I wish I owned DBZ, but I don't. I own DVD's and tapes, but it just isn't the same. I also don't own the rights to any of the music pieces you see selected, just copies of merchandise, such a shame. The artists that created them are geniuses and we all must bow to them.
Chapter 106: Truths
The flight back to the mysterious cave was as silent as any other, though Trunks was clearly relieved to be leaving as he flew near the front, just to the right of Verto. Alt-Goku and Alt-Gohan accompanied them, flying on Verto's left. Behind him, Lenz continued her duty of escorting the still incapacitated Goku. Physically he was just fine, but his energy level was so low that Verto could have sworn that he needed life support, by Saiyan standards anyway. Verto took note of Trunks' eagerness to leave, quite often passing them all and getting far enough ahead that he would have to be called back. After this happened five times, Verto finally had enough and decided to investigate by increasing his speed just enough to catch up and grab onto Trunks' backpack enough to slow him down momentarily.
"What's up with you? I know you're eager to leave, but we'll be there soon enough without pushing it," Verto said.
Trunks glanced back in realization, "Sorry, I guess I'm just sick of this place."
Verto nodded, "I can't say I blame you there. It's been strange for me too."
Trunks stared at the ground with dismay, "Well, there's something I did while I was here…"
Verto eyed him, "And what was that?"
Trunks glided closer to Verto so that he could whisper, "Promise not to tell anyone?"
Verto considered stopping but kept pace, "Is this about your special power? The one where you can read memories?"
Trunks gritted his teeth slightly, "I guess it kind of is, I mean it's how this other thing happened."
"You don't need to beat around the bush Trunks, what was it?" Verto asked with a stern voice.
"Dad, I mean the other Dad, whatever, he said that I ascended past regular Super Saiyan when the other me and I traded memories. I don't remember it and I've tried to do it again several times, no luck," Trunks admitted.
Verto felt a slight sense of relief, "Is that all? I thought you were gonna say you did something really bad."
Trunks didn't look nearly as content, "But what if it happens again? I didn't learn to do Super Saiyan like everyone else did, I've always been able to do it easy. What if I can't handle it?"
"I don't think you'll go crazy Trunks, after all you and Goten have gone higher as Gotenks. But if you're that worried about it, the best thing you can do is train yourself not to lose yourself in the power boost. Going Super Saiyan Two isn't all that different, think of it like breaking a second wall after your first transformation stage," Verto suggested.
Trunks grimaced, "That's what Gohan said to do, and it still doesn't work."
Verto shrugged, "Look it'll happen when it happens. Since you don't remember how to do it, there's no point in trying to duplicate it until that particular scenario comes back into play. I can show you how I do it, but it wouldn't be the same. Ditto on your father and anyone else who has been able to go that far. It's really a silly thing to concern yourself over."
"Yeah, I guess so, but could you still not tell my dad about it? I don't want him to know until I can actually do it," Trunks requested.
"Sure, if it's that important to you," Verto agreed.
"Thanks."
"But they are going to be finding out about your little ability. Not the best idea to withhold that one," Verto scolded.
"Yeah, but the other me showed me how to control it so even if someone randomly touches me, it won't go off," Trunks claimed.
"Good."
"There it is guys, at one o'clock!" Gohan shouted from behind. The group made a minor turn and arrived at the mountain that held the mystical rift that connected the two Earths. Only the hole on the side remained of what used to be a landing space, one that was melted off by a brief battle with the Zerg.
"I guess this is it," Alt-Goku said as Trunks entered the cave first.
"I don't expect we'll be seeing each other ever again, but for what it's worth, it's nice to know that at least one Verto turned out good," Gohan remarked.
Verto snorted, "I can't say it was nice to know that one Gohan turned out bad, even if he was possessed. Same goes to you Goku, even if it was really Vang again. Those were a few smash fests I don't really care to repeat. Then again…it's not like that hasn't happened before either."
All Son family members laughed at this, prompting Laysh to follow Trunks, "You people are all nuts!"
"I heard that!" Lenz shouted after her as she and Goku landed and proceeded inside.
"Thanks though, without you I'm not sure we could have had a chance of recovering from the Zerg attack. Now maybe we can get things back to normal around here," Gohan said as he gazed at the harsh horizons.
"Depends on what you mean by normal. Just go find yourself a new girl to…ah hell I shouldn't have said that…" Verto said, smacking his face with palm.
"It's alright, there's a girl named Lime that I've had my eye on lately," Gohan admitted.
Alt-Goku nudged his son's shoulder, "You dog, so that's what you've been up to when you're not fighting the Zerg."
Gohan blushed slightly, "Not all the time."
Verto couldn't resist the urge to laugh, "Alright, I'm going back to the normal world now."
Alt-Goku stopped him for a moment, "Just remember what I said if things ever get bad again."
Verto nodded knowingly, "I won't forget."
Gohan watched as his friend disappear into the cave before glancing at his father, "What did you mean by that dad?"
"I'll tell you another time, right now I'm starving!"
At the sight of another cave opening, the group emerged out into a world much calmer and much greener than the one they had just left. Each of them easily noticed the difference in just the air once they had crossed the rift again.
Once sunlight shined brightly in their eyes, Goku took it all in with a deep, satisfying breath, "Much better."
"I have to agree with you, Kakarot right? Anyways, that place was abysmal," Laysh remarked.
Goku glanced at her, "My name is Goku."
"But your Saiyan name is Kakarot, right?" Laysh asked.
"Yeah…"
"Then that's what I'll call you."
"It really isn't necessary," Goku argued.
"Don't bother, he won't budge. Might as well use one name or the other, he responds to both. After all he was raised on Earth by humans not Saiyans," Verto advised.
