
"You said 'was'…" Chi-chi noted.
"He had created his ultimate killing machines: 'Mechanical Men numbers 19 and 20' and they killed them easily." Trunks confirmed Chi-chi's suspicions. "So only the androids, devised to enjoy slaughter and destruction remain."
"Then compared to Frieza, these guys are causing you two a great deal of trouble?" Chi-chi asked.
"Indeed, we both confronted them, but even together we're no match for them," Goten nodded.
"Wait… you two don't have any allies?" Goku questioned.
"There are none," Trunks gravely spoke. "We're the only fighters left on Earth." Surprise fell upon Goku and Chi-chi's faces.
"Krillin, Yamcha, Tien, Chouzu, Piccolo, Vegeta and yes, even you mother will be killed in the battle three years from now," Goten confirmed. Chi-chi gasped in shock and horror at the very words her son from the future told her. She wondered how Gohan fared if he was involved in that battle.
"Son Gohan will escape… barely," Trunks continued where Goten had trailed off. A slight bit of relief came over her face. So her eldest would live. "He becomes our master and taught us both how to fight; however, sixteen years from now…" A pained expression crossed their faces.
"He died?" Chi-chi's eyes watered up as they both nodded their heads. Goku's tail wrapped around her wrist in a comforting gesture.
'That's the future, not the here and now,' Goku told his wife telepathically.
'What if it happens?' Chi-chi asked him in the same manner.
'I'll ensure it doesn't happen,' Goku mentally vowed. Trunks and Goten both noticed them talking to themselves and waited until they were finished to continue their tale. They did not dare ask what they discussed between one another.
"As you both are aware of, when Piccolo dies, the dragon balls will disappear. No one would be able to return from death anymore."
"The androids prolong the killing for years for their enjoyment and pleasure. The world we came from is a living hell…" Goten growled with his fists clenched.
"They're too strong! We're powerless to do anything but watch more helpless victims die!" Trunks yelled in frustration.
"W-wait! You never said what happened to me," Goku realized. Throughout their horrifying tale, they had not mentioned the Earth-raised Saiya-jin at all. Had something happened to him prior to their battle that he was not even aware of?
"Yeah, that's right," Chi-chi took note of it also. "What happened to my husband?"
"Father never fought against them at all," Goten hissed. "Not long from now, he falls ill… and dies…"
"W-what?!" Chi-chi's eyes widened in disbelief. She fought the urge to faint on the spot and wanted to know what had happened to her husband. Goku grasped her shoulder to give her support so she wouldn't fall.
"Easy…" Goku held onto her protectively; trying his hardest to deny these words that he himself had heard. "How do I die then?"
"A virus will attack your heart," Trunks confirmed. "Not even a Super Saiya-jin can defeat a disease."
"Not even a Senzu will work on a virus then…" Goku assumed. "Damn, so I'm going to die. That stinks! I wanted to fight them!"
"You… you're only upset that you can't fight them?" Trunks asked in a shocked voice.
"Aren't you afraid father? After all we've told you?" Goten added.
"I am, but I have to know if I can beat those things…" Goku confirmed his fears despite the fact that his need to protect those he cared about stood out from everything else.
"You are a true Super Saiya-jin," Trunks smiled while fishing for something from his pocket. "Just like my mother and Gohan told me, you gave me hope. I'm glad I came to the past to meet you…"
"I am also despite how I acted when I first saw you…" Goten admitted. A faint smile appeared on the other male's face for the first time; a true smile despite the painful future where he was forced to play the role of a protector along Trunks' side.
"When the first symptoms appear, take this," Trunks held out the vial.
"What is it?" Goku questioned while eyeing the vial in confusion.
"This is your medicine. It was an incurable disease in this time, but twenty years from now, there will be a drug for it." Trunks confirmed. "With this, you won't have to die."
"That's great!" Chi-chi grinned.
"Really? Thanks a lot! Why didn't you say that you had this in the first place?" Goku questioned.
"I have no idea what effects it might have on our future, but I rather no one else has to live through what we have to go through in our time." Goten replied. "I just hope that despite you two knowing that I'm your son that I will still be born…"
"Goten, no matter what, we will find a way to have you in our lives…" Chi-chi gently placed a hand against his cheek. A soft blush appeared on the dark-haired youth's face after she pulled her hand away.
