The Horse with No Name
Chapter Four
Assimilation
Gohan must have fallen asleep at some point because he wakes up to the dark of an evening sky. There's an ungenerous hole which acts as a pitiful excuse for a window, and so he's only rewarded with a couple of speckles against the blue-black. Even the stars look sad, he thinks as his eyelids pull close once more.
The second time he wakes up is when the methodical hum of the hospital machines churn out an undesirable crunching sound. Gohan tries to bury his ears against the pillows but finds it to be futile.
Just as he moves to fortress himself under the thin sheet does he hear the machine rip out a thunderous snarl before powering down completely. Irritation only momentarily bubbles until sleep takes him once more.
The final time he wakes is when he is lightly shaken by the shoulder. It's the doctor from yesterday, the one who'd eventually given his name as Doctor Jivel.
"Good morning. It's not quite enough to feed a typical saiyan but I've brought you some breakfast," he wryly says as he gestures to a tray of dubious-looking food on Gohan's bedside. "You should feel somewhat better today; last night we pumped enough medicinal fluids into you to make a Sorlian burst."
Gohan doesn't know what a Sorlian is and doesn't have time to ask as Doctor Jivel disappears behind the silvery sheet. Whatever medicine is currently being pumped into his body appears to have worked because Gohan is able to shimmy into an upright position without a wave of nausea battering him. Weak, but not invalid, he gazes towards the food.
Dubious is putting it lightly. Apparently being some hotshot god-type doesn't mean much if they serve him this kind of slop.
"You wouldn't have to eat such atrocities if you didn't put yourself in these kind situations."
Startled, Gohan turns his attention towards the curtain.
The silvery sheet slides cleanly over the shoulder of Gohan's newest guest, a man poised with self-assurance and polished refinement. He's all angles and points, especially with that glare, one which peers out through a pair of very golden eyes and into Gohan's soul.
"They're the eyes of a god, my lord."
He stiffens under the gaze. Unlike Lord Rixas' eyes these are sharper; tightening under blonde white eyelashes the longer he stares Gohan down. Straight away, Gohan knows that this must be the other brother, the mysterious Lord Quell the doctor mentioned last night. If only for those intense glowing eyes and sheet of blonde hair, Gohan can connect the dots. Lord Rixas and this man are eerily similar. The only main difference is that this guy's hair is long and neat, cascading smoothly down his back and looking like not even the wind could tempt it astray. It adds to his regal nature, opposing Lord Rixas' character in contrast. Whereas Lord Rixas looks like a common shaggy-haired college kid, this guy strikes Gohan exactly of what a lord should be. He's regal, commanding.
The teenager swallows against the scratching of his throat; an uncomfortable pressure blankets the room and so he shuffles beneath the sheets. It's suffocating. Gohan feels like he's suffocating.
This guy isn't good news at all…
He thinks the man, Lord Quell, must be a mind-reader because he showcases one the nastiest scowls Gohan's yet seen.
"Of course you would forget yourself," this lord says as he lowers into the same chair the doctor used last night, "you do like to keep it interesting for the rest of us, don't you?"
Gohan opens his mouth but nothing comes out.
"They say you think yourself some kind of saiyan half breed?" He sighs but his eyes remain knife-like sharp. It reminds Gohan of Vegeta many years ago, and briefly of Piccolo when Gohan would do something particularly annoying in those early days.
The silence hints to Gohan that this is his turn to talk.
"I... uh."
A wave of ki then flurries out. It surveys the room, filling every crevice with intense fury. The pressure from this man is unreal. Gohan's honestly never felt anything like it before.
Lord Quell frowns as he ghosts his fingertips over the doctor's notes by Gohan's bed. "So you forgot Lanit-Tongue, and the common speak?"
Lanit-Tongue?
"I'm sorry!" Gohan finally spurts out, "I can just feel... your aura, it's..."
The man tilts his head over so slightly, his hair delicately falling sideward. There's nothing else delicate about this man, including the icy smile on show. It's a business man's smile. It doesn't reach his eyes. "I suppose you don't know who I am, do you?"
Gohan bites his lip. He has an idea, but knows full well that there's no right answer to this question. It's like when his mother used to drill him as a kid, hands on hips, asking him if he'd snuck out to train with Piccolo, knowing very well what the answer is already.
The teenager coughs into his hand. "You're his brother. Er, Mori's. Right?"
The cold smile drops immediately and the man's lips press into a thin line.
"You really are a fool, aren't you, Mori?" The man's eyelashes feather against his cheekbones in slow motion. He glares about the room. "Look at where you are, look at what you've done to yourself. Had you cooperated in the first place then you wouldn't be here. Tch, when Rixas arrived at my chambers last night completely intoxicated I thought he'd been exaggerating."
Gohan wants to correct the lord, correct him by telling him his real name, correct him by telling him that he actually isn't this strange Mori guy and that there's been some kind of mistake, but Gohan finds himself lip locked. Instead, his gaze lowers.
"I'm told they found you wandering around the grounds like a lost lamb," he continues, waspish. "That you're brain damaged and you've forgotten yourself."
The words are barbed and the pressure builds, the ki from this man drowning Gohan in tide after tide of weight.
"Just where the hell have you been, Mori?"
He tries to speak again and is thwarted by the slew of nauseating ki. It's radiating from the lord in oppressive spiralling waves. Never has Gohan known anything like this. Even looking at Lord Quell seems impossible. His head bangs, pulsating under the burden as his body threatens to crumble. Kneel it tells him. It wants him to fold.
There's a bang on Gohan's bedside table.
"We thought you dead," he continues, "I thought you dead."
Against his better judgement, Gohan looks up to be rewarded with the wintery glitter of gold. Frostily, Lord Quell considers him as the teenager palms the fabric of his mattress. Perspiration wets Gohan's forehead, his mouth runs dry and his words have long left him.
