a/n - So sorry about the wait! ;-; at first I just put it off because of a lack of inspiration, but then my computer broke so, my apologies! As always, please favorite or leave a review if you enjoyed!
One Hell of a Trip
"Goku!" Bulma's shriek pierced the air, terror written across her pale face. "Do something!" As the black mass seethed, inching nearer, she drew up her feet, holding close to the prone Saiyan despite his cries of pain.
"Agh!" Goku moaned, black dots forming at the edges of his vision as Bulma's hold on him tightened. Slowly, he propped himself on one arm, head slumping as he raised his other hand, shoving Bulma away in the process. With weak fingers, he gathered a small ball of energy into his palm as he spoke through gritted teeth, "J-just...j-ust hold...still.."
Falling back onto the ground, Bulma spread her arms over her face, shrieking as King Dust's spawn only grew nearer.
"I don't want to die! I'm too young to die!" She wailed loudly, folding her legs up to her chest.
Light illuminated his face, briefly. Cutting out, the blast forming in his hand cut out like a poor signal on a rabbit-eared TV. As it was, Goku could barely scrape up enough energy to sit up, let alone stay awake for Bulma's sake. With his hand beginning shake more and more, the Saiyan gave a disgruntled mix of a shout and a cry as his energy gave way. Hands falling to his side, he slammed back against the grass, mumbling apologetically, "I...I just can't...do it...I'm sorry, B-bulma..."
"Wha-?" Bulma spoke, wide-eyed as she peered through her fingers. "Ah, Goku! No!" She screamed, her hands now flying down to her mouth.
Hissing in pleasure, King Dust's clones gathered into a single mass. The black puddle stretched out, fondly sliding itself along Goku's boot, inching it way ever so slowly up his leg. Farther out, more mounds of King Dust's toxic loogie formed up, moving hastily towards them.
He grunted, eyes widening as he felt, rather than saw, the semi-solid clone slither up his leg. His fingers dug sharply into his palm with as much strength as he could afford in his weakened state.
"G-get..off...me!" Goku spat, kicking out his leg as he spoke.
Undeterred, the clones moved forward, clinging against the fabric of his gi. They seemed to hiss louder as Goku grew more and more desperate to get King Dust's demon spawn off of him.
Inches from his skin, a collective gasp drew; even the toxic spawn of King Dust seemed to hold it's breath as the moment came. Goku shut his eyes, wriggling himself as best he could, though it made little difference. Bulma, scrambling away from the enclosing clones, looked over with a gasp, but lost her attention as a particularly wily clone reached up for her shoe.
Gathering up its wayward form, King Dust's clone reached out, an oozing, black tendril closing in on the ragged tear in his uniform that slashed across his chest. Preparing for the end, Goku gave a final glare at the small, but dangerous, enemy leering on his chest.
Only half an inch from his flesh, it stopped. Rather, it was blown away; a sharp blast tore through it's flesh, incinerating what little liquid the black quasi-solid contained. Briefly blinding him, Goku squinted up at a silhouetted figure hovering against the sky.
A few more consecutive blasts took care of the rest of clones, leaving only one madly struggling up Goku's boot. A final shot, though slightly burning the leg of Goku's uniform, finished it off.
"Piccolo?!" Bulma called out, a question in her voice as she removed her hands from her face, eyes wide. Glancing around at the smoldering, ashy remains at her feet, she gave a small gasp before her attention returned to the scowling Namekian that began descending from the skies.
"Goku," Piccolo called out, a disapproving tone in his voice as he eyed Goku's wound, "What kind of mess did you get yourself into this time?"
"P-piccolo..." Goku rasped around a weak smile, "It's...so...good to see...you..."
"Don't mention it." He growled, a quick flash of a smile taking over his face before it disappeared into the displeased scowl that was familiar for him.
"I'd like to ask what in Kami's name is going on around here but if it's like anything else, it's a time-sensitive sort of thing, right?" Piccolo cast his gaze over to Bulma, who nodded tentatively. "Very well, I suppose the next best thing is to make sure you're not going to die, Goku."
"S-sounds like a...plan...I just need that...sensu bean and I'll be...great..." He gasped, flashing a shaky grin in Piccolo's direction.
"Vegeta'll be here soon enough." He responded absently, his thoughtful eyes taking in Goku's prone body with a minor shake of his head. Stooping down next to the Saiyan, Piccolo eased his arms underneath Goku's body, pulling him up and over his shoulder with only a minor grunt from Piccolo, but a sharp cry from Goku at the unexpected move.
Piccolo crossed the yard over to the Capsule Corp. building, easing Goku down against the wall so he sat up. "Sorry about that," He grunted as he sat the Saiyan down, "But it seemed counterproductive to just leave you lying there."
Rubbing a hand across the slash in his chest, Goku forced a smile, "Y-yeah, t-thanks."
Piccolo opened his mouth to speak, but stopped. In the distance, another explosion rocked the city; in the silence following the explosion, distant screams were plainly audible. A soft glow of fire hovered over the horizon, only shadowing the dark look in Piccolo's eyes.
Goku clenched his fists, eyes narrowing as he spoke through gritted teeth, "W-where's Vegeta...? T-the city...can't take much...more..." The injured Saiyan made a move to stand up, but was pulled back down by Bulma, who had, until this point, remained quiet.
"I don't think so, Goku!" She reprimanded with an angry look in her eyes. "You can barely sit up, let alone stand or fight!"
"I...can't just...sit here...and listen to...that..." He said wearily, a pleading note in his words as he looked over at her.
Piccolo crossed his arms over his chest, still trying to piece together all that had happened. Absently, he spoke to Goku, "She's right, Goku; you're going to have to stay here. You're a burden, otherwise."
