Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z
Chapter 56
Not long after Gohan and Zangya discovered 18 in the infirmary, Broly and the members of the Jade Empire were waiting in the luxurious apartment where Kuriza had left them. Pearl, Alex, and Cheelai were sitting with their backs to a wall with contemplative expressions.
"10?" Pearl shrugged her shoulders.
"No, I'd give it at least 15." Alex countered with a shake of her head.
"How long have they been at this anyway?" Cheelai looked at a watch she had won in the last card game to check the time. "Oh, wow… Well, they have to stop for dinner at least. I'll say they continue another 20 minutes."
The subject of the girls' bet was a curious sight, though by no means was it a surprising one. Turk and Broly were pacing the length of the room, one warrior following the other. When they reached a wall, they about faced and kept the circuit going. While Cheelai, Pearl, and Alex were able to find amusement in the men's actions, Esmerelda's expression was etched with a concern that was matched only by the worry on Broly and Turk's own faces. Broly was solemn, with a brow that was furrowed and clouded by his growing agitation and frustration. Turk was more animated, biting his fingernails, cracking his knuckles, and occasionally making faces at the door that alternated between menacing, and hopeful puppy dog.
"Turkleton?" Esmerelda spoke gently. "Why don't you come and sit by me? It's almost dinnertime and you should relax before you eat. Otherwise, your belly will be too upset for dessert."
The Hera had till now been absorbed in his own thoughts, but perhaps the mention of dessert was too close to the troubles on his mind to ignore.
"Gryaaah! Woman! How can I relax when Zangya still hasn't come back!" Turk yelled with angry tears starting to form in his eyes.
"Tch, don't worry siscon." Alex sneered. "I'm sure her and Gohan are just having some private fun time."
Turk charged her and started to shake her violently. "THAT'S WHAT I'M AFRAID OF!" The tears started to flow freely now. "He can't do that to my sister! She's far too pure, too virtuous to be defiled in such a way! I mean how could she let him touch her ears? Her ears, Alex! What if they go all the way? I can't think of my sister doing… GAAH I'VE GOTTA STOP THEM!"
He rushed to the door but before he could open it, he was bear hugged and lifted from behind. The feeling of something large and squishy against his back made the blood rush to his face.
"Esme?" Turk asked with glowing red cheeks.
"Calm… DOWN!" The green Ogress suplexed her boyfriend, planting his head into the ground with a crash. She dusted herself off, then looked at the upside-down body of Turk with embarrassment.
"S-sorry. I-I just thought a shock might help."
Turk pulled his head out of the ground and shook his head. A giant goose egg was growing from the top of his crown.
"Are you ok?" Esme reached out to pat his bump.
"Haah." Turk sighed. "I'll be better when I know what's taking Zangya so long. It's been hours already. If he lays his hands on her, I'll-"
"Turk." Esmerelda put her hand on the blue man's cheek. "I'm sure sister Zangya and Gohan will come back as soon as they're done negotiating with Cooler."
"Esmerelda's right Turk." Broly spoke, gaining everyone's attention. "They know what kind of situation this is. They wouldn't go off and play without coming to us first. Neither of them are like that."
"I… I guess so." Turk slumped to the ground. "But they're taking so looong."
"I know." Broly's brow sunk even further. "It is concerning."
"You don't think that the negotiations went south, do you?" Esmerelda asked with a hint of worry.
"It's hard to say." Was all Broly said in reply. In his own mind, he thought it was unlikely that Gohan and Zangya could have been overpowered. But what if they had been tricked somehow? The conversation should have been a simple one. Afterall, the only terms he really cared about was that his friends would be allowed to live and go free. Did Cooler have his own conditions? What if he sent them on some sort of quest? Gohan and Zangya were too selfless to refuse anything if it meant helping their friends. The whole situation made Broly feel uneasy, and the longer they were gone, the more worried he became.
His worry started to spread to the others. After all, if Gohan failed, what did that mean for them? Essentially, it was certain death. A voice that was far too casual for the situation broke the silence.
"I wouldn't worry too much about the whole 'negotiation' thing if I were you." Cheelai shrugged.
"Care to enlighten us?" Adamantia asked. Despite her calm exterior, she was worried about the welfare of not only herself, but of her warriors and the entire empire.
"Sure." Came the cheery reply. "For one thing, Lord Cooler's obviously pretty impressed with this Gohan guy. I've never heard of him negotiating with anyone personally before. This friend of yours must really be something."
"Tch, yeah, he beat your pointy headed boss like he was nothing." Pearl bragged, hoping to taunt the other girl, but Cheelai just laughed.
"Heheh, yeah, I heard about that. Boss didn't seem too upset about it though. He's a pretty chill guy when you get to know him. No pun intended." The green girl smiled, and Broly's mouth turned slightly up despite himself. The smile was less from the joke, and more from the thought that this girl would probably get along great with Zangya and Gohan.
"Anyway, if he's impressed enough to give him and his friends the royal treatment, then I'm sure everything will be fine."
"That's a relief." Pearl said, though she wasn't all that concerned to begin with. "I'd really hate to be destroyed without getting to cash in my vacation days."
"Yeah, I know that feeling." Cheelai nodded. Working for Kuriza had its perks, but he could be a real slave driver sometimes. "But no, you won't be destroyed. More likely you guys will have to swear loyalty and your empire will get annexed by Lord Cooler."
"You mean we'll be his slaves." Adamantia stated in frustration. "After all those years building the empire, we'll be reduced to a bunch of servants to some robotic upstart."
"I suppose that is a bit of a downer when you think of it like that." Cheelai rubbed he back of her head sheepishly.