Laysh shook her head slightly, "That's just an excuse. You got another name too? Maybe Psycho Kid would be good."
Verto's eyes were quick to narrow, "I wouldn't go there if I were you, you're a woman."
Laysh folded her arms and smirked slightly as she motioned towards Lenz, "You just now notice this? How long did it take with her?"
Verto returned the expression, "My point was that women have no room to talk about being a little crazy. You do it at least once a month."
Laysh scowled, "That's biological moron, it happens naturally!"
"Yeah!" Lenz added.
"PMS is just an excuse," Verto countered.
Both Laysh and Lenz looked highly irritated, "Asshole!"
Verto stared at them both, "Your point?"
Goku looked on with slight confusion, "What are you guys upset about? Wait, are you talking about that weird smell that ladies give off every so often?"
Verto palmed his face sharply while Trunks looked disgusted, "Gross."
"If you are done talking about pointless things, I would like to speak to the boy alone," a voice said from the side. They all looked over to see Leira standing there, red hair blowing in the wind.
"Speaking of PMS," Verto muttered.
"Careful, I may not hand over anything nice this time," Leira warned.
"How about you admit that you hid the Dragon Ball in that other world?" Verto asked immediately. The whole group stared at Verto with surprise, though in Laysh's case it was more from confusion.
"What's a Dragon Ball? I keep hearing that term but I've never heard of that," Laysh claimed.
Leira ignored her, "And how did you come to that deduction?"
Verto scowled, "Fess up, it had to have been you. I can't think of too many others that would think to hide a Dragon Ball in another world, never mind another timeline. It explains perfectly why we couldn't find them all on the radar before. And it was conveniently placed as bait for Trunks or whoever else might be looking for it to find that rift. And don't get me started on why Vang was released from the evil containment jar and how he came back. Need I go on?" Leira frowned deeply before reaching for what looked to be a small bottle attached to a belt.
She pulled it out before tossing it to Goku, "Drink up, it contains the antidote to Vang's spectral poison."
Goku sniffed the fluid inside slightly, "It smells funny."
"It's not going to taste much better, but you should drink some right away. This process will not be quick," Leira advised.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Trunks asked.
"Vang's poison spreads quickly, but doesn't achieve its full effect for some time afterwards. Goku has been infected for such a long duration that it may be irreversible at this point. We need to determine that now," Leira continued, nodding towards Goku.
He shrugged, "Alright, here goes nothing."
Verto grimaced slightly, "How long before we know…"
Goku had barely taken a sip before he had spit out the pink fluid out of his mouth, "Yuck, that's nasty!"
"So much for that, I don't suppose there's an easier method to this," Verto said.
"There is, you could inject him instead. I should probably mention that this process will require two injections per day for one week. Drinking all of the antidote now will require two weeks to fully cure him," Leira said, pushing the one button that worked.
Goku gulped slightly, "Um, never mind. It tastes fine! In fact I've never tasted anything better!" Goku began drinking from the flask again without complaint, drawing a look of disgust from Verto.
"What's sad is that this will end up being easier," Verto muttered. After the first real drink, Verto sensed an almost instant change in Goku's energy level, even though it didn't rise all that much.
"How do you feel?" Leira asked.
Goku held up his hand and concentrated hard before a small ball of gold fizzled into view, "My energy is back."
"Not quite. It'll be awhile before it's up to what you're used to again. Drink the rest of that bottle today and you'll be back to about half of your full power by the end of the week. It'll take another seven days for it to completely return after that, so don't over-do it," Leira warned.
Goku groaned slightly as he held his stomach, "I really don't feel all that well."
"That's to be expected, the antidote has quite a few side effects. It will probably feel similar to when you were first infected, only in reverse. I suggest you get moving before the majority of those effects kick in. Lenz, go with him to be sure he gets home alright," Leira ordered. Lenz nodded momentarily, but paused when she saw the stern glare Verto was giving Leira.
"Go on Lenz, meet us back at Capsule Corp," Verto said without looking. Lenz complied and braced Goku by the shoulder again before taking off into the air. Leira took note of Verto's expression and pulled another bottle from her belt, tossing it to Trunks.
"I believe your father will be wanting that," Leira said as she waved him off. Trunks took the hint and stuff the bottle into his backpack before turning Super Saiyan and blasting off, wasting no time in vanishing into the distance. Laysh followed before anyone had to say anything, though she didn't go far before she stopped and waited about a mile away, well out of earshot.
"So, I won't bother asking if you defeated Vang, the fact that you've returned is evidence enough. What did you want to ask me about? Perhaps you want to start with the obvious things now," Leira began.
"You possessed Kerrigan didn't you?" Verto asked.
Leira sighed, "Hard to get any more obvious than that. She told you this?"
"Not directly as it was a different Kerrigan, but now that I think about of it, it makes perfect sense. Your attitude matches the way she was around me at the time. I'd like to say that it made her appear to be more…human, than Zerg at the time, but even that's hard to tell. You did something to the Cerebrate though, that's why he was able to affect me the way he did. I stopped feeling his presence after the fusion though, which I didn't understand…" Verto said vaguely.
"Didn't understand until what?" Leira said knowingly.
"Until I had that dream about your brother, or should I say, my ancestor. Whatever you want to call him," Verto replied.
Leira sighed again, "Predecessor is a better word. So who revealed that to you?"
"I already had a hint of all that, one thing at a time. The dream spoke of that Verto's powers being slightly divided between what was given initially and then the rest given later. I trust that's what the Cerebrate did to me before I regained control of my body at the time?" Verto asked.
"More or less. What actually happened though is more of what you would consider a healing process," Leira said.
"What do you mean?"