"We have faith that you'll get better in this timeline," Trunks confirmed. "All my mother wanted was for you to survive. That's why she worked so hard on the time machine."
"Your mom knows Goku?" Chi-chi asked.
"Yep!" Goten replied.
"And she made the time machine…" Goku and Chi-chi exchanged looks between one another. "Y-you mean… y-your mom is…"
"…right over there," Trunks pointed out before both Chi-chi and Goku face vaulted.
"You mean it's…" Chi-chi started.
"…Bulma?!" Goku finished. Both of them would have never have guessed that Trunks would have Bulma as his mother. Then again, they probably would have never thought that Vegeta would have a son either.
On the cliff side, Piccolo fell slightly before catching himself; something that only Gohan seemed to notice.
"Piccolo, are you sure you're alright?" Gohan asked the Namekian warrior. He looked rather pale compared to how he looked minutes ago.
"I'm fine!" Piccolo yelled at the child. "Damn it! How many times do you have to ask me that question?"
"How long are they going to talk? I'm getting annoyed…" Vegeta growled in irritation.
"They look really shaken up for some reason…" Bulma noted.
"That was the biggest shock!" Goku exclaimed. "I always thought that she'd end up with Yamcha, but… Vegeta of all people?!"
"Yamcha was… um, not always faithful," Trunks started with a blush on his face. "Then she saw my father sitting along, and it just happened. They never married… you know how she is…"
"Actually, I'm surprised they managed to get together, married is something I'll never be able to imagine without him yelling down the aisle." Chi-chi giggled at the thought of Vegeta in a tuxedo. This is while he was somehow tied up and being dragged down the aisle with Bulma in a white wedding dress giggling happily with a wedding bouquet in the prince's hair. The expression was that of pure agony and irritation while he probably would have cursed at the idea of being forced to marry her of all people just so he could support his son.
The imagination in Goku's mind was more along the lines of Vegeta in his Saiya-jin armor in Oozaru holding Bulma dressed in the said wedding dress. This was while being held in Vegeta's giant ape-like hand scaring the hell out of the priest at the altar to the point where he would read the vows in a horrified voice before pissing his pants. He wasn't even sure how the reception would have even played out or if there would have been one due to the fact that a giant monkey was trying to fit in some dining hall.
Had either one of these marriage imaginations ever happen, it would have taken a great deal of marriage counseling and endurance from both parties to see it through. Not to mention the possibilities of tailoring a tuxedo for a giant monkey and a large enough dining hall to fit a giant monkey and guests.
"This is the first time we really managed to see Vegeta and both of you…" Goten admitted.
"Please promise you won't say anything about my parentage or I might not be born…" Trunks pleaded.
"Of course." Chi-chi agreed.
"I won't say anything." Goku vowed.
"We should get going now. We need to reassure my mom as soon as possible…" Trunks started his farewell.
"Tell her I said thanks for this," Goku held the medicine in his hand.
"Take care of yourself mom," Goten leaned in and hugged her softly. Chi-chi rubbed Goten's back.
"Take care of yourself and make sure you survive." Chi-chi kissed his cheek softly.
"I hope the future does change," Goku said with confidence in his voice.
"Yeah, we have a little hope now…" Trunks started.
"…especially after seeing how much you love mother and the power you possess. I'm sure the future will change." Goten finished.
"Both of you stay alive, even you Goten. Now that we have something to work towards, we'll train hard these next three years." Trunks and Goten flashed smiles and thumbs up before flying off.
"At least they gave us medicine…" Chi-chi looked over the vial that held the cure to a deadly illness that would have taken her husband had they not come to ensure his life.
"Chi-chi, I don't want you to fight in three years…" Goku looked at his wife with a serious look on his face. Despite the fact that he would be able to fight, he still worried that Chi-chi might fall. "Goten doesn't deserve to be motherless like Gohan had been…"
"No, I will follow you to the battlefield no matter what," Chi-chi took his hand in hers. "Last thing I want is to lose you again."
"Chi-chi…" Goku pulled her closer for a kiss…
"Hey Goku!"