"Tia's right." Alex grumbled. "Me and Pearl didn't work this hard to be in the honor guard just to be made into some second-class citizens."
"Maybe, but at least it's better than you and everyone you know being blown up. Better to be exploited than exploded." Cheelai countered.
Alex folded her arms and weighed the two outcomes. Finally, she nodded. "Yeah, I guess working for a new boss aint such a bad choice. Maybe I'll even get to climb the ranks here. Imagine how strong I'd be with those cool cyber implants."
"That's the spirit!" Cheelai smiled. "Even servitude would be better than death, right?"
"Speak for yourself." Adamantia said with a glare that made Cheelai shudder.
"Er, um, yeah, I guess some people might feel that way. But hey, I'm sure with as strong as you guys are, and as valuable as your empire is, slavery is like, the worst-case scenario. You may even be given commissions in his army or something."
"You think so?" Turk wondered what sort of dental the Cooler army offered.
"Oh, for sure. Like I said, he's taken a liking to your buddy. All he has to do is agree to work for him and you guys are set."
To her surprise, rather than be encouraged by her words, the warriors of the Jade empire hung their heads in defeat, each one having a gloomy purple cloud over their heads.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Esmerelda sighed. "Just that it looks like this won't end peacefully is all. I mean, what are the chances that Gohan would actually agree to work with, let alone for, someone in this business?"
"You think he'll say no?" Cheelai asked incredulously. "Lord Cooler offers some pretty sweet benefits for those he favors."
"Oh, most definitely." Turk nodded. "The kid made it pretty clear what he thinks of the planet conquering business back when he stopped Jade on Earth."
"Huh?" Cheelai rested her chin in her hand. "Isn't he a Saiyan though? I thought they were all about that type of thing."
"Not Gohan." Broly said with a hint of pride for his young friend.
"You're all Fools." The group turned their attention to Granolah, who had been sulking in the corner this whole time. "Acting like that monster is any different from the rest of his damned race. The Saiyans loved being Frieza's dogs. He'll probably leap at the chance to serve the new tyrant. He may even betray us to do so. Anything to wreak havoc and destruction on the innocent."
Broly glared at the Cerealian with indignation. Ever since Gohan had saved his friends from the drone army, this ingrate had shown nothing but contempt at best, and at worst hostility. He was already on edge with worry and guilt, and this guy's attitude wasn't helping.
"Say what you want about the Saiyans, but don't think for one second that Gohan is anything like the ones that served Frieza. Killing the innocent is the last thing that he wants."
"Sure." Sneered Granolah. "And the first thing he wants is to make them suffer."
"Is that why he saved your life when you were being swarmed by drones?" Broly countered, his temper rising on behalf of his young friend. "Is that why he saved you personally from Kuriza's energy blast? What more does he have to do to make you see the truth?"
"The truth?" Granolah growled. "The truth is that your people wiped out my entire race! You savage beasts destroyed everything I cared about! You've done the same to countless races all across the universe, and you expect me to believe that any of you could be anything but evil? Even if he saved my life a hundred times, that wouldn't wipe away what your race has done. Him, you, and any other Saiyan alive, will all pay for your sins, and with any luck, I'll be the one to collect that debt."
Broly moved closer till he was towering over the green haired man. "Strong talk from someone sulking in the corner while that 'monster' fights for your survival."
Despite the difference in height and power, Granolah stood his ground against the giant.
"Trust me, Saiyan, if you want me to fight, I'll be happy to oblige." He clenched his fists and started to flare his aura. Before he could drop to his stance, Cheelai inserted herself between the two.
"Woah, woah, calm down there, boys. First off, if you guys want to fight, we have to reserve the arena, and that's a whole ten-page form we gotta fill out. Second, Lord Cooler's not a maniac. I've looked it up, and he hasn't even committed a genocide in years. Not since I've been working for him anyway, and believe me, they keep very meticulous records on that sort of thing. So, let's just take a step back before someone gets hurt, and I get blamed. I'd really hate the paperwork, ya know?" She winked at Broly, and the giant's anger abated.
"I wouldn't want to inconvenience you, miss Cheelai." The Saiyan bowed his head.
"Hey, no worries. What about you? You cool?"
Granolah ignored her question, though her interjection helped him come to his senses. He knew he wasn't strong enough to take on this Saiyan. Not Yet. As much as it pained him, he would have to wait until the opportune moment. Then, he could destroy the Saiyans, Cooler, and all the scum that worked for him. Granolah turned his back on Cheelai and started to walk away.
"You know, you really need to lighten up." The green girl folded her arms. Then a lightbulb went off in her head. "Hey, I know! I bet you'd love darts. Come on, I'll show you how to play." She reached out and touched his shoulder.
At this contact, the Cerealian couldn't contain himself.
"Don't touch me, you filth!" He spun around and several things happened at once. As he tried to slap her arm away, he put too much force in and sent her whole body flying. The next thing he knew, Granolah was ten feet off the ground and gasping for air.
Broly held the smaller man aloft in his crushing grip, ready to snap his neck. His rage, guilt, worry, and stress with the situation, combined with his desire to protect the weak and innocent, along with the fact that Granolah was really getting on his nerves, all made the normally gentle giant come out of his cage.
"You coward." Broly seethed. "What kind of warrior attacks a noncombatant under a flag of truce?" Granolah struggled and kicked, but even without his transformed state, the Saiyan was far too strong to fight. He could feel his consciousness slipping away. Everything was turning to black when…
"What the Hera! Why are there green chicks flying all over the place!"