Lord Quell leans in. His hair follows in trickles. "You have rendered yourself powerless, lost, and worst of all… stupid."
Gohan's eyes narrow on reaction. He catches the lord's eyes in a direct blow. One thing he is not is stupid.
Before Gohan manages a single word, the man's aura weighs down twice as heavy as before. It's as though someone's just thrown a house at him.
"Don't you look at me like that," the lord hisses, body stiff and reminding Gohan of a snake ready to strike. "After all this time you've been alive and yet I've known none of it. How dare you, Mori, how dare you do this after what happened to Famis! How dare you disappear from your duty! How dare you return after being dead like this? Just what have you done to yourself?"
He winces. This is worse than being scolded by Mother. Heck, he'd rather have his dad shout at him than this.
"There's been a mistake… your ki… can you just-"
The man stands with such ferocity that it knocks the wind out of Gohan.
"Worst of all, Mori, is that you don't have any idea of what I'm talking about, who I am, you are, or what you are. The crime is that you can't fathom what you have done because you have made yourself stupid."
With that, Lord Quell leaves without as much as a returning glance. He, at least, takes that daunting ki with him and within seconds Gohan can breathe somewhat easier. Laying there for nearly a full minute, Gohan tries to absorb what's just happened. The aura is gone but the memory of it still presses down on him, imprinting.
Ugh… He's worse than the first brother.
Gohan steels a glance at the food on the bedside table and feels even more nauseated about eating than before.
Doctor Jivel returns a while later, looking dishevelled. His little hair fluffs in various directions and his pallor is grey.
"Are you okay?" Gohan asks as the doctor changes one of the many lines leading from a machine and into Gohan's body. Droplets of blue liquid drizzle when Doctor Jivel disconnects one line completely before discarding it.
"Huh? Oh yes, quite." He connects a fresh line and presses something on a clear and button-less table. Apparently that is that because the doctor makes his way towards Gohan's uneaten breakfast and lifts exactly one brow.
"I'm really not hungry."
Another brow rises to join its sister before he takes in a deep breath. "I suppose not. I dare say I feel the same, as do the rest of the staff."
Gohan looks at Doctor Jivel questioningly.
"Allow an old doctor to give you some advice, sir. Do not anger Lord Quell. His power is immense, and honestly, he puts the fear of God into me and all of my colleagues." Doctor Jivel collects Gohan's tray and makes his way to the curtain. "He is your eldest brother, and clearly very displeased about your condition. If he becomes any more displeased then he might just bring down the building... He caused a power outage last night and that was bad enough…"
The doctor leaves Gohan for a long time, long enough for him to become restless. No other doctors or nurses seem to be allowed into his room as he has no other visitors. He tries reading through the doctor's notes but can't understand any of the writing. Strange circles and oddly shaped lines must be how to write in this odd Lanit-Tongue (the language of this world according to the doctor), not that it means much to Gohan. Diagrams, drawings, and charts also frequently appear in his notes. He wonders if Piccolo would be able to recognize any of this.
He tries to nap to pass the time. It's dark by the time he wakes up to food being presented to him.
"You must be hungry by now," Doctor Jivel comments as he delivers the food to his bedside.
And he is actually. This food doesn't look like the slop of this morning. There are vegetables he doesn't recognize, and a pink meat that smells particularly appetizing.
"Lord Rixas came to visit. You were asleep so he was only here a short while."
Relief sweeps him. He certainly doesn't have it in him to deal with another of Mori's brothers today. Of course he doesn't say this to the doctor and instead tries a mouthful of the spiral vegetable instead. It's very sweet, not bad. The doctor changes another of the lines and presses some buttons on the button-less table again as he eats.
"So what is the Realm of the Almighty?" Gohan asks once he finishes his meal. Strange, he's never feel full after such a small meal back home.
The doctor looks at him and away in a quick motion. The odd button-less computer seems more interesting than him apparently. "Well, that's a loaded question, Sir."
Gosh, he really hates this 'sir' nonsense. Apparently they think he's some kind of lord like the brothers. Whilst Gohan's always tried to be polite and respectful he's never liked people to refer to him in any kind of formal way. It's just plain weird. Still, one thing Gohan hates more than this manner of speaking is the way the doctor tries to avoid his questions.
"I want to see my family," Gohan says, deciding to tackle Jivel's dancing around with bluntness. "I want to go home."
The doctor looks at him in surprise. "Do you not want your memories back?"
"I have my memories. I know who I am-"
"Let's just say," the doctor imposes as he looms over Gohan's bedside, "that everything you're saying is true." A hand silences Gohan before he can interrupt insisting that, yes, it is indeed the truth. "Hear me out, sir. Let's say that your life on planet Earth is the true reality and we have made this grandiose mistake and that you're not Lord Mori and we're incorrect. How do you prove that?"
"Take me to Earth. Take me to my dad. He can help. He knows people who can help."
"Okay. And how can we prove to you that our reality is the truth? Other than holding a mirror to your face. Your eyes are that of a god; there's no mistaking that."
"You can't-"
"Humour me," Doctor Jivel urges.
Gohan tries to stare the doctor out, failing miserably. His mind comes up blank as the doctor goes on longer waiting for a response. Really, Gohan doesn't have anything to offer up other than how impossible all this really is.
When they'd showed him his eyes he'd tried to jump up and out of bed. They'd been turned into glowing rocks of gold, turned creepy and all-knowing. Gohan hated it –still hates it. There's obviously been some kind of mistake here yet no-one's listening to him. Everyone is insisting otherwise. Both brothers stubbornly won't acknowledge that they've clearly made a mistake.
The teenager's fists clench. It's so frustrating.
