The Three Legendary Saiyans
Chapter 25: Divine Intervention
Raijin and Future-Trunks both returned to Bulma's Lab in a hurry but left Ewan panting desperately for breath as he struggled to keep up with their speed; papers and any loose items scattered into the air whenever Raijin and Future-Trunks sped through a room, Capsule Corp's receptionists screamed as their laptop computers, drinks and snacks suddenly lifted into the air when the pair ran through the main lobby on-route to the Lab.
Just as Raijin and Future-Trunks rushed through the entrance to the lab; Whis and Beerus along with Bulma, Goku and Vegeta were all standing together, Goku and Vegeta having only just stepped out from Recovery Unit's as their clothes were still wet from being inside the chamber.
"Kind of you two to join us; we were just discussing what happened in your Timeline" Beerus spoke to Future-Trunks; his eyes closed through even then Future-Trunks could tell that Beerus was glaring at him.
"We believe that Zamasu is not only going to murder his mentor Gowasu to steal a Time Ring but also use The Super Dragon Balls to create an exact copy of Goku to give the Time Ring to and allow him to run amok while destroying all mortal life" Whis summarized with what he'd already heard from Goku and Vegeta regarding the exchanges with Black and Zamasu during the previous battle.
"So what are we going to do?" Future-Trunks asked the million-zeni question; cutting Raijin off from asking the very same question.
"There is not a lot we can except for confront Zamasu in this Time; if we can catch him in the act of the crime of murder then and only then can we deal with him" Whis added; his ever-present smile had not crossed his blue lips at all but an expression of concern for the situation.
"Fine then; just go and kill the bastard before he can enact his plan" Vegeta spoke bluntly and coarsely; his brow furrowed in irritation.
"Beerus, Whis; let me go too this time" Raijin stepped forward when he made his request.
Beerus and Whis looked to each other before nodding, Bulma shook her head at Raijin though she had enough experience with Saiyans to know how their thought-process worked.
"Very well… just do not speak so much as a single word during the trip; that includes you Son Goku" Beerus sighed in exasperation; pointing towards Raijin and Goku in a manner than sent a danger signal through Raijin's instincts.
Vegeta huffed as he had no intention of seeing Zamasu again; turning on his heels in instantly walking on route towards the courtyard where The Time Machine was still laying on its side.
Whis raised his Staff above his head but blinked before initiating his transportation technique, "I almost forgot, our dear Supreme Kai: Shin will be meeting us there; he too is aware of the matters at hand".
Raijin and Goku both knew to cover their eyes just moments before Whis tapped his staff and produced a blinding white flash when initiating his trans-universal travel, when Raijin and Goku lowered their forearms from their eyes; the sight took Raijin's breath away.
The four of them stood inside of a white bubble racing through space itself; millions of twinkling stars, whole galaxies and comets shot past their bubble without so much as a single bit of turbulence.
"This is amazing" Raijin blurted out; forgetting Beerus' warning when met with such a spectacle.
"What did I say about speaking!" Beerus spoke; moving his head ever so slightly so that his right eye stared murderously at Raijin.
Raijin could do nothing but bow his head in apology.
"It won't take long to arrive; prepare yourselves" Whis spoke after an hour of travelling; the bubble hurling towards an ominous blackness even in the depths of Space.
Raijin noted that Goku wasn't smiling like he usually did but was taking the coming confrontation very seriously, Raijin's thoughts immediately went back to all the people suffering, starving, shivering from the cold and unsure that they would even live to see another day; let alone a new sunrise in Future-Trunks' Timeline, the very fact that it was Zamasu who'd caused their suffering infuriated Raijin to the point where Raijin made a silent promise to himself: a promise that he would punch Zamasu's face into an unrecognizable state once he got the chance.
Finally another flash lit up the end to their travels as Raijin found himself standing under a huge redwood archway that led into a beautiful tree-lined courtyard laid out before a large wooden temple; standing in the very centre of the courtyard was a long ornate wooden table with an equally ornate wooden chair at either end.
"How good it is to see you all again" Shin announced; remaining as ageless as he always appeared though his friendly smile that he usually greeted with was gone but a stern and resolute expression remained, a look Raijin hadn't seen since the Majin Buu Incident.
"Good day; so what matter does this unexpected visit bring us" spoke an elderly-looking Kai; dressed in the same robes as Shin, Raijin guessed that this was Gowasu.
"Oh, Lords Beerus and Whis; as well as Son Goku along with another friend; so what brings this unexpected visit?" Gowasu enquired; his demeanour calm and polite even though he appeared unaware of the danger he was in.
"Greetings Lord Gowasu; we merely came so that this punch-happy fool here could apologise to Sir Zamasu for any dishonour he might have dealt during our last visit, and a fellow Saiyan Raijin here is merely here to ensure that Goku does not do anything rash"
Raijin tilted his head; having not been told any of this before realising that Whis was crafting a careful ruse to mask their true intentions.
"Ahh; I'm afraid Zamasu is not here as of this moment" Gowasu remained calm.