"SIS!"
"Sister!"
"Bimbo!?"
Turk, Esmerelda, and Alex all yelled in response to the entrance of Zangya and 18.
"Zangya!" Broly looked at his blue friend with relief. The relief increased when he saw that the Hera was holding an unharmed Cheelai in her arms, apparently having caught her. He noticed quickly that someone was missing. "Zangya, where's Gohan?"
For some reason, this seemed like the wrong thing to ask. The normally cheerful girl looked annoyed, even angry. When she replied, it was in a subdued tone.
"I'll explain everything in a minute. First, explain to me why I opened the door to find this girl hurdling toward me, and second, tell me why you're about to break oatmeal guy's neck." As she spoke, she realized she probably already knew the gist of the situation. "Never mind. I guess I'm not the only one who's 'too worked up'." Her last three words were dripping with bitterness, but the reason for her displeasure was a mystery to the group.
Broly looked at his would-be victim and realized that he may have overreacted. He let Granolah drop before making his way to his friend. The Cerealian collapsed on the floor, gulping greedily for air. A shadow crossed over him and he looked up to see the cold steely gaze of Adamantia looking down on him.
"Do you realize how stupid you are?"
Granolah opened his mouth, but she cut him off.
"Not only did you antagonize Broly, but attacking that girl?"
"I didn't mean to hit her that hard."
"That doesn't matter. You don't seem to get it, so let me enlighten you. We are here as prisoners, hostages, whatever you want to call it. We are only alive right now because we are cooperating. If that girl had been harmed, Cooler would have every right to slaughter us for breaking the truce. Hell, if Cooler wanted an excuse to kill us right now, you just gave him one."
"It was an accident." Granolah tried to defend his actions.
"I don't care." Adamantia replied. "You may think Frieza and the Saiyans were bad, but trust me, I am much, much worse. If you act out one more time, if you so much as mumble something under your breath that I don't like, I'll kill you myself. I will not let you endanger the lives of my comrades again." With that, the black diamond beauty joined the crowd around Zangya to hear what had come of the negotiations.
"Sis, are you ok?" Turk was fussing over his sister, making sure that no harm had come to her. "What took so long?"
"What happened to Gohunk-I mean han? Is he still in there with Cooler?" Pearl asked.
"Did Cooler seem favorable? What sort of demands was he making?" Asked Esmerelda.
"Yeah, are we slaves or what? And what the hell are you doing here, Bimbo?" Alex addressed 18 in her usual fashion.
Zangya looked at each of them before letting out a sigh. She set Cheelai down and pushed through the crowd toward a chair and threw herself into it. Her folded arms and surly expression was an ominous sign to the Jade honor guard.
"I guess it didn't go so great." Pearl whispered to Alex.
"It went fine." Zangya said shortly. That was all she intended to say, but the expectant looks she was getting made her realize she'd have to give a little more detail. "Gohan's going to take care of something. Once he gets back, you can all go home. Happy now?"
"Wow! That's great!" Pearl exclaimed. "I knew Gohan would handle this. Why are you so bummed out then?"
Zangya gave her an aggravated look before turning to look at a wall.
"Hey, come on." Alex prodded. "What's with the cold shoulder? What aren't you telling us? You were all excited when we got here and now, you're being a total-"
"Lay off of her, stripper glitter." 18 cut off the girl before she could voice her insult.
"What'd you say to me!?" Alex rounded angrily on the cyborg.
"I said to lay off." 18 replied coolly. She wasn't in the best of moods either, but her guilt compelled her to try and stand up for Zangya. "She doesn't need to be given the third degree right now."
"Look, blondie, we deserve to at least know what's happening." Adamantia said. "So, if she won't tell us, why don't you? What's the Saiyan brat doing? What's the reason for her bad mood? There's more to it that what little she told us, so spill it?"
"Fine!" Zangya yelled, making most of them flinch. "You want to know what happened? Little miss 'I can do everything on my own' 18 decided that she wanted to take Goten and Trunks into space. Oh, but it turns out that there's a war going on between Cooler and some planet murdering pirates. And guess who decided to fly right through the war zone? If the number you guessed was 18, you are correct!" She twirled her fingers in fake celebration. "Now, Goten and his friend are at the mercy of the pirates and the only way we can rescue them is to team up with Cooler. The only good news is that Cooler wants these pirates dead, so once he succeeds, you all get to go home. Unfortunately, Gohan decided I'm too emotional to help him with the rescue!"
"You don't say." Alex murmured, then felt a swift thump on her head. "Ow! What was that for Esme?"
"She doesn't need to hear your sarcasm right now." The green giant said with uncharacteristic sternness. She and Turk had spent more time with the Son family than anyone else in the empire. She understood how important Goten was to her future sister-in-law.
"Sis…" Turk approached his sister, not quite sure what to do to comfort her. The thought of the chubby little boy who used to beat him in board games being lost in space sent a pain through his chest.
"This is all my fault." Broly clenched his fists. "If I hadn't brought you with me, you would have been there to keep them safe."
"No. If anyone's to blame, it's me." 18 said morosely.
"Yeah, that's what it sounds like." Alex agreed.
"We can't just stay here and wait." Broly said. "We have to find them."
"I already told you." Zangya huffed. "Gohan said-"
"Then Gohan is wrong!" Broly shouted, surprising Zangya enough to forget her bitterness at being left behind. "I don't care what it takes. If we have to scour the entire galaxy, we will get those boys back! And the ones who took them will pay for taking them."
