The trumpets sounded as the banded played. The crowds were cheering and heiling. The handled trident banners were flying from the poles and windows on the buildings. Kakarrot was on a parade float going through downtown Kakarrot city (formerly Central City) with this fellow Saiyans behind him. He looked ecstatic as he threw money and things stolen from Risa at them. The slave that came to his side were in front of the parade marching receiving the love of the crowd.
The music changed from Der Koniggrater March to La Marseillaise. Kakarrot as aside to the other Saiyan's said "Always loved this one. It just has so much blood. I just wish my Imperial March's lyrics had as much blood as it as it does. Hear how they cheered when I told them that I sent a fleet to play pirate to the galaxy?"
Vegeta's brow was furrowed in annoyance "Is there any reason why we are wasting time doing this instead of training?"
"You're such a stick in the mud. Don't you worry your pretty little head. I know of a place where we can do a year's training in a day. You should enjoy yourself like your friends."
Vegeta looked to see Nappa and Raditz behind him quite enjoying the spectacles including a woman flashing them in her joy. Vegeta looked back at him "You give them a few trinkets and they spread their legs for you. I suppose you expect that from all those people without honor but I'm not buying. All of this is rotten you sell lies and nothing more. You are without honor."
"Was it honor that saved our people from extinction? Was it honor that compelled you to still work for Frieza even after you knew the truth? Was it honorable to slaughter all those helpless worlds? I bet they didn't scratch you sometimes, if anyone is lying here it's you." At that Vegeta seemed ready to take Kakarrot head off. "And as for what you call these lies, I call it triumph. All of this is built on a truth that you just can't see. See those peoples love?" He pointed to the mob. "It's genuine. They like bloodshed and mayhem it's what gets them off. Their all just animals, hungry for blood you see. Before me they tried to tell themselves, they were better than this. Now their screaming eager to hear about how I slaughtered a world. Today they get to shed their 'better natures' and just enjoy the horror like our people did so honorably."
Vegeta shook his head in disgust at the sight "You really enjoy pissing me off."
Kakarrot then asked with sarcasm dripping from his question "What would give you that idea?"
"Is there a damned thing that you believe in?"
He stated bluntly without a single emotion in it "That everything burns Princy."
The prince felt a chill down his spine at that. This was a completely different animal to Frieza he was now crystal.
He turns back around and waves to the crowd. Take joy in showing the heads of many of the Frieza forces that he kept on ice. Kakarrot tossed the heads into the crowds and they went wild. The crowd will to indulge in their master's grotesque fantasies as they tossed around the severed heads and dancing with them.
Kakarrot to himself but loud enough for Vegeta to hear "Got to love the people they're just as blood thirsty as me. "
Hours later they group was led by Kakarrot to the Lookout. The Lookout looked far different from when Kami had run the place. The sun seemed dimmer, the shadows far harsher and the dome far less shiny. The place was far more corrupt and far less peaceful. The trees were all withered and dead. Tattooed on the walls and columns was graffiti in red that in many languages that said, 'God was dead.'
Piccolo in his cape and hat emerged from the center building. He seemed quite upset with their presence he asked, "Why did you come here?"
Before any response was given Vegeta in a huff asked"What with the Namekian being here?"
Kakarrot looked at Vegeta not changing his expression but quickly asked "Namekian?"
"Yes that what he is. Did I stutter? What did you think that he was human? He's from Namek. I had a run in with an older version of this kind. He fancied himself a lord. Their people are said to have all sorts of power even said to have magic balls that could give you whatever you want. I however never put much stock in that myself."
Kakarrot looked at Piccolo and the two grinned at one another. Kakarrot then piped up "Interesting little story. Magic balls you say?"
"Just rumors and stupidity."
"Your right of course. Now the reason why we are here my 'friend' is because we need the Hyperbolic Time Chamber."
Piccolo then said with a great poker face "Okay you understand that only two of you can be in there at one time."
"Understood. So, it me and my brother and you and Nappa who goes first?"
Vegeta said with insistence in his voice "I do."
"How do I know you won't just come out and kill me?"
"Because I could do that right now without any chamber's help."
"Are you so sure?"
"We can find out if you want."
Raditz huffed in annoyance at his brother's and Prince's contest "Or maybe we can save this shit for afterwards."
Vegeta stated not all that from a soiled child "I'm going in first."
"Find then have it your way. You have one year or twenty-four hours in real time to get as strong as you can. Have fun."
Vegeta turned he and Nappa followed Piccolo to the time chamber. Leaving Raditz and Kakarrot alone.
"Why do you insist on antagonizing him?"
"Why do insist on treating him like he's something special? Why because he's the heir to a dead bloodline that allied itself with Frieza?"
"Well yeah. His father beat the Tuffles we own him our obedience."
"Get real. The old ways are dead and so are our, our people. Stop thinking like a toady and start thinking like a Saiyan warrior. Once we kill Frieza the universe is ours. Do you really want to spend the rest of your like as a bitch boy or do you want to be king?"