Unhappily, Goku visibly seemed to shrink down, shoulders slumping and head falling back against the hard wall behind him. "W-what are we going to...do...then?" He questioned, staring down at his open hands. "King Dust is...destroying...everything.. Bardock can't...h-hold out much longer...by himself..."
In a fit of rage, the Saiyan slammed his fist into the ground, jaw clenched and eyes shut in pain. "D-damn...it..." He breathed, his head drooping down.
"Aw, Goku," Bulma spoke quietly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be okay," She said soothingly, trying to ignore the chaos from the city as she spoke.
"Assuming this...'king'," Piccolo growled, using the term sparingly, "is who we're fighting, may I ask who the hell is Bardock?"
Goku looked up, surprised, but then remembered Piccolo had not been around to witness the day's events. "It's...a long...story, but...Bardock is my...father..."
"Father...?" He breathed, eyes widening. Piccolo opened his mouth to speak, but as another explosion sounded, he was reminded of the urgency of the situation. In other words, not a good time for questions.
"I'll ask you for the story later." The Namekian said finally. "Where's Gohan and Goten? They were with you, weren't they?"
"They took...Chi-Chi home..." Goku explained, "Another...long story."
"Very well," Piccolo said, uncrossing his arms. Slowly, he rose into the air, staring down at Goku as he spoke, "I'm going to go get them. With you injured and Vegeta off playing nurse, we'll need all the help we can get. No offense to your father, but I'm not sure how much help he's going to be."
Looking defeated, Goku nodded. "D-don't tell...Chi-Chi...I'm hurt, o-okay? I don't...want her to...worry." He said, gazing up at Piccolo with a sort of desperate and pleading look in his eyes.
Slowly, Piccolo nodded. With a determined look in his eyes, the Namekian shot up into the sky, disappearing over the horizon in a matter of seconds.
"Wait, Piccolo!" Bulma cried, suddenly remembering something. She rushed out into the yard, waving her hands frantically, but it was too late. "Damn it, he's gone!"
"W-what's wrong...Bulma?" Goku asked, confusion written on his face.
Impatiently, she waved back at him, biting down absently on her nails. "I forgot to mention King Dust's skin was toxic...but, maybe it won't matter..." She drew off, thinking intently.
"What...do you mean...?" He asked, running a hand through his hair absently.
"His skin's thick, right?" Bulma paused, but before Goku could answer, she moved on brusquely, "Maybe the toxins won't effect him because of his thick skin...assuming the toxins are absorbed into the skin, but looking at that ugly bruise you have, Goku, I'm thinking that's the case..."
"S-so, he's...immune...?"
"Hopefully." She breathed out, slumping down onto her knees. "Oh, I don't know how much more of this I can take...I'm going to turn all gray and wrinkling before my time worrying."
Goku, by way of response, only returned a blank, confused stare in her direction. "I-if you say...so..." He said, shrugging.
She felt faint.
First, she was held captive in her own home. Second, the fate of the entire planet is threatened by the arrival of some age-old monster known as King Dust. And, third, her husband had gone off, yet again, to fight a battle with seemingly hopeless odds. Not to mention, he'd probably come crawling back wounded for a few days before taking off again.
Now, her sons were being thrown into the fray. It was not a good day, Chi-Chi decided, staring into the hopeful yet determined face of her eldest boy.
She had arrived home fine, worry and fear knotting up her stomach as she landed on the ground. Chi-Chi had hoped to stay with Goten, shoving down her fear by doting on her youngest boy while Goku, Gohan and the others fought for the fate of the earth. But, as her hand hovered over the door knob, even that was being threatened.
"Mom, you heard dad. We need everyone we can get to help us out...I know you're scared, but having Goten with us might tip the odds a bit." Gohan explained again, trying his best to remain patient.
"Yeah!" Goten agreed, standing by his brother's side with a hopeful, yet defiant, look on his face.
"Gohan..." She sighed, her head dipping down as tears threatened to spill. Either way, it was useless. Chi-Chi knew there was no way of stopping them, no matter what she said.
"What if dad's in danger?" Gohan questioned before she could speak. "He could be hurt right now, and need us! I mean, look, the city's on fire!" He gestured to the soft glow on the horizon as he spoke.
"I just don't feel right about this. Sending my youngest son into battle..." Chi-Chi said, wringing her hands.
Gohan softened, gripping her shoulders gently as he said, "It'll be okay, I promise-"
"Hey, look!" Goten called suddenly, interrupting the conversation with a wide wave of his hands. "It's Piccolo!"
"Piccolo...?" Gohan drew off, letting his hands fall to his sides as he gazed up at his old mentor.
"Your father needs you." Piccolo said as he descended, nodding briefly in Chi-Chi's direction.
"Where's Goku?" She asked, frantically racing over to the large Namekian. She pulled at his gi, a desperate look in her eyes. "Is he okay?"
Pulling her hand free from his gi, Piccolo simply told her, "He's fine."
She breathed out, unsure and wary, but for the moment, relieved.
"Why? What's going on?" Gohan asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I'll tell you later. Right now all you need to know is that he needs your help." Piccolo said impatiently, crossing his arms. "Come on, we don't have all day!" He snapped, shooting up into the sky.
Gohan followed, pausing when he saw Goten wasn't by him. "Goten, come on!" He called.
Goten paused, looking over at his mother with a wary look on his face. Straightening, the young boy gave her a small nod before rising up into the air.
"Gohan!" Chi-Chi called, cupping her hands over her mouth. "Be careful! And take care of your brother!"
Gohan nodded, and the trio was off, disappearing in the direction of the city.
She sighed, wringing her hands as she found herself, yet again, alone. "Please, please come home, safe and sound..." Chi-Chi whispered, distantly staring off into the direction they had gone. "All of you..."
To Be Continued