Zangya stared at the giant Saiyan. Seeing Broly, her brother, and even Esmerelda reacting this way was touching, but it did little to relieve her frustration. Still, knowing that she wasn't the only one who was angry and worried was at least something. She stood up, walked toward her friend, and wrapped her arms around his middle.
"You're a good friend, Broly." She moved to Turk and pulled his face down to kiss his forehead. "It means a lot that you want to help. But Gohan will bring them back. I just… I just wish I could have done something too." She turned and made her way to the door.
"Wait, sis, where're you going? You just got here?" Turk asked, still deeply worried for his sister.
Zangya looked over her shoulder and tried to manage a reassuring look.
"I just need some air." With these parting words, she left and the doors closed behind her.
"She does realize that we're in space, right?"
"Shut up pearl."
Break
Zangya walked through the halls with arms folded tightly across her chest. She was sick with worry about the boys and praying that the plan would work. Maybe Gohan was right. Maybe it was better that she stay behind…
Flashback
"After you have destroyed enough of my drones, Guarana will flee, evacuating the planet in the process. Remember, you must make the battle believable, otherwise the trap will not work."
Gohan and Zangya kept their arms folded as they listened to Cooler explain the plan. It would be simple enough to execute, though the fact that this charade was their only recourse frustrated the couple. The planet was of no real significance to Cooler and was only defended to keep the Elysia Crispata away from its fertile ground. Unfortunate as it was for Gohan, Cooler saw it as an advantage that Trunks and Goten had been taken by Turles. At first, he considered simply having the Saiyan act as a rival planet conqueror, but with Gohan's personality, the story of him searching for his two lost wards would be much more believable. He was to 'happen' upon the planet, be confronted by Cooler's forces, show enough strength to make a retreat believable, and greet the Elysia Crispata's troops when they inevitably took the bait.
"They always send at least three of their elites. None of them are weak, but the non-Saiyan's are not at the level of my chief subordinates. Not to mention they are all cowards." Cooler continued. "They will likely attack you, either for fun, or they may suspect foul play. Either way, if you display a sufficient amount of force, they will yield. Killing a few of them should work for you."
"What makes you so sure that they won't just run away after I kill some of them? Isn't that what happens when your guys fight them?" Gohan asked.
"True, but you are not one of my men." Cooler replied. "I seek their complete destruction, while you are only looking for your young ones. If you play your part well, they will submit and seek an accord. Your tail will aid you in absolving any connection with me."
"Then shouldn't he just introduce himself as a Saiyan instead of wasting time with fighting?" Zangya asked angrily. "We shouldn't be playing around with some stupid act when the children might be in danger!"
"She's right." 18 agreed with Zangya, though the blue girl still refused to make eye contact with the blonde. "Isn't that the point of needing him in the first place?"
"Yes, that sounds just like a Saiyan to me." Cooler drawled sarcastically. "'Enough fighting let's talk. Oh, won't you please help me find my children? I just want to be your friend.'"
"He's got a point." Gohan grudgingly admitted.
"These scum are familiar with Saiyans." Cooler continued seriously. "The type of Saiyans who thirst for battle just for the thrill. Son Gohan must act the part, as well as look it. Besides, fear and aggression make up the language of these cretins. Speak it, and they will submit to you."
"Don't worry." Gohan nodded. "I'm more than fluent." The cold exterior masked the raging fury that flowed inside. They had attacked what he cared about, they had nearly killed 18, not to mention Krillin's unborn child, and they had taken Trunks and his little brother. Oh, yes. They would feel his aggression. They would know fear.
"Excellent." Cooler said. "I look forward to working with you."
"The feeling's not mutual." Zangya growled as she spun around and speedily walked out the door followed by Gohan.
"Wait for me." 18 ran to catch up, only for Gohan and Zangya to round on her.
"Where do you think you're going?" Zangya nearly yelled.
"Look, it's my fault that Goten and Trunks are in danger in the first place. I'm going to help get them back."
Zangya rolled her eyes. "You're right 18, it is your fault. No need to have you make things worse."
The comment stung 18, but she persisted. "I know I messed up. Just, please, let me help make this right."
"You're staying here." It was Gohan's turn to shoot her down. 18 shot him a pleading look.
"Gohan, I'm sorry. Those little boys were counting on me, and I let them down. Just let me-"
"You're pregnant." Gohan cut her off. "With the child of one of my best friends. So, you are staying here. And so are you."
"What!?" Zangya yelled. "Gohan, what the hell!?"
"I can handle this on my own." Gohan stated. "You just wait here with 18 and the others."
"Like Hera am I gonna just wait here! Those kids are out there somewhere, surrounded by murderous pirates! Those monsters are doing who knows what to them and we need to get them back!"
"We will." Gohan tried his best to sound soothing. "But we have to do this right."
"Well, who are you to decide what's right anyway!?"
"Zangya, he's my little brother, and Trunks might as well be."
"That doesn't mean you know everything!" Zangya was close to tears. "I care about Goten every bit as much as you! You can't tell me I can't go help him! You can't tell me what to do!"
"Alright, fine." Gohan finally lost his patience. "You want the reason? Here it is. You're too worked up. You're growling at everyone and ready to blow at any minute. Yeah, you care about the kids, but you can't control your anger like I can."
"Excuse me if I don't feel the need to mind my manners with regard to a bunch of kidnappers! You better believe when I see them, they'll regret the day they were born!"
"You don't think I want to make them suffer? Guess what though? That's not going to get the kids back. We can't just go on a rampage. We have to be smart about this. There will be a time for letting loose, but first we need to put on an act in order to have them lead us to the boys. If we don't play the part, if they suspect us of any other motive, we may lose our only chance to rescue them. The last thing we need is you blowing our cover because you can't control your emotions."