"Bitch boy?"
"Best I can figure what you are to him right now. Look I'm not going to tell you what to do brother, I'm not Vegeta. I'm just asking. Don't you want more out of life, rather than just being a follower? Vegeta and Nappa are going to take a day if you want you could explore the Earth. Me I just have to say something to my dear friend and then it's back to the waiting embrace of my wives after all a year without them is quite a long time."
Kakarrot left Raditz alone with his thoughts.
Kakarrot went to Piccolo who had just closed the door to the time chamber. The two went far from Raditz to talk.
"So, there are other balls and other Namekians."
"It would seem that me a Kami aren't alone in the universe after all."
"A chance at the big leagues perhaps. One wish would certainly make this war a sure thing."
"I doubt they would willingly give them to you. Me and my father are a rare breed my instincts are telling me. I have this feeling they are all more like Kami."
"Are they all as strong?"
"Power seems to come rather easily to my people as opposed to humans. They will not be easy prey."
"Good if it was easy it would be no fun. Best yet it might be the best way to make sure that I have Frieza right where I want him."
"What are you planning?"
Kakarrot "Give it time genius takes patience sometimes. Tell me, could you refuse with Kami?"
"Why in the hell would I want to do that?"
"Your falling behind and I need fire power at a time like this. You could have easily clean house if it wasn't for your pride. Besides the old man will die sooner rather than later even trapped as he is, and he might be used by Chi-Chi if she ever decides to try and make a comeback. I'm sure you can find a way to stay dominant. You have a library of spell and nonsense to work with up here. In addition to finding allies from this other realm you should find this out too."
"Maybe but it might take some time. I have a lot less help then Kami did."
"Well we couldn't honesty leave Poppo and Korin alive. All they would do is plot against us. A shame though the Senzu bean secrets died with Korin however. Good thing I kept a souvenir." He patted his chest. "Oh well the sacrifices we have to make."
Piccolo annoyed hissed out "Like mine."
"Hey, I'm suffering here too I had to spend an infuriating week trapped with stick up his ass Prince. I've had to resist the urge to rip his smug ass face off. It's all about accepting some inconveniences."
"Inconvenience! He would be in my head!"
"Right where he'll get to see all the horrible things that you do. Held hostage and forced to help commit the worst atrocities. If you wanted to torture him this would be kind of the best way. Everyone breaks, and you will get to hear him break inside your head."
Piccolo grinned at that and allowed himself to be swayed "It's scary how good you are at this."
"Nah its easy. Grampa once called me a protégée. It all comes easy. The fighting, the talking, the tactics, the strategy all of it is taking a breath of air. I actually enjoy it when a real challenge comes to me. As of know I'm still just fighting mortals but one day I'll get a chance to cut my teeth on the worthless kings of heaven. Now I'll be seeing yeah."
Goblin appeared in the chambers of the elders "Venerable elders. I have news from Chi-Chi's training."
They all appeared in their spots and he was in front of them in a circle.
"She has nearly mastered our ability to move from place to place instantly but I must report that her progress with her own demons is going slowly. She continues to when pushed react's quite violently. I fear that she may be rejected by King Kai when the time comes."
They spoke in turns once again.
"Perhaps we have been going about this the wrong way. Mother and son should be taught together?"
"Why?"
"The boy is also of pure heart. I believe he also he has role to play in all of this. After all we did see a son of an Emperor kill the Emperor. Who says that it wasn't Gohan who did it?"
"Should we ask a child to save us?"
"Youth grow old as we all did. One day this boy will grow up to be a formidable warrior like his father and mother."
"But it still there is the matter of his companions. I sense great mistrust and hate from Bill. The sands of destiny are ever shifting. If he gets his way, we will lose a champion and the future course will be set."
"He is a broken thing despite his role in all of this. He will be easily willed by Chi-Chi to follow along with this."
"You have little sense. Broken things tend to fight the hardest after all they have little to lose."
"It matters little we need the boy and so does Chi-Chi. Tell her to bring the boy with her to the tree and we will send them both to King Kai."
Goblin bowed and disappeared.
"This is a farce. A child."
"No, a Saiyan child. A hope for the universe a new one."
Bill yelled as loud as he could "This is madness! NO don't do this!"
The two were in the gravity room. Goblin had disappeared at her request and was waiting for them outside of the ship. Chi-Chi seemed resigned to not winning the argument but going through with anyways.
"You told me what you saw what was in there. Do you really want him to know the truth with a pretty damn realistic version of him being the messenger?"
"No but the monks seem to think this is a good idea and were just going to have to trust their judgement."
"Judgement!? These old fossils haven't the foggiest idea in their skulls of what they're doing! This will break him."
"My son is strong his heart is pure unlike mine. We need him to be a fighter. Earth suffers. We can't hold him back any longer. Ever since Risa he has been begging me to let him into the gravity room. He wants to help and perhaps his nature will allow him to defeat Kakarrot."
Bill looked like he was about to burst. His hate of all of this plain to see on his. She refuses to listen he thought to himself.