"Work with us and not against us, and we'll find the truth together," Doctor Jivel eventually puts out there, "if you have no memories of being Lord Mori then all this will be fruitless, and we can clear this misunderstanding up."
Gohan swallows but his mouth is already so dry that it just makes him feel sick all over again. The silence holds thickly in the air until, "I still want to speak to my dad."
Doctor Jivel seems to take this as a small victory. "In time. You're safe here, so let's focus on being well first. You really did hit your head rather hard, and your energy levels still aren't where I want them to be. Once you're physically healed I will have to pass you onto Doctor Hezk. She's one of the doctors who observed you yesterday. A bit nervous to take you I think, but she's an expert in magical damage. She also has a way with magic and the mind as I'm told so she'll be the one to help you recount your memories."
"Wh-what will she do?" Gosh, she wasn't a witch, is she?
"Don't look like that, sir. She's a fine doctor, very private and professional."
Gohan bites his lip. Okay, he'll humour them first. If they need proof that they've made a mistake he'll give it them. No problem. And if this other doctor is as good as Doctor Jivel said she is then she'll help him figure all this out.
I'll make them see the truth.
Hours transpire into days through sleeping, eating strange and sweet foods, attempts at reading the doctor's notes to see what's actually wrong with him, and awkward conversations with Doctor Jivel. He's learnt that Doctor Jivel lives in the Spire infirmary itself with his partner, a man by the name of Doctor Yuluk. It comes as a little surprise. Gohan isn't prejudiced, but he hasn't really had much experience around gay people. Doctor Jivel was equally surprised at Gohan's reaction, telling him that liking one's gender wasn't anything anyone really questioned here.
He'd laughed good-naturedly at Gohan's surprise. And this is how Earth came to be known as a hick planet to the good doctor.
Gohan also learnt that the Spire is apparently a well-respected and ancient establishment, dedicated to aiding the health of many individuals who're admitted. Doctor Jivel has been careful enough not to mention where exactly the Spire is but Gohan is pretty sure he's still in the Realm of the Almighty.
Surprisingly, there are no more visits from any of Mori's brothers.
"I respectfully asked them to keep their distance," Doctor Jivel tells him as Gohan eats his breakfast one morning. It must have been day four. "Your health is of the upmost importance, and will only be hindered by our dutiful, but impatient, lords."
He says it with eyes glowing in mischief, like he'd just said something he shouldn't have.
Day five presents a new problem. He hadn't noticed until that afternoon that he hadn't needed to use the bathroom at all since waking up. Doctor Jivel conceals a chuckle when Gohan mentions it in a panic, telling Gohan that perhaps the medical equipment is more advanced at the Spire than on Earth.
The wires dangling from his body taunt Gohan from where they lay streaming across his body. Luckily enough, it's day six when the fatigue and dizziness seems to have disappeared completely. There are no short bouts of napping anymore which convinces Doctor Jivel that evening to remove all the wires all together.
"You'll be able to take that toilet trip you're so eager about." Doctor Jivel jokes.
Finally, on the morning of day seven, wire-free, Gohan's allowed to get out of bed. He manages to move himself around in the bed just fine, even better without the wires, but knows his body would not enjoy the challenge of standing. He's proven correct when he takes one step forward after hoisting himself up, crashing into the arms of Doctor Jivel when his feet can't manage the weight.
He falls a further five times, but manages on the sixth to make it to the ivory armchair.
"You're doing well," Doctor Jivel says, wiping sweat from his brow. Supporting Gohan with every slip seems to have taken its toll.
"I don't understand why my body is so wracked like this."
"You're assimilating to the environment, I told you this. That combined with the ki fluctuation and concussion has caused intense strain on your body. Something as simple as walking takes time."
"On Earth people have to go through therapy for months to walk again," Gohan informs him, a little wheezy himself.
"Tsk, what kind of technological backwards planet of yours is this, Gohan?"
Doctor Jivel at least calls Gohan by his real name, which he's grateful for. When Gohan first requested Doctor Jivel dropped the 'sir' he seemed more amused than aghast (like Gohan thought he might be) by it, and did it with ease. The doctor's analysis of him continues on it seems.
That afternoon, nature calls. Walking is bearable but still awkward and painful. Thankfully, the doctor allows him to go to the bathroom alone after a brief argument (or ten minutes of Gohan pleading). The bathroom is as bright as his adjoining bedroom. There is no window unlike the other room however, being very cramped and uncomfortable for someone of Gohan's height to stand in. A toilet, similar to what he has on Earth, stands in the centre. To the right, there's a small shower head and to the left, a large one.
A shower.
That sounds amazing. He's felt grimy for days, but the doctor has been insisting that he should not move from his bed. To help, sanitizing sprays deploy from the ceiling and spray him in little drizzles of cleaning fluid daily. The experience is not pleasant.
So a shower teasing him is all too tempting. Gohan quickly relieves himself, eventually finding out how to flush the toilet (you wave your hand over it), and approaches the shower. The mirror besides the basin goes very much ignored.
Ten minutes later, Gohan exits in nothing but a large fluffy towel to a very angry looking doctor.
"You say you're not him but you have the same disobedient attitude."
"I'm sorry," Gohan apologizes as he hobbles to his bed.
The doctor hums, brows furrowed. He throws Gohan a white robe from a cupboard near the computer. It's just as fluffy, draping over him like a cotton-padded cape.
It's then that a knock at the door then distracts them both. The doctor paces through the silver curtain and to what must be the door on the other side.
"Ah, welcome, Doctor Hezk."
Nerves shoot through Gohan's core. She's here –now?
A young woman filters through the curtain dressed in the same white uniform as Doctor Jivel. She's fairly pretty, with large brown eyes and even darker skin than doctor Jivel.
