The boys were quickly out and playing. It had been awhile since they had landed and Mai had given the all clear. Gohan was in his mini UNIT uniform. Trunks in his dark green gi and orange belt Everyone was out of the ship except Ferro. The three marines were in their armor. They even had their blaster rifles. Mai was in her officers armor the Captain insignia on her shoulder. Chi-Chi was in her Turtle gi orange and blue.
In the open Chi-Chi began her training. She repeatedly flashed back to when she had failed everyone. How she gave herself to that smug son-a-bitch that was now causing so much suffering on her Earth. How even when confronted with the same sort of menace she was powerless with that other saiyan. It had been awhile since she had Gohan. She thought she should be a lot stronger by now, but she wasn't. No instead she felt like she was treading water. She needed something more she thought.
Gohan and Trunks where playing tag before it enviably turned turn to sparring. Trunks had gotten the idea in his head, that he needed to toughen up Gohan. Gohan would try to go with it but Trunks would play too rough and Gohan would end up crying.
Honestly this went like clockwork by this point to Chi-Chi. Gohan would be upset for an hour and Trunks would come begging her for more lesson rinse and repeat. Trunks desperately wanted to know the Kamehameha wave but because she thought he would probably blow up the ship if she taught him, she didn't. Trunks always wanted a fight it was like if Bulma had superpowers.
Sure, he had Yamcha's grin but all of Bulma's temperament. She didn't know whether it was ironic or painful that Trunks often acted more the Saiyan then Gohan did. When he didn't have an ounce of Saiyan in him. Gohan on the other hand was still so timid and needy he seemed to have none of his father aggression or thirst for battle for all the good and bad that entailed.
The soldiers were talking and joking. Mai was far more comfortable with Bill around. Spunkmeyer always seemed restless after one of his shifts and seemed very determined to talk with something that wasn't the ship on board AI. Deitrich was good about watching the kids she had help deliver Gohan. Frost on the other hand was fire team she knew him the least as a result not much interaction. They were all trustworthy though.
She got nervous the moment the boys jumped into the bush against what she had told them to do.
She stopped her training and yelled "Gohan, Trunks get back into the clearing."
There was no response and a shiver of cold went down her back as it just became clear that in this jungle they were not alone.
Chi-Chi screamed out to them "Gohan! Trunks! Get back here right now!"
She ran over to where she saw them come out as the Marines realized something was happen and began to scan the jungle line visually, their rifles raised, but as she rushed to the line she heard a thud, she stopped and got into stance.
A tall muscular man came out of the brush. His hair was short and black. His skin was tan and scarred. He had a 'F' brand on his neck. His eyes were beady and brown. He wore a patch work sort of armor made of other armors. It seemed something more fit for a gladiator then a soldier. He had on sandals not shoes. In one hand he was holding both Trunk and Gohan by their collars. It looked like Trunks had a black eye and Gohan was just crying.
"Sorry about that. I didn't mean to hurt the little bastard, but he was stubborn."
Trunks look passed out. Chi-Chi's blood was boiling. She looked ready to disembowel this man. He seemed unimpressed by this.
"I said I was sorry."
"Let my son and Trunks go right now!" She shouted as loud as she could. Some birds nearby flew away.
"My word you have a temper. I guess you've never had your children used as leverage against you before. Now here is the thing. I want to let them go but I have the feeling that you are going to hurt me at best when I do that, so I really can't without establishing some rules…"
He whistled. Out of the brush came an army of ragged looking jungle warriors. Some with armor, some just in rags. Some had melee weapon others had lasers and ki weapons.
"Alright now what is your name?"
"Chi-Chi." She said with a snarl.
"Alright Chi-Chi let's just call me Spartacus. I led these people and if you attack me your friends are going to die, and a bunch of my friends are going to too. So, to prevent that you're going to kiss the ground putting your hand up behind your back and stay that way until otherwise stated. You understand?"
Chi-Chi's eyes scanned the area. She could see how she wouldn't be quick enough to save everyone. Ferro had even come out pointing her pistol from the entrance but without an armor just in her flight suit. She could whip Spartacus, but everyone would die.
Spartacus asked annoyed "Do you understand?"
Chi-Chi growled and got out of stance then dropped to the ground her face to it and put her hands up.
Spartacus grinned "Good…" He looked at the rest of the team. "Same goes for the rest of y'all. Drop your guns and kiss the ground."
Chi-Chi barked out from the ground "Do as he says." As a man came out from behind where Spartacus came from.
It was Crixus not that she knew him, he was shaking his hand and said "Damn that kid has strong skull. Wonder if I cracked it?"
Spartacus sighed "Are you done we have a ship to commandeer?"
Crixus was offended and angry "Commandeer? I thought the object was their tech?"
"No, we need to get off this planet. We talked about this."
"I joined to kill masters not run and hide."
"They already sent Vegeta and Nappa to kill us. The goblin predicts catastrophe for this planet. We have to get out of here."
Gohan was making a ton of noise crying and trying to shake Trunks awake.