As Gohan finished, Zangya hung her head. Her whole body was shaking, and Gohan's sharpness lost its edge for a moment when he saw teardrops hit the floor.
"Zangya." He reached out to pull her into an embrace, but she turned away. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Zangya, I'm only leaving you here because I trust you."
"Oh, yeah, I can re-heally tell." She choked back a sob mid-sentence.
"We still don't know who's on the right side of this." Gohan continued.
"Are you suggesting that those monsters that took Goten and Trunks are the good guys?" 18 questioned with some heat.
"No." Replied Gohan. "But I don't trust Cooler. I know he saved you," Gohan cut the cyborg off before she could retort, "but that doesn't make him the good guy here. Our first priority is to rescue the kids and his plan is the quickest way to find them. At the same time, we'd be stupid to do as he says without keeping an eye out for a double cross. I need you to do that, Zangya. You've always had my back. I just need you to do it from a little further behind this time."
Zangya still didn't look at Gohan. She knew he was right, but that didn't make staying behind any easier. She could only manage a nod before walking down the corridor.
Break
Back in the present
Gohan was deep in contemplation as he was being transported to the Elysia Crispata's base. Daiz's words had reassured him of the boy's safety, and if this Turles was collecting Saiyans, then surely he would see the boys as valuable assets for their potential if nothing else. Gohan's fear for their safety may have been lessened, but his anger and anxiety were still high. He wondered if this was how his dad felt when he was taken by Raditz. Unfortunately, Goten didn't have a dragon ball on his head to track him down. Goten was a lot braver than he was at that age though, so hopefully he was dealing with the situation better than he had. Even so, he wouldn't keep them waiting any longer than he had to.
"How much longer?" His words came out more like an order than a question.
"Not much further, sir." Daiz replied with the utmost politeness. "Cacao has to navigate the dark cloud, then we will be at planet Slug."
"Dark Cloud?" Gohan raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Unfortunately, that information is classified." Replied the deep metallic voice of Cacao. Daiz saw the look on the powerful Saiyan's face and quickly tried to quell his displeasure.
"O-of course, as you are a Saiyan, there is no harm in telling you. Saiyan's hold a very special place in the pecking order around here, you know. Second only to Lord Turles and Slug."
"So, what is it?" Gohan asked again.
"Ah, yes, well…" Daiz was thrown off by Gohan. He was blunt and unimpressed by anything that was said. "Our sworn enemy, the cold empire, has been trying to eradicate us for years. His tracking methods are the most advanced in the universe, but Lord Turles' partner, lord Slug, has found a way to fool them. Through a combination of technology and magic, he created the dark cloud. It surrounds our little system and conceals it from prying eyes. Even if they were to penetrate it, their navigation systems and even a person's sense of direction, would be scrambled. They'd be rerouted without them realizing what was happening, and they would miss our base entirely."
"Then how do you navigate it?"
"We are personally keyed into the system. Nobody can fly to our location unless we want them to."
"Sounds pretty useful." Gohan admitted. "I guess this Slug guy must be pretty powerful to create something like that."
"Of course. He's one of the top three powers in the universe. You'll see for yourself soon enough." Smirked Daiz. "We're about to land."
Out of the window, Gohan could see a dull grey planet about the size of Mars. As they breached the atmosphere and came closer to the ground, he couldn't help but notice how desolate the land looked. It was like flying over a grey desert, with a few buildings speckled here and there. Then, over the horizon loomed a giant structure, larger than any palace Gohan had seen on earth. He couldn't help but be impressed by the scale and grandeur of the building, though he didn't let it show. Their craft entered a bay door, and the hatch opened the moment they landed.
"After you." Daiz bowed and gestured through the doorway. Gohan just stared at him, refusing to move. Daiz got the message. "Follow me then." Then Daiz and Cacao, who was carrying the catatonic bodies of Lakasei and Rasin, took to the air, followed by Gohan. It didn't take long for them to reach what Gohan guessed was the center of the palace. A massive door was before them, flanked by two dragons. In the center was imprinted a symbol that Gohan had seen before, though he couldn't remember where. Daiz looked at Cacao, each nodding to the other and they pushed open the door to the grand throne room.
The first thing that Gohan noticed was the red velvet staircase that led to a throne. Perched on the royal chair was a man wearing yellow robes over a purple jump suit, with a white helmet on his head. Gohan's guides approached the foot of the stairs and fell kneeling to the floor.
The man on the throne frowned, and in a deep gravelly voice, spoke to his subordinates. "The Turles Crusher corps. You've got a lot of nerve showing up at my throne with no fruit."
"Forgive us, lord Slug." Daiz begged. "We came as fast as we could to heed your orders."
"My orders?" Slug questioned. "Tell me, fool, was it on my orders that you mobilized six of my legions to 4 different planets, wasting as many seeds? Did I order the destruction of those legions? Or the deaths of my three top subordinates? No. I don't think so. That's right, Daiz, I know all about your little excursion. Yet, you somehow have the gall to show up here, alive. Whatever your little plan was, it failed. You have no fruit to show for your idiocy, and not even Turles will blame me for killing you all here and now."
"Apologies, lord Slug." Cacao spoke with caution. "We failed to procure the fruit, but the planet is now unguarded. If you send another team, you will still have the chance for a plentiful harvest."
"Another team?" Scoffed Slug. "Why would they fare any better than you? We don't have the seeds to waste on another failure."