"Forgive me Master; I returned not long ago but did not inform you… I have brought your afternoon tea as per usual" spoke a chillingly calm voice from within the temple; the sliding doors opening to reveal Zamasu pushing along a trolley laden with tea cups and a pot of tea emanating a soft stream of steam, his sickening smile present on his green lips.
Raijin only had to take one solitary look at Zamasu before feeling like he could assault him in an angry rage; the hair of his tail standing on end indicating his hatred for Zamasu.
Whis shoved a stern-looking Goku forwards with a palm thrust; his pale blue eyes staring intently at Zamasu.
Goku scratched at the back of his head before he crudely bowed to Zamasu; a man who'd only a couple of hours ago had been trying to kill them, "Ahh… I'm sorry if I rubbed dirt in your honour as a Kai… I hope I did not cause too much offence to your divine… what cha call it… standing" Goku blurted out; forgetting certain words.
Beerus and Raijin both stood with their faces in their palms after witnessing Goku's pathetic excuse for a formal apology.
"Well that crude apology is certainly appreciated Son Goku; however it is not necessary" Zamasu spoke calmly though his grey eyes staring piercingly through Goku, "Last time you were here where'd you investigating a matter about someone named Black of whom possessed a curious artefact called a Time Ring; I'd like to extend my thanks as you all provided me with an opportunity to learn about the item in question, tell me; has your investigation yielded any new details?".
Raijin grit his teeth; Zamasu's newfound knowledge of the Time Ring provided by the previous visit forced Raijin's thoughts to dwell further of the impoverished people living in the other Timeline.
"No; I'm afraid not as of yet; however we must be going, Lord Beerus gets ever so cranky when he doesn't get his appointed naps" Whis answered in Raijin's place; instantly noticing that Raijin was about to attack
Raijin calmed as soon as he felt Whis' calm hand on his shoulder; taking in several deep breaths to lower his temper.
"Yes; I do hope you'll pardon us for today" Beerus spoke through narrowed eyes; faking a large and wide yawn.
"Ahh; yes I understand, you are welcome here any time" Gowasu remained cool and calm; unsuspecting of any ulterior motives from anyone that stood around him.
"In Thanks; we offer you this little treat from a most-interesting world in our Seventh Universe called Earth, a flask of lovely and premium green tea and sweet buns; the flavours inside will knock your socks off"
"Oh; we do have a fondness for tea and cakes here in The Tenth, I thank you Lord Whis" Gowasu's eyes widened at the sight of the flask, cups and the plate of white doughy cakes; licking his lips ever-so-slightly.
Just as Whis looked to Shin; Goku suddenly spoke, "That excuse does sound fake".
But before Goku could speak the word fake; Beerus and Raijin both suddenly slapped the Saiyan upside the head.
"What was that for? you should be nicer Beerus" Goku whined; rubbing at the back of his head.
"I'm being nice by not destroying you on the spot!" Beerus growled in a hushed tone.
Zamasu noticeable narrowed his eyes at Goku and Raijin; watching as the group left.
Raijin turned his head in an effort to glance at Zamasu before leaving; catching a all-too-brief look at Zamasu but what he saw unnerved him, Zamasu stood with a malicious smile curling across his green lips.
Whis tapped his staff to create the same bubble they'd travelled in and began to depart; much to Raijin's shock.
"What are you doing Whis? I thought we were going to stop Zamasu!" Raijin shouted; his feelings on protecting Gowasu from being murdered exposed.
"Silence Raijin; we cannot simply kill Zamasu just yet… we must wait until the correct moment" Shin answered in place of Whis or Beerus, his calm voice and comforting hand reaching out and grasping Raijin's wrist.
Raijin grit his teeth again; looking to Goku and Beerus as they both stood still; staring up at something.
Raijin turned to look to whatever it was that Beerus, Goku, Whis and Shin were all looking towards only to see a projection of Zamasu and Gowasu; the two Kai's sampling the green tea they'd been gifted while Gowasu greedily gobbled down the doughy cakes and leaving one for Zamasu.
"My my; that was a fine treat, please help yourself to the last cake Zamasu" Gowasu spoke contently; wiping away the sugary dust from his mouth with a napkin.
Zamasu leaned forward to pick up the cake; examining it briefly before trying the sweet, "It certainly appeared so; that tea was quite delicious I find it hard to believe that mortals could produce a tea and sweet treats so finely" Zamasu spoke calmly and coolly though a hint of his hostile attitude leaked through into his voice.
"Zamasu; what have I told you about speaking like that when regarding mortals" Gowasu's eyes followed Zamasu to his tea trolley; speaking harshly to cut those thoughts away from the coming lesson.
"You are right Master… I am sorry" Zamasu quickly regained his composure; his smile though calm hinted at his true intentions.
"You are forgiven Zamasu; not pour some more of your own tea so we might begin todays lessons" Gowasu spoke; producing a large hardback book out of thin air and holding it in both hands.