"Since both of them were in a story telling mood, I'll set some of the record straight. Despite what you may have heard from the other Vegeta or even Vang, I did not lie to you before and neither did the Kais. We just didn't tell you everything because it wasn't time for you to know. They did implant you with a dying spirit to try and maintain stability while the other Saiyan spirit inside you remained dormant. The two were merged together and then sealed to prevent potential problems at the time. That's why your energy levels weren't balanced at first. When the Overmind ripped the other Saiyan loose and he took control, your soul was damaged. The being posing as the Cerebrate used the remaining power from my brother to repair the damage before he passed on, which while it wasn't that much in terms of energy was quite potent. When you ejected the other Saiyan spirit, it had nowhere to go but back to the Overmind at the time. When you fought him again with your advanced skills and won, he floated off into the great beyond. That being, much like Vang, may be able to return and cause you trouble some day, but I don't expect that to occur for some time, if at all. Do you understand?" Leira asked at the end.
Verto's scowl didn't diminish, "Yeah, I get it. But don't keep hiding shit from me, it's getting really annoying. So who was the Cerebrate?"
Leira closed her eyes and smiled, "It's not my place to tell you that, and it wasn't even my idea at the time."
"Figures. Is there anything else I should know now that we're opening up a bit? Like maybe why do all this? I get that you miss your brother and are carrying out his wishes and everything, but why me?" Verto asked.
Leira's smile faded, "I didn't select you if that's what you mean. The idea of creating Saiyans out of humans was given to the Frieza of your universe by another with the purpose of creating a list of potential candidates. The eventual result was you. I wasn't happy about it either, you didn't fit any of the criteria I wanted to remember my brother by. If it had been up to me, you'd probably still be on that world, carrying on your human life somewhat peacefully, but it wasn't up to me."
"No need to get angry about it, it's not like I've had that much fun. Sure I've always wanted powers like this, what immature kid wouldn't? Then all the shit hit the fan," Verto said spitefully.
"Yes, I realize that it hasn't been a cakewalk but that's part of growing up as you well know, now that you've done it twice. And while it wasn't up to me how things came together, I've been quite surprised by the outcome. Manipulating a timeline may create a potential outcome, but it's never the one you expect. When I volunteered for this mission and began working to undo the damage caused by your introduction, I honestly thought everything had fallen apart because of what happened. I didn't give you much of a chance because I didn't think you were worth the trouble. Despite how things developed and how they could still turn out, I've since changed my mind," Leira admitted.
Verto grimaced a bit, "And what changed your mind? I haven't exactly been a perfect little angel. I'm sure there were at least a million others that were far better choices than me."
"Believe me, it's best that you aren't a perfect little angel. And I'm sure that there were many others with cleaner souls and better records than you to pick from. But you understand pain and suffering and you haven't succumbed to it, not completely. You can feel guilt and humility. You have morals and ethics and you don't take the easy roads. You know what it's like to be under-privileged. And you also aren't a mindless follower, you can think for yourself. You may not be the strongest around, but you can certainly be a leader if it falls to you. It's those qualities that make you the best candidate, not some upper class pedigree. Whatever anyone else may think, I want you to know that you were worth it, and I also want you to know that my brother would have been pleased," Leira said with a humble tone.
Verto felt a bit confused, "Thanks, I guess. I'm not sure about the leader part, but I'll certainly try my hardest when I have to. Vang mentioned that both sides of your cold war are recruiting. I'd rather not be pulled into it."
Leira grimaced slightly, "Well, sooner or later everyone will be, that's a fact. What Vang said doesn't matter though, it's still your choice. And to be perfectly honest, that war is likely so far away that it won't even be in your lifetime."
"So, were the Super Saiyans of old being recruited?" Verto asked.
Leira paused for a moment, "Yes, but by only one side. My brother created that mess and I made it worse. For that we paid the price, and so did the Saiyans, specifically anyone who inherited the corrupted bloodlines."
Verto shook his head in dismay, "Yeah, I gathered that. Just out of curiosity, am I the only one you're trying to recruit? Because it seems like a lot of work."
Leira's tension didn't ease, "No."
"Who else?"
Leira paused before she answered, "There are too many to count in just this realm. More specifically though, every potential candidate is examined very, very carefully. You have to understand that part of that is a test. The only sure way to test someone is through reality, not simulation. I'm sure you've heard that a few times already. And you're not the only one on this planet that we're keeping an eye on with this particular method. But I'm sure you are aware of that."
"The others, Gohan, Goku, Vegeta and the rest?"
Leira nodded, "They have the same kind of potential you have. It may come in a different form, but trust me, it's very similar. Whether they rise to claim that is another story, but they are very motivated, even if they don't appear to be."
"Yeah, I'm sure Vegeta hates being third or fourth strongest. So that's why you spoke about someone other than Gohan and I being able to channel Chi waves if they pushed hard enough while fused," Verto guessed.
"Correct. Both Goku and Vegeta alone are a long ways from doing it by themselves, but together that would be different right now. Given enough time, both of them could easily surpass the power Ranot displayed. But there's also something else you have to understand, when anyone begins to rise to that level of concentrated energy, strength and power start mattering less than you may think and it becomes more of a mental game. Even if you attach a power rating number to the weakest of humans and compare it that way, they could still be a potential threat if they were able to generate dense energy waves or use particular abilities. This you know based on recent events on Earth. Strength and power aren't everything, one needs skill as well and for that, they need to have a mind. Most of what I would consider strong demons have all four. Bearing that in mind, any human could defeat a being like Vang at his best given the right situation, just like any Zerg can wound even the strongest Saiyan if they had the chance. When it comes to higher level beings though, the kind of power you're used to is nothing to them. At the same time, you and your friends are strong enough to give them pause. Anything is possible when you apply enough energy, concentration and intention, remember that," Leira warned.