"I should probably shut the other one up too."
A revolver came out of the jungle pointed at the back of Crixus's head and Bill said, "I wouldn't touch him." The rest of the marine team arrived all pointing their armored hands at the slave army.
Bill said sarcastically "So, this is how brother's treat each other on this planet?"
Spartacus trying to keep one eye on Chi-Chi and one eye on Bill said to him and her. "You move, or you pull that trigger the kiddos are dead."
"You keep holding those boys and I show you what your brother's brains look like and Chi-Chi there tears you a new asshole."
Bulma appeared from her hiding spot and looked beyond furious. Everyone started to barked orders at each other as Gohan stopped crying.
He whimpered 'Poor Trunks.' As he stopped trying to wake him up. A bright aura covered Gohan prompting everyone to stop shouting.
Gohan roared out "I will never forgive you!" With that scream the area also seemed to explode as everyone, but Trunks was tossed away from where Gohan was.
The palm trees were knocked back and the ground shook as Gohan landed on his feet then charged the still air borne Spartacus. The team all seemed stunned by this Gohan that they hadn't meet before, but Crixus got free of Bill and punched him in the jaw. All out melee then ensured. As Chi-Chi jumped to her feet to help Bill as the marines and slaves started to get to their feet about to fire at one another.
Gohan head butted Spartacus and he let out a pained yell as he tried to punch Gohan repeatedly to no avail. Finally, he grabbed hold of the boy and tossed him as hard as he could. Gohan knocked his head on to a tree and that seemed to stop him. Spartacus pointed his hand at Chi-Chi ready to fire when an omnipresent voice shouted at them to "Stop!"
They did and a funny looking creature sort of appeared. The creature was pink and quite short. He had a bald head with blue various sized spot on it and pointed ears. He had large eyes with large lids, no nose, fleshy whiskers and a scrunched-up face. He wore what looked like armor, but it had regular cloth under it and sandals. It almost looked like something a Saiyan would wear if he were a monk. Seeing that the fight was halted his skin got lighter from the enflamed pink and blue to more mellow shade of the two colors.
He put his hands together in almost pray like poses and with sincerity with a weird accent said "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
"What the hell are you doing?"
The Yardratian said to him "I'm sorry that this all happened but I needed to talk to Chi-Chi Ox of Earth."
Chi-Chi looked at him confused "Me?"
He bowed to her and to Gohan who was getting up. Gohan looked at him rubbing his head and he asked, "What happened?" Apparently forgetting what had just happened.
He said to him "Nothing really, but you're taking a small step to your true power Gohan." He polite bowed then smiled at him then Gohan returned the favor.
"Oh, you know my name. What's you name good sir?"
"My name is well you won't be able pronounce it… Goblin just call me Goblin."
"You said you were going to transport us off this planet?"
"I am but I don't need any ship to do that."
Crixus spit and said, "Fuck that, I'm staying here."
Spartacus looked at him staring daggers and said, "I'm not helping you steal from these people."
Crixus was pissed "Fine then…" He spoke to everyone. "Anyone who doesn't want to run and wants to kill masters come with me."
Almost half of the group then left with Crixus as the slave army seemed to be split. Bulma had run over to her boy and so did Dietrich. Gohan seeing this also went over. Chi-Chi then marched up to Goblin.
Chi-Chi then forcefully asked him "Alright why have you come?"
"You have reach the limits of your training have you not? You seek a way to avenge yourself and your world. If you come to my world Yardrat we can get you in touch with higher powers to train you."
Bill was coming over as Chi-Chi asked the alien "It's really creepy that you know all of this. How do you know so much? Why should I trust you? Where is your world? And how did you appear?"
"You drank from the water of the divine of your world. You can see the future if you drink it enough. But of course, the future is always changing. Many times, in most places we would have never met, but this time in this place we meet. There are many universes, many futures."
Bill interrupting and sarcastically asked "Are you going to teach us how to use magic crystals next?"
"Oh, Stryker the cynic and to think your mother was a true believer."
That statement made his eye twitch a bit "Yeah belief ain't a luxury I have anymore."
Goblin when back to talking to Chi-Chi "I would have no idea why you should trust me. I guess you'll just have reach out with your feelings. I've already programed your ship with my planets location and the last question you'll just have to learn these powers when you come."
"What powers?"
"To move with without needing to move. To increase your power in an instant without needing to train. To make you one with the lifeforce of a world and use that a tool against your enemies. Instant train mission, Kaio-ken and Spirit Bomb respectively as you would call them. Its high time I think that our lord kai finally gets into the action."
Chi-Chi was confused by this, but he bowed. He then went over and gather the group of freed slaves got them to hold hands and then they disappeared without a trace.
"Do you understand what just happened?"
"No not really."
"Right so it's not just me. Okay let's get off this fucking planet right now."