"Hello, sir." Doctor Hezk stiffly greets. She's more nervous than he is!
"He prefers 'Gohan'," Doctor Jivel tells her and then offers her the ivory armchair. His attention shifts back to his patient, brows poised in an amused expression. "Gohan, this is Doctor Hezk. She's one of the specialists from last week's observation, the one I told you about -the one who can help with your mind."
Gohan's lips purse together. Even if he's promised to meet them in the middle, he can't help but think about how much of a waste of time this is. His reaction doesn't have a good effect on Doctor Hezk and she lowers her head in swift motion.
"Ah, none of that, Doctor," Doctor Jivel chides with a hand on her shoulder. "Gohan doesn't like formalities, and is about as quick to spook as you."
Gohan feels his neck heat up but didn't have the heart to correct him.
"Okay," she says. A deep breath and a mumble to herself later, she finally stares up at him. Gohan can tell she isn't looking directly at him, but rather, through him. "I'm a specialist in magical injuries and research. I work primarily with people who've had damage inflicted upon the mind, often relating to memory loss, trauma, or emotional distress –not that you're distressed! Or traumatized! Just tha-"
"Thank you, doctor." He squeezes her shoulder. "Tell him what you'll be doing with him."
"I, uh, right." She coughs and stared through him again. "My hopes are to reignite connections between your current consciousness and memories. I have a pretty confident theory to what's going on here."
"Amnesia, right?" Gohan summarizes, incorrectly apparently as she looks at him in horror. This seems to break her out of her flurry of nerves.
"Oh, no! It's magical," she breathes, "the theory I'm running with most is that you've got two correlating conscious personalities submerged into one soul. Really interesting, I must say. To think that you're operating with two states of life is astounding. You're truly a wonder, sir."
Doctor Jivel folds his arms and scolds her. "Don't praise him, Hezk. This needs fixing."
Her eyes widen and she stares between the two men. "I, uh..."
"Um, Doctor Hezk," Gohan tries respectfully, soft. This seems to have the desired effect as her shoulders sag. "I'm not sure I understand."
She looks at Doctor Jivel in order to continue and does so after he gives a brisk nod.
"Do you believe in reincarnation, er, Gohan?"
Gohan twists the bedding in his hands, not liking the direction of all this. "Uh, I'm not... I mean, I don't know."
"I think this is what we're dealing with," she says with conviction, "Lord Mori's body was found some years ago by Lord Quell himself."
They found his body?!
Then why the heck are the questioning Gohan? Why do they think Gohan is him if they have a body?!
His face must be a sight because Doctor Hezk's pallor looks clammy. He settles himself, breathing hard and feeling even more confused.
"Reincarnation… I don't think so," he mutters.
"I do," she pushes, "your energy prints read the same; you have an uncanny resemblance –your eyes; only one sort of person can have the Golden Eyes of Revelation, sir."
"My God," Doctor Jivel says on his behalf.
"Yes," Doctor Hezk nods to the other doctor before turning back to Gohan of who watches on, tense. "Gohan, I believe you're the second consciousness, the reincarnation if you will. You've been living a real, true life, one of a saiyan. But as real as your life is, so was Lord Mori's."
"Ah!" Doctor Jivel gestures to the computer with a flick of the wrist. "Your brain waves, Gohan. They're the same as Lord Mori's."
What... What?
"Your conscious entities have come together!" the female doctor continues, practically bouncing in excitement. Her hands clap together. "Fascinating!"
Gohan squarks. "M-my what?"
"Your soul is one and the same, divided between two individuals –but now one! Amazing, really. All we have to do is establish connections between both Gohan and Lord Mori."
"And you know how, Hezk?" Doctor Jivel seems far too wrapped up in this now too.
"I have some ideas."
"I... this... impossible… a mistake." Gohan can't believe this. It's impossible. This Mori... He isn't him, he'd know, surely.
I feel sick.
The two doctors converse animatedly. The language changes between the strange Lanit-tongue and what Gohan has come to know as Universal Speak. He catches the odd word but feels his hearing phase in and out.
None of this is possible. It's like a long bad dream. Maybe Goten will suddenly come and jump on his head, laughing about breakfast or something him and Trunks have masterminded. He looks down at his hands. These are his hands, right? They looked the same.
A reincarnation…
"Gohan, why don't you lie down? You're awfully pale."
Doctor Jivel pivots Gohan's legs onto the bed. His legs, still as tall… They're the same, right?
"Rest your head, yes, that's it."
A mistake...
"A mirror," Gohan manages, "Doctor, please can you..."
Unsure, Doctor Jivel gingerly passes him the small white one he'd presented Gohan with last week. Right away, Gohan's taken by those eyes. Gold stares back, striking. Beyond that, he looks just like himself, except maybe a bit more tired than usual.
"And I've always looked like this...?"
The doctor opens and closes his mouth. "Well, yes. After childhood."
Doctor Hezk leans forward, fear replaced with hungry interest. "Why? How did you look before?"
Gohan looks between the two doctors. "I, um... dark eyes. But... everything else..."
Doctor Jivel leans in, enamoured too.
"It's the same," Gohan finishes, thinning his lips.
"You didn't say this earlier!" Doctor Jivel protests.
Doctor Hezk breathes, "Fascinating... Gohan, do you share any resemblances with your parents?"
"Enough of this," Doctor Jivel snaps, completely devoid of patience. It seems Gohan's latest revelation is a step too far. "Thank-you, Doctor Hezk. I believe it's time for you to go now. Yes, yes, up you get. Excellent."
Those brown eyes lose all their innocence as Doctor Hezk lets her gaze linger over Gohan, of whom feels like she's ready to cut him open in a laboratory.
Scary.