"Yeah, I can't argue with that. Just tell me one more thing, I get that I'm your brother's descendent and all. I get the half-human, half-Saiyan thing to prevent me from going completely demon ape-shit. I get the timeline changes and the secrets and everything else. But, I don't have to start calling you my sister now do I?" Leira's eyes widened a bit as she stared at him before promptly laughing, which Verto had never seen her do before. It was hard enough that she tumbled to the ground and rolled a bit.
She recovered quickly and wiped a few tears from her eyes but continued to chuckle slightly, "No, maybe Auntie would be better?"
"Doubt it, might make you seem older than you already are," Verto snickered.
"Watch it brat, I'm still your elder. Besides, I look quite good for my age," Leira claimed as she stood up.
"Yeah, not a day past two thousand," Verto laughed back. The two continued enjoying the moment for several minutes before it faded.
Leira's face read relief as she brushed her red hair aside, "I thought you'd be a little angrier with me to be honest."
Verto shrugged, "I was, but there isn't a point. What happened is already past us, no point in fretting over it any more than I already have. Unless you have more to tell me?"
Leira smirked as her eyes closed again, "There's always more to tell you Verto, the universe is a very big place and the domain of time is infinitely larger. But if you need to know anything now, then ask away while you can. I can't tell you everything there is to know obviously, but I can probably shed some light at least."
Verto paused in thought, "There was one thing that I found out about both Ranot and Vang that sounded a little strange. They both worked with someone named Razil, does that name mean anything to you?"
Leira's eyes shot open with genuine surprise, "What?"
"Yeah, both Laysh and I overheard a conversation on Yusuke's world by using a scouter transmission. And then this Razil person showed up during my fight with Vang to warn him about my plan to use the sacred water and to hurry up and beat me. I didn't quite see his face, but I'd recognize the voice if I heard it again. What does this guy have against me?" Verto asked.
Leira's facial expression faded from the initial shock to the sternness that Verto was more accustomed to seeing, "Are you absolutely certain about this, his name was Razil?"
"Yeah, a hundred percent. Ask Laysh if you want to, she heard the discussion he had with Ranot. There was something about a treasure hunt that Ranot was on, which I assume is what he sent Chal and the others to get. Never found out what that was about but it doesn't matter now. There was also something about getting someone named Venestra kicked off of a council and an invasion. I know I've heard that Venestra name a few times now but with all these facts it's getting hard to piece it together. Vang also said something about a group of stronger demons and a group called the Guardians that you work for and it all sounded like they fit into this somehow. Like I already said, I really don't care about your cold war and all, but it sounded like this Razil person wants it to go hot again," Verto explained. Leira bit her lip slightly, as if she were resisting the urge to lash out at Verto.
Any sort of threatening tone was quickly held back though, "Go on home and relax, you've earned the break. I'll look into this Razil person you spoke of and I'll also make sure that no one finds their way into this time rift again. Stay out of trouble if you can."
Verto stared back in puzzlement, "Okay, see you around then." Leira motioned him to leave as she stood and appeared to focus on what Verto had told her. Verto took off and met up with Laysh, who also noticed the anger in the air coming from Leira.
"What's up with her? I thought you were the one who would be pissed off about something she said, not the opposite," Laysh claimed.
Verto shrugged his shoulders as he looked back one last time, "I'm not completely sure, but I don't intend to make it any of my business until I have to. Let's go, I have some other things to address."
Laysh seemed to accept that, but had a beaming look in her eye, "So, you gonna tell me about these Dragon Ball things or not?"
Verto gritted his teeth in slight panic but shook his head slightly, "It's more of a matter of trust, and I don't think the other Renegades should know about them."
Laysh scowled, "Those fools couldn't get squat out of me if I don't want them too. I didn't help you go through all that hell just to be left in the dark you know!"
"Alright, it's like this…"
Once the pair was gone, Leira's knees shook enough to cause her to tumble to the ground again, but not from laughter. Lord Razil, so he's the one that has been tampering with my mission. Now it all makes sense. The only problem is that I can't go after him until he makes his next move or come up with sufficient evidence against him. Since I can't travel through time anymore, I can't go back and witness what Verto overheard myself. I could use the Pendulum Room, but I know he wasn't lying, and it won't prove anything anyway. Looks like I'll have to wait and see how this plays out before I can counter act this. But if things play out like I expect, this planet is going to need assistance that I can't give…
When Verto and Laysh arrived at Capsule Corp, they found Gohan waiting for them outside.
"Did you find my Dad?" he asked first.
Verto's eyebrow shot into the air, "Trunks didn't say anything?"
"He was in kind of a rush to see Vegeta," Gohan pointed out.
"Well the short answer is yes. Lenz took him home, you should go see him," Verto answered. Not another word needed to be said before Gohan pressed two fingers to his forehead and vanished.
"Now that is one cool trick. Why don't you do that?" Laysh asked once she realized how far he had gone in that instant.
Verto glanced at her in annoyance, "Because I don't want to." He locked onto Trunks and Vegeta's power levels and found them in Bulma's lab. Vegeta's energy signal felt quite strange, as if he were powering up and down at random for no particular reason. He didn't feel like he was all that powerful, but the signal portrayed his presence better than it would have as a Super Saiyan. Verto hadn't felt this the last time he had been near Vegeta, so the symptom felt new.
That must be the other effect that Vang's poison has. Come to think of it, when I had the dreams about Leira's brother, they said that it lit him up like a beacon for others to follow. Goku didn't feel like this…but Vang got him after his battle with Frost when he was exhausted. So maybe because Vegeta was powered up at the time and Goku wasn't kept the poison from affecting him in the same way, like a delayed or maybe accelerated process depending on how it reacts. Verto was lost enough in his thoughts that he forgot that Laysh was following him through the halls until he stopped and she bumped into him.