"Dad! Mom!"
"Son!"
…only to be interrupted with the arrival of his friends and son.
"What did they say?" Krillin asked.
"W-well, nothing much…" Goku felt nervous. He did not wish to tell them everything after he promised not to tell about Trunks' parentage.
"Don't hold out on us you two!" Piccolo scolded the Earth-raised Saiya-jin and female fighter. "This matters for us too you know!"
"You mean you heard?" Chi-chi questioned..
"My sense of hearing is much better than yours," Piccolo aimed the insult at her.
"Hey!" Chi-chi grew angry and would have attacked had Goku not stopped her.
"What's so important?" Bulma asked.
"Well…" Chi-chi started to say.
"If you two find it difficult to explain it, then I'll tell them," Piccolo growled.
"B-but…" Goku felt nervous.
"What about…?" Chi-chi asked around the same time.
"Don't worry, I will exclude the truth that might jeopardize his existence…" Piccolo confirmed to them both before turning back to the others. "We don't want to be killed without the chance to train either."
"What? K-killed?" Bulma questioned in shock.
A few minutes later, Piccolo had finished telling them what he had learned and excluded both Trunks and Goten's parentage from them despite the fact that Goku and Chi-chi already knew about their son. None of them could hide their shock of the story told to them from the travelers from the future.
"There's no way that could have happened!" Yamcha proclaimed. "If they're from the future, then how is it that they're not the enemy?"
"Yeah, time travel sounds rather complex…" Bulma added.
"If you don't believe what I said, then stay out of our way." Piccolo growled at them. "I for one am not going to die when they come."
It was then that Gohan noticed something. "Hey look!" The others looked up at the sky and noticed a machine hovering in the sky with two figures in it.
"W-what the…?" Yamcha looked on in shock.
"Do you truly think that they'll make a difference?" Goten asked Trunks.
"I'm sure of it," Trunks looked at Goten. "We just have to have hope for the best." 'Goodbye father, you're proud and stern, just like mom said. I pray you won't die. Farewell young mother. I pray you and dad the happiness together that my mother in the future could not find without you…'
'Mother, I pray you won't push Gohan too hard in his studies when he should be training to protect you,' Goten thought his own mental goodbyes silently to himself. 'Father, survive the heart disease this time or I'll never forgive you. Gohan, I apologize for my rashness and pray we'll meet again someday…'
Both warriors waved before vanishing from the heavens. Had the warriors not been swayed by the story, the sight of the time machine truly confirmed that they were from the future.
"I… I'll train," Tien confirmed.
"Me too…" Krillin added.
'Curse them! I'll fight this battle and I'll live!' Vegeta mentally vowed to himself.
After they had left, the warriors unanswered questions on what happened to both Goku and Chi-chi seemed to explode out of nowhere.
"What happened when you didn't come with us to Earth?"
"How did you escape?"
"Why didn't you come home mom and dad?"
"How did you survive?"
"Whoa! One at a time!" Goku held up his hands in a defensive position. "We'll answer your questions…"
About fifteen minutes later, they had finished a majority of the questions that they had.
"Hey Chi-chi, how did you learn those new moves of yours?" Yamcha asked.
"Well, while my husband was in the middle of perfecting Instant Transmission, I was taught a few other techniques…" Chi-chi confessed. "I learned how to create force fields, basic healing and telepathy…"
"What about that one light move we saw you deliver to King Cold woman?" Vegeta scowled. "You never knew that one back on Namek."
"That's the Shintouka," Chi-chi confirmed. "Basically, it's an attack that's supposed to paralyze your opponent long enough to escape, but when I did it to King Cold, I suppose I used more chi than required."
"Is that why you didn't finish him off?" Piccolo questioned.
"I knew that I wasn't strong enough to finish him off, so I let Goku do it instead," Chi-chi answered Piccolo. "And trust me, I wasn't leaving myself open when I walked away from him."
"I'm sure something else kept you two from returning, right Kakarrot?" Vegeta eyed the Earth-raised Saiya-jin warily.
"Uh… I don't know what you're talking about…" Goku innocently attempted to keep the Saiya-jin prince from prying.
'I wonder if he knows…' Kakarrot's voice rang in the Earth-raised Saiya-jin's mind.