"You'll have all the time in the world with him from tomorrow, but for now he's still my patient and needs to rest after this ordeal." Doctor Jivel ushers her out through the curtain and through the door. Gohan hears the lock click for good measure.
"Wait, I'm moving rooms then?"
Doctor Jivel sets a steely gaze upon him, still sore from Gohan's earlier admittance of withheld information. He sighs.
"No, Gohan. You're leaving the Spire. You're going home -to the estate."
The next day, Doctor Jivel offers to wheel Gohan out of the Spire on something akin to a wheelchair, but Gohan feels like he's got walking down now. Sure, it tires the heck out of him, but he's just happy to be able to stretch his legs. He's less happy about where he's being led however. Leaving his private room in the Spire had been both daunting and liberating. The rest of the Spire is unsurprisingly as white and sterile as his room had been. There are less patients and staff wandering about than Gohan had expected, but it really does have the general feeling of any typical hospital.
That lack of beeping from his machines unnerves him at first, and languages he doesn't know are being spoken in a variety of tones and volumes around him by a mixture of characters. Gohan had definitely been right from the get-go. This is no Earth. Aliens in many shapes and colours appear and disappear through doorways, some wearing the same doctor's robes as Doctor Jivel.
"Earth is a closed planet, isn't it?" Doctor Jivel asks in light conversation, already knowing the answer. "You don't really get many different races there, I'd imagine. Have you seen many aliens? You recognized the namekian last week."
"My friend is a namekian," Gohan tells him as they enter a lift. Doctor Jivel presses something on the screen and Gohan feels them descend. "So is our planet's guardian, another friend. But I think that's it –oh, I guess there's my dad and Vegeta, what with them being saiyans and all."
Gohan has told Doctor Jivel about his life back home, seeing little reason not to trust a man who'd returned him back to health. The doctor seems like a good man, patient too.
"You'll see a few more, no doubt." Doctor Jivel leads them out of the lift once they stop; leading them out through a grand, pristine archway that Gohan supposes to be both the entrance and exit. An alien with orange skin, a single horn on the forehead, and wearing all white bowed to them as they leave.
"This place feels kind of fancy," Gohan says, staring at the orange alien bowing to another patient leaving the building.
"Yet they still can't offer a decent cup of coffee in the canteen. Come on, that's our driver. "
Doctor Jivel whisks them from the porch and out onto a plaza just as white as the Spire rooms themselves. Fountains spouting water as high as his house mirror one another, leading a pathway back to where they've just come from. An overcast sky leaning to dusk welcomes them as they come face to face with a human-looking person. He's leaning over his vehicle, one which is completely black and curved. He taps at the shiny exterior before giving a nod to the doctor.
After a brief conversation with the driver about location, Doctor Jivel gestures for Gohan to enter the vehicle. It's bigger inside than expected, with its black suave seating it looks like something of a spy film he'd once seen. There's even a screen separating them from the driver!
Whoa, so fancy.
"There aren't any seatbelts," Gohan goes on to say as he fumbles around looking for one. He turns to see Doctor Jivel shaking his head, smiling one of those smiles that Gohan could practically hear; 'oh, what a peasant planet you were on...'
Gohan sighs, feeling weary already. Going to this mysterious estate has been a great cause of stress for him all night long. If that Lord Quell's there… He shudders. For now he just needs to focus on proving who he is and getting home. There's no use in worrying.
The vehicle provides a smooth ride but Gohan is disappointed by the lack of windows. He wants to know more about this place. Why is everyone so intent on hiding it from him?
"Your chambers are in the north wing," Doctor Jivel tells him, again. They've been over this several times now but Gohan respects the doctor enough not to interrupt. "Remember, the estate is divided into four wings. You'll want to save yourself a headache and not go into the west wing, that's where Lord Quell resides. Lord Rixas is in the south."
"Er… and the east?"
The doctor intakes a long gust of air. Wrought worry-lines trace down his temples and Gohan feels like he's just asked something he shouldn't have. "The east wing is empty. That had belonged to Lord Famis but he's long gone now."
"He… died?"
"Yes, many years ago. He'd been your second eldest brother."
Gohan frowns. His reflection frowns back, gold simmering. "Another brother…"
"Yes…"
The teenager is dreading meeting them again, particularly that Lord Quell. He really gives Gohan bad vibes. His hand courses through black locks. Urgh, why is he so nervous? These were Mori's brothers, not his. Gohan has no reason to feel so put out.
Yet...
An image of the cold, terrifying Lord Quell flashes in his mind... He'd rather take on Cell or Majin Buu any day then face down that again.
"You'll be able to contact me whenever you need to; I'm your family doctor after all. You can also get in touch with Doctor Hezk. I'm sure she won't mind."
Of course she won't! She wants to carve him up and put him in a beaker!
Gohan hears the doctor chuckle as the man helps himself to a glass of water. "Yes, she's quite invested in her work."
A glass is offered to Gohan, who makes sure not to spill a drip onto his new robes. The doctor had delivered them to his room in the Spire this morning and showed Gohan how to fasten the garments properly. His apparel now consists of a pair of stiff, form-fitting trousers and an equally stiff robe shirt, all grey. He's also draped in a long flowing cape which clips at the front. The cape feels particularly expensive in its heavy black material.
Gohan remembers the cape he wore at the Cell games not being constricting at all. Sure, it'd been weighted, but it'd also been highly manoeuvrable compared to what he's wearing now. But really, it'd been Piccolo's proud expression that had made it worth wearing.
Piccolo...
It's only been a week but he misses them, all of them. He's gone weeks without seeing Piccolo before but now it feels different. At this point in time, he could really do with his teacher's guidance.
Gohan swallows the thought and watches the bubbles in his water pop as the vehicle cues forwards.
"We're approaching the estate now."