"What's with you?" she asked.
"Maybe you should wait in the lobby for this," he suggested.
Laysh looked insulted, "Am I that untrustworthy at this point? I already gave you my word that I wouldn't tell the others about those Dragon Ball things."
"Just trying to keep the fire down to a manageable blaze instead of an inferno," Verto remarked.
"Hmph, if it's a problem I can cool things down easily," Laysh smirked as she held up a bright blue ball of energy that chilled the room quite quickly.
"Well put that thought on ice for the moment," Verto said in a snarky tone.
Laysh scowled, "Fine." Once she turned and walked in the other direction, Verto continued onward. He could hear Trunks' excited voice as he replayed Verto's battle with Vang to his father.
"…And after that he hit him so hard that he fell out of Super Saiyan Three instantly! Then he used that super cool double Spirit Bomb on him!" Trunks rambled on. Verto entered the doorway while Trunks was pumping his fist at the air while his parents looked on. Bulma was more amused than anything, and Vegeta annoyed, but both were listening.
"Is that how it all went? I seem to recall a few other things in-between," Verto said as he leaned against the doorway, surprising Trunks.
"Oh, you're back already? I thought you were busy talking to that weird lady," Trunks claimed.
Verto grinned, "It doesn't usually take that long. As long as you gave your father the antidote."
Trunks paled and pulled the bottle out from his backpack, "Sorry Dad. Here it is."
Vegeta eyed the flask carefully, "And what is this supposed to be?"
"The cure to Vang's poison, Leira said it would take two weeks to fully restore your strength. That's assuming you drink it all today," Verto advised. Vegeta growled slightly before downing over half the bottle in just a few gulps.
"Tastes like crap. Run along Trunks, I imagine the boy would like to speak to me," Vegeta ordered.
Bulma stood up to leave, but Verto's threatening glare went to her, "Both of you actually."
Trunks was barely half a step out the door before he stopped at Verto's words, "Both of them? I thought you only wanted to talk to Mom?"
Verto snorted slightly, "Parents hide things from their children until they're old enough to know certain things Trunks. They do it for a reason, and this is no different."
That didn't seem to appease Trunks much, "But after what you did to the other version of my Dad..."
Verto turned to him briefly, "If you mean what I did while defending myself, then you can relax, there won't be any violence. You weren't there, but does it surprise you that the other Vegeta attacked me first? You saw how they were."
"Yeah I guess so," Trunks said as he quickly left. Nearly a minute passed before anyone said anything, so Bulma felt the need to break the silence first.
"So you found out about the Overmind's blood?" Bulma began.
Vegeta's head turned slightly towards her, "Did you honestly think he wouldn't? You were even foolish enough to hide it from me."
"Because I knew you would probably do something stupid Vegeta!"
"How is wiping out one of the biggest threats we've ever faced a stupid thing?"
"You know nothing about that rift thing that Leira told us about. If you do what I think you'll do when you're better, then it may destroy half the planet!"
Verto cleared his throat, "Ahem, you both have valid points on that one. But to clear the air, the Zerg are gone now, and so is the Overmind. But I wouldn't do anything to that rift just yet. If you damage the cave that it's in, it may rupture and I'm guessing that wouldn't be a good thing for either world. Leira warned the other Bulma about that."
Vegeta grunted slightly, "Either way, the rift needs to be dealt with. Once I find out where it is, I will deal with it one way or another."
Verto's eyes narrowed, "Don't act like you don't know where it is. I know you do, so don't even lie about it."
Vegeta looked smug, "Look who's acting all high and mighty now, just remember who you're calling a liar, brat! Unless you have proof to backup your claims then I suggest you keep a lid on it."
Verto reached into his side pocket and tossed a small metallic item to him, "Well here's your fucking proof!" Vegeta eyed the microchip before his eyes darted to Bulma, who gasped slightly. Both remained silent at this particular revelation for the moment.
"That kind of control might have been a good idea with the Zerg around, but not here, not now. Especially when some random mad scientist can easily find that kind of technology and use it to his advantage. I'm sure Doctor Wheelo would love to have access to something like that," Verto proclaimed angrily.
Bulma was the first to accept it, "I take it the other Bulma found this?"
"Probably wasn't hard to figure out since she had the others already implanted in that world. You said before that you had a general idea of where Trunks disappeared to, which just so happened to be right where the rift was. If Vegeta was that incapacitated, then he wouldn't have been able to tell where Trunks went, unless there was some sort of tracking device involved. Need any more proof? Or are you going to finally come clean with me?" Verto demanded.
Bulma slumped slightly, "Truthfully, I had the best intentions for this. After the Flandal incidents in both North and South City, we needed to be able to track each other without relying on you guys sensing power levels. Doesn't do a whole lot of good with those Ki Disruptors. And some day we may have need of such things if Frost and his empire show up. Not to mention the mess with the new tribe of Saiyans you discovered."
Verto listened carefully but was undeterred, "I understand where you're coming from, but what if that were to fall into Wheelo's hands? Then he could track us too."
Vegeta's forehead lit up with popped veins, "That foolish human died with his robot."
Verto glared at him, "You buried the robot, you didn't destroy it. Just because he lost doesn't mean he died. If he could transfer his mind as quickly as I saw down in that lab, I'm sure he could do it again if he had to."
"That's ridiculous!" Vegeta roared back.
"Is it? You beat the tar out of him once at the North City lab and he lived. Then you beat him again when the odds were a bit more even, but who's to say that he didn't have a backup plan that time too?" Verto suggested.
Vegeta grunted slightly, "Hmph, maybe you should go check his grave if you're so concerned, maybe he's magically alive and walking around like a zombie!"
"Give me the location and it'll be done in the morning," Verto offered.