Soon they were back at the tree. No matter what time of day it was this tree always seemed to be in the same time. First, they came to it at dusk then morning and now midday, but it seemed to not matter. It still appeared to be twilight here. A dim light with barely enough to see yet you always could.
Bill, Chi-Chi, Gohan and Goblin were all at the tree line. Chi-Chi and Gohan were holding hands. She looked at him "Honey no matter what happens in their just remember mommy loves you."
Goblin spoke to her in his most calming voice that he could muster in his awkward accent "Chi-Chi focus on your love for your son. Gohan focus on your love for mom and friends. If you do that the mist of this place will offer nothing but clarity and cleansing."
Bill darkly began to state "This is bul…" He remembered that Gohan was there. "Bull hockey yeah that's what I was going to say."
The two walking in and the mist appeared and encapsulate them.
Gohan suddenly felt that he wasn't holding his mother hand in a panic he looked around. Unable to find here. Tears appeared at his eyes.
A voice from the mist came "A baby like you couldn't protect anyone."
It emerged a dark version of Gohan continuing "I want to be a scholar no matter how many suffer while you just play the little kid. The man from the radio has done such horror but you don't want to fight. Your dad knows you're not cut out to do anything but cry why do you think he babies you like he does."
Gohan sniffed he was on the verge of tears "You're not real."
"And you're not original. You have so much power, but you do nothing and are good for nothing. Your worthless."
Gohan remembering what Goblin said calmly "That's not what my mom thinks. You're just trying to scare me. I know that I don't like fight but that doesn't make me weak. My mom and dad love me for just who I am, and I will protect them. You have no control over me."
And with that the image disappeared.
In Chi-Chi vision. She had also lost her hold with Gohan she looked around only to hear his voice again.
"Back again I see. I guess you brought my little bastard with you this time. How thoughtful. We should play some ball together get to know each other. Tell him about the wild ass night he was conceived on. I'm sure he will love to hear about how his mother betrayed her people, friends and conscience over my big D. Who knows maybe we have a few things in common?"
"Slime you have nothing in common with my son!"
"Your right of course. Maybe I should just kill him or maybe I should teach him his ancestor's values. I mean once he gets a taste, he'll remember who he is."
Chi-Chi remembering Goblins advice calmly said, "I want to thank you for that night."
Kakarrot yelled out in confusion "What!?"
Chi-Chi with tears in her eyes "You may have had crude ideas about me but if not for that night I wouldn't have my Gohan. I do regret that I let my feelings undermined who I should have been but that still doesn't change who I am. I am Chi-Chi Ox Champion of Mankind and you have no control over me. I'm angry at you but I don't hate you anymore. You broke my heart, but you are too weak to make me into you, so be gone you are nothing to me."
The monster seemed panicked as he began to fade away. She breathed a sigh of relief.
Bill having had to wait for minute had finally had enough. Against the protests of Goblin, he marched into the mist to find and get Gohan. But suddenly he felt himself elsewhere. Voices were all around him.
He clutched his ears and began to repeat to himself "It's all not real."
He looked up and saw Gohan his tail wagging his back was too him. The voices stopped. He was now in a familiar looking chapel.
He said out loud "Good." He went over to Gohan. "Good Gohan lets find you mother and get out of here."
Gohan spoke with a strange intensity to his voice "Are you really my father?"
Bill panicked and asked "What did that monster tell you?"
"Nothing you just told me everything I needed to know." He turned around his eyes were black and filled with malice that Bill had never seen before. "You know I am going to grow up to be just like him."
Bill walked back and got ready to fight "More lies you're not Gohan."
Fake Gohan grower older and sprouting palm hair and armor.
Kakarrot voice now coming from him "He's going to be just like me. You think all of this training will help him? No, it will awaken his true nature."
Bill took out his revolver and went to shoot him, but it faded into dust in his hands.
Kakarrot chuckled then "So much for being imaginary."
"You are!"
"Oh, then why were you trying to shoot me? Maybe it's because you know I am speaking the truth like I always do."
"Everything out of your mouth is lies and self-serving half-truths."
"No, I speak a higher truth. Chi-Chi is so easy to fool, take it from me. These people don't have your interest in mind they have their own. They want a protector. See how willing they are to use your Gohan even if it hurts him. You're his protector so why aren't you protecting? You and I know the truth. I'm unbeatable. All that will happen when they go up against me is that they will get hurt. I'll rape Chi-Chi, chain up Bulma and use her son as my hostage. I'll kill Mai and make Gohan into me or kill him. I already took one family from you. It's only a matter of time until I take your second. They all want to fight but they won't win."
Bill is surround by the images of all the people killed by Kakarrot including Frank and Diane who is pregnant still just like the last time he saw her. They were all bleed and he started to drown in their blood as the monster laughed.
The mist cleared, and everyone reappear. Chi-Chi and Gohan looked happy but Bill was on his knees his eye vacant. Out loud he mumbled 'Protect.' As he seemed very distant from the world and reality.