Already?!
Gosh, he feels sick again.
"There's been a mistake," Gohan tells the doctor quickly, who proceeds to ignore him and down the rest of his water. Gohan's still remains untouched. "We can go back to the hospital –Spire, whatever. We can go back there and figure it out-"
"Hey now, don't be like that. Just stick to your wing and you'll be fine."
The door opens by itself in one smooth motion, revealing that it's now in fact night time. Glows from warm yellow lamps illuminate the shrubbery and green surrounding a dirt path. The occasional chirp from a nearby bird can be heard.
"It seems they've dropped us off at the rear gate," comments Doctor Jivel, gravel crunching beneath his feet from the other side of the vehicle. "No matter. It'll probably be easier this way anyway. Come on, Gohan, this way now."
Gohan eyes the doctor, who's now bathed in the soft yellow tones of the outside lamps. "…Right."
The gravel crunches under his boots too. Even in the dim light, Gohan can see the shiny glares of light shimmering from them. Whoever this Mori guy was, he apparently had expensive tastes.
Well, of course, he's a lord.
But of what? That part has always been absent in the conversations he and Doctor Jivel shared on the topic. Apparently Gohan's the God of Mysteries because no-one's telling him squat!
The dirt path ends after they emerge through a huddle of tall looming trees. There, they're met with a stony path and a sinister-looking gate. It's so tall that Gohan can't see over the top.
"You'd think they'd open it for us, ey?" Doctor Jivel says with uncharacteristic ease. His attempt at trying to lighten the mood is appreciated but not at all successful.
Gohan hums in response, chest heavy.
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Through the glare of the lights adjoining the gate, two dangling boots can just about be seen swinging atop the wall. The boots slip down, the light running over the in sleek gloss in rapid movement.
The person lands with a hearty thud and barrages forward.
Gohan recoils in reaction.
Lord Rixas.
"I've been waiting ages. What took you so long?" he asks as he takes Gohan by the shoulders. Wow, there's absolutely zero restraint from the guy. His white-blonde hair bounces as he positively vibrates in the teenager's presence.
"My Lord," Doctor Jivel greets, using the formal voice Gohan first heard from the doctor last week. It sounds foreign on him now. However, there's also that tone of warning Gohan has now since become accustomed to. "Please remember what we spoke about last night."
The hands on Gohan's shoulders tighten. "He's my brother, doctor. I'll look after him even if he's brain damaged. Hell, I'd look after him if he was a potato."
"If you say so, sir…" He sighs, already looking winded from Lord Rixas' chaotic energy. "Doctor Hezk will be by in the morning to do some mental exercises with Lord Mori."
What happened to 'Gohan'?
The teenager frowns. He has a feeling that no-one would use his chosen (real) name here. The hands from Gohan's shoulders drop as Lord Rixas faces the doctor.
"Anything else?"
"Please be patient with him," Doctor Jivel insists. "Perhaps give him some space."
Lord Rixas' lips quirk, eyes smiling before his mouth even twitches. Two hands then sandwich Gohan's cheeks in a tight slap. "Space? You're not a dog, are you?" He pauses when he notices Gohan's held breath. "Ha-ha-ha, you have no idea who I am, do you? I do forget!"
The young lord releases Gohan but not without a pinch to his left cheek.
"He's fiiiiiine." Lord Rixas tells Doctor Jivel intense expression, "Look at him. Epitome of health."
Doctor Jivel ignores him and turns to Gohan. "You'll be able to contact me from your chambers. There will be a private computer there. It's like a telephone, like we spoke about, remember? I'll answer right away."
Gohan swallows, hardly remembering to use his words. "R-right."
That seems to be good enough for the doctor, who then offers him the warmest smile Gohan has yet seen from him. "Well, I'll be on my way then." The doctor takes one last fleeting look at Gohan, appearing to waver between leaning over and giving him a pat or just a simple wave. In the end, it's an awkward bow of the head that sees him off. "Goodbye, my lords."
Don't be sick.
B-but, Doctor Jivel can't just leave him here... Right...?
Yet he does. Gohan watches as the doctor disappears through the trees and into the darkness.
A hand clips Gohan's shoulder.
"Goddamn. Aren't you just adorable now?"
Lord Rixas eagerly leads them through the gate and into the estate grounds. The darkness of night hides most of its features, but Gohan knows fancy when he sees it. He's been to Videl's mansion a handful of times. Her father has more money than he knows what to do with, and Gohan guesses it's the same here. The place just screams money.
The door to the estate is a large metal antique. Engravings of beautiful patterns glow in the same soft lighting as outside the estate. Surprisingly, it swings open smoothly and without sound when Lord Rixas jostles with the knob.
The reveal steals Gohan's breath. Shades of silver stand out first, then the bronze and copper. The room doesn't have the old timey feel Gohan had originally expected, but instead it feels rich and modern. Beautiful artwork enhances the walls, acting as the backdrop to antiques of many varieties. Nearby is a shining, golden fireplace (not currently lit), and a little beyond that, plump, silver armchairs sit before a grand staircase. The staircase swirls through an open ceiling and onto many eternally expanding floors.
"Weird," Gohan hears Lord Rixas breathlessly laugh. "I guess it's like your first time seeing this."
"It's nothing like my home on Earth..."
Lord Rixas stares briefly before offering Gohan his finest pearly-white grin.
"If you're impressed by some mouldy old stairs I can't wait to show you to your wing."
Gohan allows himself to be pulled along, assuming Lord Rixas to be the touchy type. For the first time, he actually feels bad about not being this guy's brother. The positivity radiating from him is contagious, and it reminds Gohan very much of his dad.
When he finds out the truth, that I'm not his brother...