"Lord Slug," Daiz said. "The mission was not a complete failure. We were not defeated by the Cold empire. Unlike Cooler, the one that beat us is a potential ally. May I introduce our newest Saiyan guest?"
Slug observed Gohan, who stood there with a calm that few could show in Slug's presence.
"Do you think I care that you brought another Saiyan servant for Turles? His efforts to revive his race don't interest me."
"But my lord." Daiz saw his chances for survival slipping away. "He is incredibly powerful. He even drove off Cooler's men. He would be a great asset to the alliance."
"If he's the reason why you didn't bring back the fruit, then all I see is another dead man. Looks like Turles won't be able to greet his newest Saiyan stooge."
"I'm nobody's stooge." Gohan stated. "I didn't come here to be a servant either. I came here to get back two Saiyan kids. My little brother and his friend. I'm told they were brought here."
"Really?" Slug grinned. "It sounds like you were lied to. The only Saiyan children I know of were taken directly to planet Turles."
Gohan's eyes went wide, then they quickly narrowed as he rounded on Daiz and Cacao.
"Any reason why you chose mislead me?"
"We were under orders to return to Lord Slug immediately." Cacao explained. "His order supersedes all requests you may have-"
*BWOOSH*
A yellow beam disintegrated Cacao's upper body before he could finish. Gohan lowered his left hand and raised his right with two fingers pointing at a cowering Daiz. "Wrong answer."
"W-wait! Please, I can take you to them! The planet is close by, I swear! Only a few million miles!" Daiz raised his hands and backed away.
"Good to know." Gohan's fingertips started to glow. He felt no reason to show restraint now. He had already penetrated their cloak, and finding his brother and Trunks would be a simple matter from here.
"No! I'm sorry, we didn't mean to deceive you! I'll do anything you ask, just spare my life!"
"I already did." The corkscrew beam flew from Gohan's fingers and pierced Daiz skull, leaving a giant hole in his forehead.
"Impressive." Gohan spun around to find Slug right behind him. The speed surprised Gohan. Even in super Saiyan 2 he wouldn't have been able to move that fast. Slug really must be as powerful as they said. He kept on his guard, but to his surprise, the green man was already walking away from him. He approached the catatonic twins and held his hand out over Lakasei's head.
"Hmm. Yes. I see." Slug murmured then dropped his hand to his side. "Not many warriors know about Kili. Much less possess the skill to manipulate it. Using it to drive your enemy to madness, well, that is a unique skill." Slug smiled. "Most impressive."
"Glad I could entertain you." Gohan replied. He was a bit surprised that Slug knew about Kili, but then, Daiz said he knew magic. Maybe it was more common knowledge to wizard types. "Now, would you point me in the direction of this planet Turles?" Gohan was willing to search every nearby planet if he had to. He was already going to find and destroy whatever was generating the dark cloud, per his agreement with Cooler. This just meant that he had to do it before he got the boys back so he wouldn't fly around aimlessly searching for them. Of course, asking was just simpler, and if that didn't work? Well, plan B was always available. (The 'B' stands for Beating.)
Slug raised his hand and snapped his fingers. A short person in a hooded robe scurried in, bowing profusely to the one who summoned him.
"Yes, lord Slug? What may I do for you, Lord Slug? It is my pleasure to serve you, Lord slug."
"Contact Turles." Slug ordered. "Tell him I want to see his two newest recruits…"
"Their names are Goten and Trunks." Gohan clarified.
"Yes, bring them to us."
"Right away, lord slug. Hail lord Slug." The hooded servant bowed all the way out of the room.
"They'll be here soon."
"If this is a trick..." Gohan was surprised and more than a little distrustful by this sudden acquiescence.
"Like the one you're trying to pull on me?" Slug rounded on the teen with a snarl. "Which one is it? Cooler? Turles? You must think I'm a fool if you think I don't know you're a spy. It doesn't matter who, but I know you didn't just happen to be on that planet."
Gohan kept his expression neutral, while preparing to power up. His cover had been blown, but that didn't matter much anymore. He was in the enemy base, and he would destroy everyone and everything if he needed to.
Slug sensed the readiness of the boy to fight, and the lack of fear made him smile. "Whoever you're working for, I'll find out later. Whatever they're scheming, I'll be ready for it. For now, You'll have your young ones and can be on your way if that is what you wish. In the meantime," Slug raised his hand, and two decadent couches popped into existence. "I have some questions I'd like answered." The green man sat down and motioned for Gohan to do likewise opposite him.
"Alright." Gohan stayed standing, keeping on the alert for any sign of a trap. Slug had just called him out on his deception, but for some reason, he wanted to talk. The teen decided to play along, but if Goten and Trunks weren't brought in soon, he wouldn't hesitate to tear the place apart.
"You may have guessed by now that I saw everything that happened on that jungle planet." Slug explained. "Turles thinks he's so slick with that cyborg, but even he didn't know that everything he does, and sees, is transmitted to me. I had already planned to execute all the men that tried to sneak off without my permission, even if they brought back the fruit. But I must admit, you intrigued me. You're a Saiyan, but you don't fight like one. Your form, your techniques, even your clothing. They are all very familiar to me."
"Is that so?" Gohan replied vaguely.
"Yes. Now tell me, who trained you? Why do you wear the Namekian garb in the colors of Katas?"
"How do you know its Namekian?"
Slug grinned, then he slowly took off his helmet, revealing two pointy ears, and two antenna.
"Your face says it all." Slug laughed as realization dawned on Gohan's face. That was where he had seen the symbol on the door. It was Namekian. He probably saw it in one of Dende's scrolls.