Vegeta seemed to give in, "Do what you want, I don't care."
"Has anyone else been implanted with these tracking chips?" Verto asked Bulma.
She pointed to a patch of swelled skin on her leg, "Only me and Trunks. I didn't want to test anything on anyone else before I knew they worked. Vegeta knocked out Trunks so he wouldn't know."
Verto bit his lip to keep from lashing out, "Did you ever consider his feelings on the matter? Maybe you should just go with some sort of tracking bracelet or a bug that fits on the clothes."
"I did consider that, but I also know my son would forget to use such a thing. What happens next time we end up in a situation where were all separated and in danger?" Bulma argued.
"That doesn't make what you did right, even if it's done with the best of intentions. Some of the worst things ever done were for righteous causes. The other Bulma thought she could purify the water and ended up infecting everyone with the Overmind's blood by accident," Verto fired back.
Bulma's eyes went wide and she backed off, "I guess I never thought of it that way. Explains why Leira didn't want me even looking at that stuff." Verto shook his head slightly in dismay, spotting the Dragon Ball that Trunks had retrieved sitting on Bulma's desk.
"So, what were you guys planning to do with the Dragon Balls anyway? I seem to recall some deception before I went on Leira's mission that nearly got me killed against the Saiyan Ranot," Verto said, changing the subject. Bulma glanced at Vegeta, who eyed her for a moment before looking away.
"Well Leira wanted all these cursed Saiyans eliminated…" Bulma started.
Verto was quick to cut in, "I already knew that. She was focused more on Lenz and her people, and that was before we knew about the demon Kaon. Frost has pretty much wiped all of the Rotians out. The only ones left other than Lenz are so out of their minds that they can't function, assuming they're still alive now."
"Well we wanted to use the balls to wish back her planet and her people. That was before we knew that they all had this demon curse thing. And of course once Frost came into the picture again we weren't sure," Bulma said.
Verto leaned against the wall in thought, "From what I've seen, Frost would likely notice if that planet were to be wished back, including the other Rotians. We wouldn't be doing them any favors. How long has it been exactly since Frost destroyed that planet?"
"Well let's see, today is October the fourteenth, and Vegeta got back on February the twenty-third. So how long before Goku could teleport you here did that happen?" Bulma asked her husband.
Vegeta glanced at her briefly, "Ten days."
"Well, it's been less than a year, so we still have time," Bulma pointed out.
Vegeta's teeth cinched, "It doesn't matter woman! Even if we wish them back, Frost will just kill them again! It would be a pointless exercise in futility."
Bulma had a quick counter, "Okay, but what if we wish all of the Rotians to the Earth's check-in station first so that they can be brought back to life here? We've done that before with Krillin, right?"
Vegeta's anger went up a notch, "And have all of those mental cases running loose here instead? Do you realize how stupid that sounds woman?"
Bulma quickly lost her patience, "Well it was originally your bad idea, moron!"
Verto was quietly thinking it over before the answer came to him, "The crystals."
"What?" Bulma asked.
"I said the crystals, they're the answer to this," Verto replied.
Vegeta growled, "What the devil are you talking about boy?"
"Lenz's special crystal suppresses her demon energy. The same was true with her brother and with me when I tried it out. He said that planet Rotaria was full of these crystal shards and that every Rotian had one before the planet was destroyed. Only after did they start going crazy. I've seen them work myself," Verto explained.
"I get you, as long as they have these special crystals, they don't go crazy. I wonder why that is," Bulma pondered.
"I don't know, some old man locked up at Frost's base said it was based on some mystical creature that protected the Rotarians and that it was passed down to even the Saiyan hybrids. A lot of good that did I guess," Verto said in spite.
"Maybe we should ask the dragon to move the planet or something when we wish it back, and then take a trip to Namek. That might be the best course of action," Bulma claimed.
Vegeta shook his head, "If I recall, you said her crystal shattered when that demon first popped out."
"Her brother's actually, and it was after Wheelo had removed it and let Kaon out. I wasn't there till after, but the crystal reacted to Kaon and tried to re-seal her again, it just wasn't strong enough. I imagine that as long as none of the Rotians are away from their crystals, they can't succumb. That's how it was when I tried to reverse the condition at Frost's base, they were fine until they no longer had physical contact with a shard," Verto explained further.
"And if they all have demons inside them, what then genius?" Vegeta remarked sarcastically.
Verto grimaced at him, "Look I don't know. From what I can tell, Lenz is the only one of them that has an alter ego like Kaon. It's a lot like the one I had after all. Maybe it's our fault for training her to be so much stronger than her people were."
Vegeta snorted, "You mean your fault, boy."
"If I recall, you gave me the order when we were both still dead, so shut the hell up before I knock your teeth out!" Verto fired back.
"As if you could!" Vegeta dared. Verto's eyebrow went up momentarily before the two settled into one of their glaring matches again.
Bulma however was deep in thought, "There's something else about this you might want to know."
Verto's eyes shifted to her but he didn't turn his head, "And what is that?"
"Leira didn't want us to use the Dragon Balls to wish Lenz's people back," Bulma said.
Verto's gaze went back to Vegeta before he answered, "That's probably why she hid the Dragon Ball in the other timeline then, makes sense."
"Well, Kibito Kai didn't want us to either. They both said in separate instances not to wish these people back," Bulma added.
That got Verto's attention as he turned to her fully, "Why does that not surprise me?"
"That's why we've been hesitant to do anything as of yet, and obviously we've also had all these other things come up," Bulma pointed out.
Verto scowled as he looked straight up, "Like one big distraction. Next time I see that Kai he's getting the shit kicked out of him."
"The Kai does have a point," Vegeta cut in. Verto and Bulma both stared at him as if he were crazy. He suddenly smirked though, "But who am I to side with authority?"