"Don't play innocent! I can tell by the expression on your face you're hiding something!" Vegeta roared at the other Saiya-jin in anger.
"Everyone's entitled to their own secrets Vegeta," Goku grinned rather goofily. 'I doubt I'll be able to hide this from him for long.'
'Why hide it? He'll find out eventually…'
"So we'll meet again in three years right?" Tien questioned. "Where and when should we meet?"
"Uh…" Goku had forgotten as Chi-chi slapped her forehead.
"May 12th, around 10 a.m. on an island 9 miles southwest of South City," Piccolo confirmed. "We should meet an hour earlier, at 9 a.m. If any of you don't think you'll stand a chance, then don't bother coming! The enemy this time will be unthinkably powerful! We don't want anyone to drag us down!"
"Y-yeah… don't bother…" Yamcha nodded.
"Don't make me all laugh! Aren't you the one who won't stand a chance?" Vegeta scoffed.
"Do you want to try and take me out, Vegeta?" Piccolo challenged the Saiya-jin prince.
"Whoa!" Goku held out hands to keep Piccolo and Vegeta from fighting. Though it would be comical to watch, he did not want them fighting when their main fight would be the androids.
"I wouldn't really mind watching them duke it out," Chi-chi casually replied.
"Chi-chi, we would be doing unnecessary damage to the planet…" Goku warned.
"Nothing the dragon balls wouldn't be able to fix," Chi-chi added. Bulma heard this and grinned.
"Hey! Why don't we just attack Dr. Gero who created the androids now?" Bulma exclaimed. "Since we'll have the dragon balls, we could ask Shenron and he'll tell us! Then you won't have to go through all of that trouble in three years!"
"Oh yeah! Great idea Bulma!" Krillin agreed. "Then we won't have to fight them at all!"
"If you try to do that, I'll kill you!" Vegeta exclaimed.
"What are you talking about?! This isn't a game!" Bulma yelled back at the Saiya-jin Prince almost though he had a death wish. "The Earth's fate is riding on this! Don't you agree Goku?" Chi-chi saw how she clung to her husband and growled at the thought of her trying to manipulate her husband. She had every right to try to knock her off and tell her to stop clinging to him.
"But… I want to fight too…" Goku began and Bulma released Chi-chi's husband her surprise. "…a-and besides, he hasn't made anything yet, so it's not nice to beat him up…"
A satisfied grin was on Chi-chi's face. "I agree with my Goku, so that's three against two!"
"Argh! These Saiya-jins! They're battle-junkies!" Bulma growled in irritation. "I'm surprised you're with him Chi-chi! I thought for sure that you would be on my side! Well, what about the rest of you? You have more sense than they do right?"
"Actually… I want to know just what I can do in battle," Tien confessed. "And if I die, then it will be an honorable death…"
"I… I don't believe this…" Bulma pouted. No one else seemed to lean on her side. Krillin, who had been on Bulma's side went towards Goku's side.
"We will bring peace to the future!" Goku exclaimed.
"Great, you've taken over the world now! You guys are as bad as your enemies! This fighting… it's morbid!" Bulma snorted. "But I'm guess I'm stuck with you."
"I hate fighting myself, but in order to bring forth a peaceful world, I need to help those I can," Chi-chi told the female scientist.
Everyone bade their farewells and left in separate directions. Goku had offered Piccolo a chance to come train with them much to Gohan's delight. Chi-chi almost argued against her husband; however, she knew that it would have been a fruitless battle that she had no chance at winning. Before the Earth-raised Saiya-jin and his family left, Goku turned around and looked back at Bulma.
"Bulma, take care of the baby," Goku spoke cryptically before flying off.
"Goku!" Chi-chi exclaimed while following her husband. She was hoping that he wouldn't dare assume that Bulma would end up with Yamcha after that statement.
"Bulma, are you even pregnant?" Yamcha asked.
"No, wonder what planet he's been on?" Bulma asked.
"Maybe he's saying that it's time to stop stalling and get married," Yamcha thought in delight. Sadly, the fool must have been delusional when he thought he would be a father. In time, he would realize who he would lose Bulma to.
To Be Continued…