"Alright, you got me." Gohan said, shaking off his surprise. He didn't see the harm in answering these questions at least. "My mentor was a Namekian. He landed on my planet many centuries ago. When some Saiyans threatened my home, he taught me to fight and defend it. I wear this outfit to honor him."
"Ah, I see." Slug nodded. "Then the son of Katas survived after all. It's always good to hear of the survival of my fellow super Namekians. I'm glad to know that he has passed on his knowledge, even if it is to an outsider."
"Happy to bring news of an old buddy." Gohan remarked drily. "Now, I have a question for you. How does a Namekian find himself at the head of a world killing operation? I've met your people and I know they don't go in for that sort of thing."
"That's right." Slug nodded with a sneer. "A bunch of weak pacifists, too stupid to use power for their own gain. But I knew we could be so much more. We could be rulers of the universe!" A look of joy covered Slug's face as he basked in the thought of his universal reign. The emotion was quickly replaced by a twisted face of disgust. "For my vision, I and my brothers were banished from Namek, with the elder using the Dragon balls to prevent us from returning, no matter how powerful we became. But Guru was a fool. He never understood the power that darkness could bring. I was banished from one planet, but the rest of creation remained at my feet. I traveled the cosmos, conquering and building my kingdom. Nobody dared to oppose me. That was until Turles came into the picture."
"We were targeting the same planet, and while I hate to admit it, we were evenly matched. We formed an alliance. I would aid him with my technology, sorcery, and manpower. In return, he would provide me with an equal share of the spoils."
"You mean the fruit of that tree I destroyed, don't you."
"So, you did know what it was when you destroyed it." Slug smirked at this confirmation. "I had long since known of the legendary fruit that could multiply one's power exponentially but had thought it to be extinct. How a lowly Saiyan came to own the seeds, I still don't understand. Either way, it was clear that the legend was true, as there was no way that a Saiyan could match a super Namekian without it. He agreed to share it with me. I grew in power beyond even what a super Namekian could have normally achieved. In return, I used my vast knowledge of arcane magic to modify the fruit. It became more potent, produced faster, and even restored my youth. When that frost demon fool, Cooler, chose to oppose us, I developed the means to evade his detection. Now, all I need is one more bite of fruit, and I will once again reign supreme in the universe."
Gohan listened to this story with a blank expression. He didn't know what he was expecting, but he thought, or rather hoped, that a Namekian of all people would have some better justification than the run of the mill bad guy. That he would be more than a power-hungry tyrant.
"I guess I was wrong to hope for anything." The teen shook his head. "You conquer planets and murder the innocent in the name of your grand delusions? Looks like you and Turles are just plain evil after all."
"Don't be so narrow minded, boy. You're not a weakling who fears power. You use fear as a power. You wield darkness as a weapon, and kill all who oppose you. Are we really so different?"
"Yes." Gohan replied easily.
"No." Slug replied. "I sense in you a kindred spirit. One who seeks out the power of darkness. You are ruthless, and powerful, but you have so much more to learn. I could unlock so many secrets for you. I know the ancient magics of Namek, Demons, and Kais alike. I even know the legends of the Saiyan race. Legends that I have kept from Turles, but that I would be willing to impart to you. I could make you a god. If, that is, you swear loyalty to me, and become my disciple."
"Heheh." Gohan let out a mirthless chuckle. "Even if I was interested in your offer, why would you be interested in recruiting a spy? Why should I believe that you wouldn't go back on your word? I'm just reading between the lines here, but it seems like you and Turles don't trust each other all that much. If you're already at odds with one Saiyan partner who challenges your power, why would you want to train another to do the same?"
"Your mentor has taught you well." Slug complimented. "That is what makes you different from Turles, or any other Saiyan. Turles is without honor. He has already shown signs of betraying me and will plunge the knife at the first opportunity. You on the other hand, have been trained by my kin. You understand honor and respect. Destruction, greed, and lust for power are one thing, but treachery? That is a sin even I haven't committed. With such warriors as us, an alliance will not falter. When Turles betrayal fails, I will place you at the head of the Saiyans if you wish. I offer this once, to honor a brother, and his disciple."
Gohan smirked at the speech, but his smile faded when he read the expression of the Namekian. Slug was serious about this. Whether it was Gohan's strength, the desire to flip him as a spy, or his connection with the Namekians, Slug wanted Gohan to join him.
Gohan furrowed his brow and opened his mouth, but before he could give his response, the hooded servant from earlier came barging in.
"Lord Slug! I don't know how it happened, but… The Saiyan's are gone!"
Break.
As the Saiyans' spaceship sped toward Namek, Turles wore a smug grin. They had nearly arrived at their destination, and there was still no sign that Slug had noticed their absence. The slimy Namekian had tried to convince Turles that there were no more dragon balls in existence, and he had almost believed him. If it hadn't been for these two boys, such a golden opportunity would have gone to waste. He knew that Slug was weary of him, and even that he had bugged Cacao's communication systems. Sending his men into what he assumed was a trap laid by Cooler was the perfect diversion to cover their departure. Daiz and Cacao were good subordinates, and he would reward them if they made it out alive, but he was perfectly willing to sacrifice them when it was convenient. They weren't Saiyans after all. His kin had far greater use to him. He even had one who knew basic magic.
"Well done, Yashimo." He praised a long haired Saiyan with a square jaw. "Looks like your little concealment spell has done the trick. Between that, and the little diversion Daiz provided, Slug hasn't noticed our absence. By the time he does, we'll already have our wish."
Yashimo nodded, gratefully acknowledging his king's praise. He paused a moment, then asked a question. "Do you really think that it was a Saiyan that defeated them? Or is it just another trick of Cooler's?"