Verto returned the smirk, "That'll be the day."
Bulma sighed as she stood up, "So I guess I should get a spaceship ready."
Vegeta put his hand up to stop her, "You've got enough projects going on to bother with that. Once Kakarot and I are back to full strength, we'll use his Instant Transmission, one way or another."
"I thought he couldn't sense them this far away?" Bulma asked.
"It's never stopped that fool before," Vegeta pointed out.
"So what other projects are you working on?" Verto asked straight away, catching Bulma off guard.
"Oh nothing, just a few little things," Bulma lied quickly.
Vegeta folded his arms, "Don't bother woman, the boy can see right through it."
"It was kinda obvious," Verto admitted.
"I'm building a state of the art bunker for emergencies, in case some intergalactic villain shows up for example. It's meant to house as much as five thousand people comfortably and it'll be fully capable of space flight when I'm finished. It's quite impervious to damage even from energy attacks. Flandal had a lot more Protoss technology than he knew what to do with, so I borrowed some of it from the North City lab. Well, what was left of it. The South City lab is pretty much buried now that they've demolished the building," Bulma explained.
"You shouldn't be making these unannounced visits. If the boy is right, you could easily be ambushed without me or Trunks there," Vegeta said.
"Oh shut up, I've been just fine," Bulma argued.
Verto rolled his eyes a bit, "If you think it's necessary, but I imagine Frost could still destroy it easily if we're ever caught out in space."
"I guess we'll see won't we? It's not like that's the only thing I've been working on. You guys think you have it bad, I've been working almost non-stop for weeks while taking care of the baby by myself while you guys just fight and train!" Bulma screeched.
Vegeta covered his ears, "Enough with the noise woman, we get it!"
"Anyways, let me know when you want to take a tour," Bulma offered Verto in a gentler tone.
"I swear she's bi-polar," Vegeta muttered.
Verto held his hands up defensively, "Eventually, I'll wait till the finished product. If you need assistance though just let me know."
"Oh you'll get your own private wing by the time I'm done, that way you and Lenz can have the area to yourselves," Bulma said with a beaming grin.
She was treated with another eye roll by Verto, "Cut it out. Is there anything else you two need to tell me about? Other than what you know about the Saiyan ancestors."
Vegeta glanced at him in utter shock, "When did you…"
"The other Vegeta told me," Verto said.
"He would have had to have been on his death bed, I swore that I wouldn't say a thing about it until that time," Vegeta declared.
"He was on his death bed and wanted me to end it once he revealed everything, I just didn't kill him when he finished. Leira came clean about a lot of it too, so it wasn't just you…I mean the other you," Verto said, correcting himself quickly.
Vegeta became more than a little agitated, "Have you no honor? You wouldn't even grant me my last dying wish? Me?"
Verto straightened up as his lip twitched in slight anger, "I don't give a shit about honor if it means that you have to lie to me since day one about something as silly as my name. If you really feel that bad about it, we can fight it out again when you're better. I don't really care about the stupid legend anyway, even if it is true. So don't come at me with the honor crap, not when you're the fucking hypocrite here!" Bulma gasped at the audacity that Verto had in calling out Vegeta, but there was no violent response to it.
"It's pitifully sad that you're like this boy, even after all I've taught you. But I suppose it's inevitable. I was no better when I was your age," Vegeta admitted.
Verto turned on his heel then, "At least you realize that. Now I think Trunks has something he needs to tell you two, it's not my place to do it."
Vegeta wasn't done though, "One more thing boy."
Verto paused and glanced back at him, "What?"
"How did you manage to slay the demon? Trunks said that you did not kill the other Kakarot that Vang had possessed," Vegeta stated.
"No, didn't have to. I forced him out of Goku and let the Overmind's essence devour what was left of Vang before I turned the rest into ash," Verto answered before walking off.
Vegeta let that go thought his head a few times before he slumped slightly, So he failed after all and proved that woman right. The end is near, so be it.
Lenz huffed slightly from her spot next to the Capsule Corp wall as the group said their goodbyes to Laysh. She had been given a separate room for the night while they waited for Kibito Kai to show. Eventually he did pop in unannounced, but was greeted by five angered Saiyans when his sudden appearance caused the food on their table to blow off. He had made a hasty retreat and said that he would return at high-noon instead. Gohan and Videl then showed up at mid-morning to formally give the Briefs family their wedding invitations. Gohan then felt the need to apologize to Verto that the role of best man had been filled by Krillin, but only because Piccolo had declined and a decision had to be made since Verto was away so much lately. Verto let it slide though, stating that it was enough of an honor to attend. Laysh was invited as well, but declined, citing that she needed to get back to her own corner of the galaxy. Gohan reported that Goku was feeling the side effects of the antidote, but was quickly regaining his strength even in the short time he had been recovering. Vegeta held up his usual strong front that nothing was wrong with him, even if he didn't feel his best. Bulma was in the midst of presenting Laysh with a computer pad when Kibito made his appearance again, though it was highly ignored by everyone.
"What's this?" Laysh asked.
"It's a star chart to find us again if you ever need help. It's the least we can do for helping us out of this mess," Bulma offered.
Laysh picked it up and studied it carefully before handing it back, "Thanks, but I only needed a moment to look to know the way back. The wrong people could find this after all, and I owe the boy too much for that to happen."
Verto stepped a bit closer, "Nah, I consider us square at this point. I don't want you to feel like you owe me anything."
Laysh grimaced slightly, "I owe you my life kid, there isn't a bigger debt that I can think of."
"Well you did save me a few times believe it or not. Even if I did most of the fighting, I'm sure you would have done the same if our roles were flipped, at least I would hope so," Verto said.