He thinks of Goten, however, now brother-less. Ever since Goten had been a baby Gohan's always been there. The amount of nappies Gohan's changed is more than any brother should have to deal with in one lifetime.
Gosh, just how is Goten coping? Worse yet, how is his mother coping? They have to be alright, his dad is with them. Surely he'll be able to do what Gohan can't right now.
He'll get back to them for sure.
Lord Rixas takes Gohan on a further journey down long winding corridors. The stonework is older now, and the lights are becoming dimmer. The gold and silver of the lobby subtly transitions into dusty blues; this is from the wall hangings to the occasional armchair. They all look terribly expensive.
Finally, they reach their, what Gohan assumes to be, destination. At the end of the corridor is another fine door, embellished and shiny. The engravings are similar to the ones on the front door. Patterns of lines and circles swirl around one another in a symmetric dance.
"It feels kinda' weird going in first," Lord Rixas says with humour. He gives Gohan a shove towards the door. "Go on."
Gohan offers a look of mild horror, but is pushed again before he can argue.
Just do it.
He swallows and graces his fingers over the metal of the door. The handle is pretty stiff but the door does eventually creek open, if a little eerily. The room is pitch black, running deep.
"Ha-ha! You've come back as a right wuss, little brother!" Lord Rixas laughs. "Go on!"
Lord Rixas gives him a final push. Stumbling into the darkness, Gohan flinches as sudden buzzing sounds around him. It's comparable to a small group of cicadas humming in commendable unison. A click follows and then a dozen lights flicker on one after another.
It isn't like the soft warm lighting of downstairs. It reminds Gohan of being in a shop, the kind of light that gives you a headache after a couple of hours being stuck in it. After the lights, the first thing Gohan notices is the rows of bookcases. Books are scattered along the bases of the shelves; fat ones, thin ones, some large, and others smaller than his palm. There are so many books that Gohan wouldn't even know where to start.
I guess you liked to read, huh, Mori?
Beyond the small sea of books sits a dark wooden desk. On it, there is a reading lamp leaning over a stack of yellowed parchment. Several papers also litter along the floor, and what must be a computer with its large slightly curved screen, hides just behind the lamp. It looks like it hasn't seen any attention in a long time. A fine layer of dust greys out the blackness of the monitor.
"I'll talk to the cleaner about that," Lord Rixas grunts as he catches Gohan staring at the computer. It's a childish sound, reminding Gohan very much of Goten not getting his own way.
Beyond the study area, Gohan really can see the grandness of the room. The ceilings are high, and the one window that is there is large and looks out over (what must be) the forest. Two of those silver armchairs are poised by the largest bed Gohan has ever seen in his life. It is in a poster style with silver and blue curtains draping over it in a sweeping fashion. The pillows are plump and look to be stuffed to the brim with feathers, neatly nestling between silver sheets.
In fact, the whole room is a grand mix of the dusty blue he saw leading to the chambers and silver. It has a striking effect. The only thing that isn't silver is the bronze fireplace. That, too, is engulfed in beautiful engravings. It has the same circles and lines he'd seen on the door.
"It's the old writing form of Lanit-Tongue," Lord Rixas explains, giving the fireplace a fond pet. "You've always been rather taken with it."
"The writing or the fireplace?"
Lord Rixas chuckles, the gold in his eyes lighting up. "Both. Normally you wouldn't let me get close to this old thing. You always like to remind me that it's some rare antique."
Gohan stares at it but can't find anything special other than its looks. "I guess it's kinda' pretty?"
The other man guffaws in response. "Oh man, there was a time I would have paid to hear you say that."
Gohan awkwardly shuffles as Lord Rixas continues laughing to himself. Laughing seems to be the man's default setting. He's so totally unlike Lord Quell. Are they actually even brothers?
"Er, Lord Rixas, I was j-"
"Whoa, whoa, no." Lord Rixas drops the chuckling, but keeps that wide smile he seems to enjoy wearing. His blonde-white hair wobbles when he shakes his head. "No, none of that. You're my brother, Mori. We don't say 'lord', our names will do quite nicely, okay?"
Gohan wants to tell Lord Rixas how mistaken the poor guy is, and that he's not Lord Rixas' brother, that this room is definitely not his, and that the mountain of books over there is clearly beyond him.
Yet, Lord Rixas seems to read all that from his mind by just staring at Gohan's face.
"The doc said you're gonna' work with us," Lord Rixas says, his tone not as light. There's an element reminiscent of chiding a child. "So, call me 'Rixas'."
A frown settles over Gohan's face, one which Lord Rixas notices in an instance. He flicks Gohan in the forehead. "You can call me 'Big Brother' if you want."
Gohan's hand is quick to shield his forehead. That hurt! "I have a feeling I would never have called you that."
The grin returns. "Then call me 'Rixas'!"
Rixas it is.
At least Doctor Jivel had given him some time to sort things through his head, Lor –Rixas expects him to just get on with it as though one just wakes up with a different life every day.
Rixas' eyes grow. "Oh, don't go calling Quell 'Lord' either. I know he'd hate that. It's just kinda' weird between us, y'know? Not protocol."
"Er, right. That makes sense. He'd been pretty angry with me back at the Spire."
Rixas quirks his head. "Oh yeah? Don't take it to heart. He's just like that, ya'know?"
No, doesn't… It's frustrating. Here's one brother who seems to be so relaxed about the situation that he may as well be horizontal, and then there's Quell, the one who only seemed to visit him to insult and berate him. Gohan can't decide which he prefers. Talk about picking your poison.
A thought hits him.
"Uh, Rixas,"
"Mori..."
Not his name, but he's sure he'll have to get used to it. "Our parents, will I meet them?"
Rixas' brows shoot up, the smile gone, but he still looks highly amused. He's silent for a while and when Gohan goes to speak again, he's interrupted. "We don't have parents."