Turles shrugged. "Daiz said he had a tail. We'll see when we get back, wont we?" The mystery of this new Saiyan interested Turles. If it was indeed a Saiyan, this would be the strongest one they've encountered thus far. He would need to be cautious of this new arrival. Of course, if all went according to plan, he would never need to be cautious of anyone ever again.
In another corner of the ship, Trunks felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety. Here he was, surrounded by real Saiyans like his father, on a mission to help defeat the evil brother of their old enemy, Frieza. The thrill of adventure, the awesomeness of his race, it was everything he was hoping for when they first left Earth. He hoped that he could impress the Saiyans, that the Dragon balls really would work, and especially for them to see just how amazing his super Saiyan father really was. But more than anything, he wanted to see the look on his dad's face when he realized that he, Trunks, traversed the galaxy and had brought all the surviving Saiyans to their prince. His dad would be so proud of him. He just knew he would be.
He looked around the spherical vessel at the older Saiyans. Some were napping, others were playing cards or arm wrestling, one was meditating, and another that was even reading a comic book. The lavender haired boy turned to his friend with a smile.
"Isn't this great, Goten?" He asked, but got no response. The younger Saiyan was sitting with his knees hugged to his chest, wearing a grumpy expression. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Goten looked away. "You shouldn't have told them about Namek."
"Huh?" Trunks looked confused. "Why not? We needed to get there, didn't we? How else were we supposed to do it?"
Goten stayed silent. He didn't trust these people. Some of them didn't seem bad, but their leader? Something about him made Goten feel uneasy, and while he wasn't completely certain, he felt like they weren't being honest about what happened to 18. What if they were just tricking them to get the dragon balls? Of course, he had no proof that they were bad guys, so he kept his feelings to himself.
"Look, Goten," Trunks began. "What else were we supposed to do besides ask for these guys' help? We didn't have a way to get to Namek, or help miss 18."
"We could have tried to call Gohan." Goten replied.
"Oh yeah." Trunks put a hand to his chin. "I didn't think about that. He'd probably want to help the Saiyans too. That's ok though." Trunks patted Goten on the back. "When we get to Namek, we'll wish our dads back, call Gohan, and then we can all beat this Cooler guy together and rescue miss 18."
Goten drew his legs closer. "But the Dragon balls are supposed to be kept secret."
"Goten, these guys are Saiyans, like our dads. That means they're like our uncles or something. I mean, Turles even looks like your dad. He's probably some long lost cousin. We can trust them. Besides, they already knew about the dragon balls."
"I guess…" Goten still wasn't convinced.
"Hey, Vegeta junior, little Turles." A Saiyan with a ponytail called to them. "Get over here and play. We need more suckers for the game."
"Sure thing!" Trunks got up, excited to be included. Goten stayed rooted to the floor.
"Not much for games, huh?" Goten looked to see that Nazz was sitting down in Trunks' place. He scooted away from her about a foot.
"Oh, I get it." She chuckled. "Mr. Tough guy, huh? I bet you're the type when a fight breaks out, you really cut loose. Rhubub's the same way." She pointed to a stoic long-haired Saiyan with a trench coat. Goten looked at the Saiyan, then back to his knees.
Nazz folded her arms and started to think. She had a soft spot for kids and had taken a shine to this one. "I know." She snapped her fingers. "What did the ocean say to the beach?"
Goten furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Nazz. The random question confused him enough to forget about his feelings of mistrust.
"Nothing." The girl answered her question with a grin. "It just waves."
The little boy thought about this and when he got it, his frown became a squiggly line.
"What do you call someone with no body, and no nose? Nobody knows!"
"Pft." Goten quickly covered his mouth to stifle a potential outburst.
"What's brown and sticky? A stick! How does the moon get a haircut? Eclipse it! Where do Saiyans go for a drink? A salad bar!"
"Will you stop that already!" A short female Saiyan yelled.
"Sorry Chokly." Nazz grinned at the fact that at least one of her jokes landed well with Goten.
"Ahahaha! A stick! That's so funny!"
"You like that one, huh?"
Goten nodded as he wiped a tear from his smiling face. When he finally calmed down, he looked at the girl sheepishly. "Um… Those were good jokes. Where did you learn them?"
"My dad used to tell them to me. I always hated it, but not so much anymore. I'm glad you like them though."
"Yeah." Goten nodded. Gohan said that their dad used to tell those kind of jokes a lot too. Maybe these Saiyans weren't bad guys after all. At least not this one. "Which one is your dad?" Goten gestured to the other Saiyans scattered about on the ship.
Nazz shrugged, adopting a tough exterior. "None of them. My dad died when I was just a kid. Heart virus. Can you believe that?"
"O-oh." Goten felt kinda bad for asking.
"That's ok though." She shrugged. "He taught me how to fight like a Saiyan. I'm pretty good at it too. When Turles came to my planet looking for dad, he was more than happy to take me instead, even though I'm a half breed. He says I got potential."
"You're not a full Saiyan?" The young boy asked.
"Nope. Surprising, huh? There's only a handful of us half breeds around. You two showing up makes five. Although…" she looked around and whispered conspiratorially. "I'm pretty sure Goyan's mom was an actual monkey."
This comment made Goten and Nazz laugh again.
"That's enough." Kalif, a tall Saiyan woman with long straight hair ordered. "Both of you, get ready. We're here." She pointed out the giant circular window at the green planet that was New Namek.
End Chapter
A/N: Thanks again for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following. If you like the story, feel free to let me know.