Laysh rolled her eyes slightly, "Alright, I guess I can accept those terms. But if I have to come back here you can bet that I won't be a pushover. We'll fight again and you won't weasel out a cheap win."
Lenz was quick to approach from behind Verto, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as she gave Laysh an unnerving smile, "Oh there won't be any need for that, right little brother? You can go now, see ya, bye!" Laysh stared at Lenz's insincere farewell, along with everyone else who collectively gritted their teeth.
"At the very least kid, I should bring you a more deserving mate than this tramp. I think I already know where she's going in life, and it'll probably be to every street corner on this planet," Laysh said with a tight grin.
The veins on Lenz's forehead popped to life as she managed to keep her fake smile, "Maybe we should fight again before you go, so I can shut you up."
Laysh didn't feel threatened in the least, "Another time girl, when you've actually gotten better. Without your little demon buddy helping you out, you're no challenge." Laysh then stepped away towards the waiting Kibito while Verto held Lenz back.
He did however give Kibito another glance before he vanished, "Remember Kai, we have unfinished business!"
Kibito gulped and nodded slightly before placing a hand on Laysh's shoulder, "Here we go."
"Goodbye, feel free to visit!" Gohan called to her as Kibito teleported them both away.
Videl nudged him in the side, "Easy bucko, you'll be married by then."
"That wasn't what I meant though," Gohan whimpered.
Videl beamed at him, "Then what was that I heard about her being colder to you than I was when we first met? I don't recall that it actually bothered you."
"She uses ice powers, I was exaggerating! I don't even like her!"
"It didn't seem that way to me just now."
Gohan smacked his head slightly, "Why does this happen to me?"
Videl gave him a reassuring hand, "I was just kidding. Besides, you need to tell them about the reception."
That pulled Bulma's attention, "Oh yes, where is it going to be, or have you decided yet?"
"Well actually we're not going to have a normal reception. Dad thought it would be fun to have an impromptu tournament, with some prize money of course," Videl announced.
"Oh that would be good since the last one got interrupted. Where will it be held?" Bulma asked.
"Well the wedding is going to be at the mansion and then the tournament will take place. Dad has been getting an outdoor stadium setup on the outskirts of the city for the tournament part. I guess he really wanted to go all out for his wedding gift and didn't know what to get us. It's the thought that counts though right?" Videl laughed.
"My only question is if Kakarot is competing? If the wedding is two weeks from now, then he and I should be recovered enough to fight. And we will fight at this tournament since Babidi screwed up the last one!" Vegeta declared.
Bulma shook her head as she glanced at her husband, "One track mind as usual. I suppose the boys will all want to enter as well."
Gohan rubbed the back of his head, "Well I think the only ones that won't enter are me and Videl, for obvious reasons. Mom even mentioned that she might enter to win the prize money and then give half to us, but Dad talked her out of it. Besides, we're going to do something different than a standard tournament this time."
Verto finally tuned into the conversation once Lenz had calmed down enough, "What's changing?"
"Well when you went to that other Earth, you were in a tournament right? I want to do something similar to that one, without the death match part of course. Me and Mister Satan discussed it and decided we'd conduct a drawing into four, three-person teams. Opposing teams will then fight out a match of their choosing with fighter participating as needed. How does that sound?" Gohan asked.
"Bah, two weaklings would just slow me down," Vegeta grumbled.
"As long as I'm on little brother's team!" Lenz chimed in.
"And I wanna be on Goten's team!" Trunks added.
"The teams will be decided by random draw Trunks, so you could get paired with your dad, or with Krillin. Or maybe both. And even if you get a bad draw, it's a team battle, so you could elect to have all six people fight at once, if the other team agrees of course. If no one can come to an agreement on the terms though, it'll be a best of three series," Gohan explained.
"I like it, but let me guess, the old ring-out rule still applies?" Verto asked.
Gohan looked confused, "Of course, why would that change?"
Verto rolled his eyes, "Because some things never do. I'm in."
"Me too!" Lenz added.
"Me three!" Trunks said.
All eyes went to Vegeta, though he was all smirks, "Do you fools need to ask at this point? At least something about this marriage ceremony will be worth my time."
Gohan nodded, "Awesome, Dad plans on entering, and Goten too. Krillin wasn't going to at first but Eighteen convinced him. Piccolo said he would too. Mister Satan still plans to compete believe it or not, and Majin Buu wants to 'play'. His words, not mine. Master Roshi also threw his name in the hat once I mentioned it would be teams. That gives us twelve fighters, which gives us four even teams."
"That old man shouldn't even bother," Vegeta stated.
"Not everyone is married to the rich Vegeta, maybe he's getting low on money," Bulma scolded.
Gohan and Videl both blushed before the former spoke, "Actually, he said he's entering so he can spend the money on the next pretty girl he sees. He also said that he's banking on getting onto whatever team Lenz or Eighteen is on. Draw your own conclusions on that one."
Bulma's eyes closed for a moment as she shook in irritation, "Never mind."
"Either way, it should be fun, we'll see you guys then," Gohan said as he and Videl floated off into the air.
Verto smirked as he watched them go, Another tournament. Maybe for once we'll get through something fun without a crisis popping up. Ah hell, who am I kidding?
A/N: Yes, another tournament, with a twist. I originally was going to slate it as a pure tag-team tournament without the random draw but I didn't like how it probably would have ended up. Also I have put my forums back up for all to use as long as the rules are followed, the link is in the profile. This will be a month long experiment, extended depending on participation. If no one bothers with using it, I'll shut it down again. And yes, I realize that what is coming in the story is probably fairly obvious. I really have no reason to hide it. Like it's said above, who am I kidding?
WDG: Who indeed? Oh well, at least it's nice to dream.
VB: Right?