"Oh, ah, oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean t-"
"No, I mean... ah, well, it's complicated." He sizes Gohan up before shaking his head and sighing. "No, that doctor said to wait. We'll talk about that bit in the future, 'kay? For now, know that you have two big bros' who'll take care of ya."
Rixas offers a cheeky wink.
So, Mori didn't have parents. Or if he did they were dead. Maybe. Who knew?
Wait.
"I'm the youngest?" Mori's the youngest, he corrects.
"Does that bother you?"
No, maybe, kind of? Well, it explains Rixas' constant hands on approach. Gohan has to admit that he's pretty physically affectionate with Goten. A head pat here, a hug there...
"It's weird. I have a brother back home."
Instead of correcting Gohan about being Mori, Rixas actually seems interested. The hair droops when he curtseys his head. "Really? A kid brother?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Ha ha! I couldn't imagine you interacting with a child, another thing I'd pay to see."
Gohan gives a non-committal hum, feeling suddenly shy. He runs his fingers along the fireplace. It is pretty.
"You know, it's so weird" Rixas begins. He nestles himself into a plush looking armchair as he gestures to Gohan with a wave. "You look the same except for the hair, a bit skinny I guess, but otherwise you don't look any different really -on the outside. But your personality is totally different. It's blowing my mind."
Gohan drops his gaze. What the heck can he say to that?
Rixas kicks the neighbouring armchair as a sign for Gohan to sit down. He does sit, and the plushness of the chair pillows him in place.
Gohan jumps when Rixax claps his hands together. "So you had a brother-"
"-Have"
Rixas snorts. "Okay, you have a brother. What else? The doc said you had this whole other life on some nowhere planet. Earth, right? How old are you? Have you got a family? Girlfriend?"
Gohan doesn't know what to answer first.
It turns out that he doesn't need to because at that moment there's a knock at the door.
"Go away!" Rixas calls out quickly. It's followed by another knock.
They share a pause of silence, and Gohan briefly wonders if Rixas expects him to answer. It is his room. The third knock, now sounding impatient and louder in contrast, persuades Rixas to finally move.
"Ugh fine," he grunts, springing up like a cat. Rixas touches Gohan on the shoulder as he passes. The simple sign of affection makes Gohan feel remarkably uncomfortable and a little guilty. Rixas seems so nice, if just a little too intense.
He doesn't appear nice to whoever is at the door however. It opens with an ungraceful swing, Rixas making sure to block Gohan from seeing this mystery guest.
"What?" Rixas snaps, leaning against the doorframe.
Gohan can't hear the other person or Rixas as they share what seems to be a heated but very quiet conversation. He cranes his neck to get a better look but is rewarded with very little. Gohan doubts it's the scary brother from the other day; Quell. Quell doesn't seem to be a person you would reject at your door.
The person must have left because Rixas shuts the door. Gohan returns back into the embrace of the armchair and stares up at Rixas expectedly.
"Salesmen," Rixas says with such a straight face that Gohan nearly believes him. He laughs and bats a hand. "Nah, it's one of the staff –one of yours. But you'll see later. Baby steps were what the doctor ordered!"
Gohan doesn't believe that Rixas has ever heeded an order in his life, especially one from poor Doctor Jivel. And another thing…
"I have staff?"
"She's an assistant," he tells Gohan as he swings his legs over the arm of the armchair. Something about the action annoys Gohan for some reason.
"I have staff…"
"Ha-ha! Of course. I have servants too. You've met my assistant already, Captain Roarg."
"Who?"
"The woman who delivered you to me. Tall one, built like an ox…"
Oh!
The sensation of a braid slapping him across the face stings in memory. Gohan rubs his cheek on instinct. "Yes, I remember her. Captain… Roarg…"
"Don't look like that. She's a riot after a drink, though saying that... I don't think you were overly fond of her before becoming a vegetable…"
"Please don't say that."
Rixas sniggers, his grin cutting so far up into his cheeks Gohan half expects him to turn into the Cheshire Cat. "Ehhh, so touchy."
After a beat, Gohan scratches as the back of his head. "Look, uh, Rixas, I'm kind of tired-"
"Say no more!" He pounces up with his usual grin. There's a determined finger pointed right under Gohan's nose. "You've gotta' get your beauty sleep after all. Doc said you need rest so that's what you'll get! I'll make sure of it!"
"Er, r-right."
"Leave it to your big brother, your favourite by the way."
"Uh…"
"I'll be by in the morning, bright and early, so don't worry about a wakeup call. I've actually been looking forward to this all week since I finding out!"
Gohan doesn't like the sound of that. "Finding out what?"
Rixas' eyes dazzle in their golden glory. "Well, that you're saiyan, of course!" His hands slap together. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Tomorrow you can show me all your moves! I want to see everything you can do!"
"He-hey, hold up. The doctor sai-"
"Saiyans love to fight. You must be itching for it after lying cooped up in that bed all week. Don't worry, little brother, I'll help you stretch your legs!"
"Now hang on-"
"Goodnight!"
Rixas gives him two reassuring thumbs-up before plying the door open, slamming it behind him so hard that the room shakes. A pillow falls off the bed. The teenager groans, hands smothering his face.
Just what has he gotten himself into?
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Okay, we're meeting a lot of people, I know. Sadly it's what comes with a new world but I'll try not to go overboard with the mass OCs. The main two we're going to see more of is Rixas and Quell as Gohan learns more about his situation. There's no Earth bit this chapter but we'll either see more of it next chapter or the one after.
But yes, thanks for the reviews and feedback so far! There are a few guest reviews I can't reply back to but I just want to say thanks here. They mean a lot. They're my delicious fuel to help me write more ;)
See you on the next update.