On Earth
In a big hanger was a sleek warship the size of a battleship. It was color black and grey. It had the handled trident on its side with a serial number on it with its name 'Freedom.' There was a crowd of over a thousand in power armor and in uniform. Imperial grey and black covered the scene before a stand. Raditz was sitting in a chair right next to the stand and Teal was sitting on the other side. There were both waiting on Kakarrot to address his men and getting bored while doing so.
Raditz hadn't liked that his brother was already so much stronger than him, but this had all been enlightening. The entire time he had been here he had witnessed that the human didn't just seem to fear him as their reason for following him.
No in fact they seemed to love him. The soldiers seemed eager to see him and meet him. They respected him, and he seemed to respect them. He didn't treat his people at all like Vegeta had treated him like. Hell, it was making him angry just thinking of all the times Vegeta had belittle and beat him.
Finally, Kakarrot arrived dress far different then when he had first encountered him. He was wearing a black and ashen grey armor like what the normal soldiers would wear. He went through the crowd high fiving, laughing and joking with the men as he went. He had gone from god-emperor to common soldiers since last he saw him. Raditz got the idea that his brother was always playing a role and it was jarring but he saw why. It was the reason they worshiped him. He was everything they wanted him to be when they saw him. 'Kami' he thought I wish I had some of that power.
Kakarrot got to the stage and went over to him and whispered, "Take notes for when I give you a squad for the planet on how to inspire the troops."
He got to the stand and began to speak "Soldiers and Sailors or the new Saiyan Empire. We are about to embark on a crusade against the enemies of the hominid race. You will the first on the line against those who would seek you in shackles. We are going to a world that enslaves billions. We are going to destroy that world, burn it to the ground and be gone before anyone one notices. But let's take a second to observe one thing, you will all be making history, this will be the first-time humanity will be called to war off the Earth. You are all the vanguard of the future my friends. In the future this will be common I assure you. For too long humanity has been too busy fighting each. Now you will be fighting your real enemies. The stakes will never be higher the future of your family, your race and your planet are on the line. Your enemy will fight ruthlessly, but so will you and you will win. You will win because you have the spirit of the superior man in you. You are awaked badasses, your heart breakers and soul takers. You're the future they are the past. In your heart is a Saiyan warrior waiting to be unleashed. The PTO is about to meet its end and it's called the New Saiyan Empire and its invincible fighting man. Many of you might die in the coming battle. The first to die in the defense of the Earth and their superior race. I don't wish it, but it will be required. You might die but you will die my brother because anyone who shreds blood in the coming battle I will see as my brother. I wish you all to live because you are mine army and the object is to make the other guy die for Frieza but if you do die, you will die gloriously. You will die for all the reasons I have listed, and your reward will be Val Halla, where all good warriors go to when the time comes. To all this I give you my advice. Kill your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women and you will know victory this coming battle. Do not disappoint gentlemen. The Liberty, Equality and Fraternity will be in back up if something goes wrong. Good luck and let's show them the power of our fledgling Empire. Seig heil."
The crowd roared and heiled saying Kakarrot name. Raditz could see how much these men loved his brother and how much it meant. It would be interesting to see Vegeta again.
On the Ship
In the med bay almost, everyone but the fire team was there. Dietrich and Bulma were both giving Trunks an extensive exam. Bill was in his fatigues on an examine table getting the marks on his face looked at by Mai while in his lap was Gohan. Gohan had wanted to curl up next to Trunks but was prevented by the others so instead sat in Bill's lap. His tail wrapped around his arm. He had fallen asleep pretty quickly exhausted as he was his head lodged deep in Bill's chest.
Bill's blue eye was at first focused on Mai giving him bandages, but his eye turned to Bulma. His hair moving slightly as Mai moved it to look more at his head. His hair had been brown, but it was turning white fast over the last few years.
Bill angry asked her "I hope Bulma you have a damn good explanation for what you were doing?"
Bulma did bother to look at him so consumed with Trunks with a huff she said "I hardly think that matters now considering… and besides you wouldn't have been able to do what you did if I hadn't been modifying the armor's all this time. You would have barely scratched him otherwise I bet."
Bill sighed at her "Are you going serious ask for a thank you after the crap you just pulled?"
Bulma looked at him and deflatedly said "It all worked out."
"That Saiyan could have killed you or worse. This little experience should prove that we're alone and we only have each other."
Chi-Chi interrupted "Not necessarily."
"Are you serious? You really want to trust that guy?"
"You said you believed in me and I felt like he was telling the truth. We have been looking for someone to teach me and this is that opportunity."
"This is not a game…" He pointed to the sleeping Gohan. "the stakes are way too high."
"My son just proved himself one of the strongest warrior's that I have ever meet today. I didn't know he had that power, but he does. And Goblin seemed unfazed by it."
"He could be playing us."
Mai interrupted them "You yourself began this trek to do exactly this. So why aren't we taking this chance?"
He huffed "Fine! I just want it known that I'm very much against this. But instruct Ferro to set a course to the Planet Yardrat. I guess we'll find out who's right and I hope you are right."
Okay so we didn't get to Vegeta this time, but we will get back to him in the next chapter Liberator.