Zamasu's eyes lit up with a furious fire for having to praise mortals even though he was spoken a lie; the sight of Gowasu enjoying products made by mortal hands disgusted him down to his very core, it was in this moment that Zamasu decided that now was his moment; his hands guiding a fresh cup of tea to Gowasu's table before stepping behind Gowasu's back again.
"Watch closely now" Whis spoke calmly; his own eyes narrowing in observing Zamasu.
"Why? Can't we just stop him now!" Goku shouted before Raijin could though Raijin was thankful for this as Beerus immediately slapped him across the head again.
"We know Zamasu is going to murder Gowasu, his aura positively reeked of murderous intent" Beerus exclaimed; his yellow eyes narrowing while continuing to observe.
"Then why hasn't Gowasu noticed?" Raijin posed the question; finally becoming worried for the old Kai's safety.
"That's possibly because Zamasu harbours such hostile feelings and thoughts towards Mortals that Gowasu is trying to train Zamasu to overcome these grudges" Whis summarized; his fingers tightening around the shaft of his staff.
Zamasu's right hand ignited with a violent violet flame; the same Energy Blade he'd attacked them with back in Future-Trunks Timeline, Zamasu silently approached Gowasu from behind his back; a grimly ecstatic expression lit up his eyes in preparation for the heinous crime he was about to commit.
"What are you waiting for? Stop him!" Raijin and Goku shouted in union though their shout fell of deaf ears; they watched as Zamasu's expression shifted from complete calm to murderous satisfaction, Zamasu's Energy Blade slashing down through the back of Gowasu's cranium and severing the top of his spine in a single strike.
Whis suddenly raised his staff and hammered the butt of the shaft on the floor of the orb they all stood on three times as Time suddenly seemed to move backwards, Raijin knew this to be the same Temporal Shift that Whis had used when Frieza destroyed the Earth months ago.
Zamasu raised his right hand; the same shimmering energy igniting around his hand; an evil smile lit up his face as he began to deliver the killing strike to the back of Gowasu's neck until a large oven glove designed to appear like a bunny-rabbit appeared on his right hand, "Wha… what is this?!".
"Hmm? What is it Zamasu? Is that some new massage technique?" Gowasu enquired; looking up from the ornate cup of tea he held in his left hand.
Just as Gowasu made his enquiry and witnessed the confused and infuriated expression on Zamasu's face; Whis, Beerus, Goku and Raijin all materialized within the walls of the courtyard.
"What is the meaning of this Lord Beerus? Lord Whis?" Gowasu raised his voice in surprise; standing up from his luxuriously fine wooden chair.
"Please forgive us Lord Gowasu; but this is a matter of great importance" Whis spoke; his calm demeanour and tone of voice ever-present even in the direness of the situation.
"We came to stop Zamasu from killing you Gowasu; remove that glove and see for yourself" Goku shouted; taking the words out of Raijin's mouth before he could speak himself.
Gowasu hesitantly turned on the spot; watching as the bunny oven glove split at the seam and revealed Zamasu's Energy Blade, "Zamasu… explain yourself to me right this minute".
Zamasu glared with a sickeningly evil glare; raising his righthanded Energy Blade and charging for a shocked Gowasu once again, his arm raised and striking with a straight thrust with the same malicious smile that Raijin saw; acting out in his moment of murder-lust and fury until Beerus stepped in front of Gowasu and grabbing Zamasu's right hand with his own.
"Hakai" Beerus spoke a single word; a haze of purple Destroyer Energy flowed out from Beerus' right hand into Zamasu's own right hand, Zamasu screamed out in pain as the energy degraded and disintegrated him into even less than an atomic level before everybody's very eyes.
Raijin stared at the execution in horror; the idea that Beerus could destroy even an Apprentice Kai so easily made Raijin fear for what Beerus could do when fighting at his absolute best.
"Wow Beerus; I'm sure glad you didn't use that when we fought" Goku spoke in a cheery tone that was unfitting for the situation that had only just been resolved.
Raijin and Whis both shook their heads at Goku's bluntness; while Beerus turned his glare to Goku as if he was considering destroying Goku right there and then.
"My thanks to you all; if not for you all I cannot imagine the damage that Zamasu could inflict upon the multiverse" Gowasu gave a deep thankful bow to Whis, Beerus, Goku and Raijin; his head bowed so low that it was a huge opening to strike, Raijin could easily see how Zamasu could so easily blindside Gowasu.
"I sure can imagine it; and hopefully we can repair what has already been done" Raijin spoke; bowing his head slightly in return.
"Oh? Please do tell" Gowasu enquired; his interest picked in what Zamasu had been up to behind his back.
"We'd love to Lord Gowasu but it'll have to wait until another time" Whis cut in; his cheery tone replaced with a tone of urgency, even his charming smile had faded from his blue lips.
"That is saddening; though I wish you the best in your endeavour" Gowasu gave another bow; a look of sadness in his eyes as he watched his saviours leave.
"Thank you; until we meet again" Beerus spoke in a snide voice; turning his back on The Tenth Universes Supreme Kai just as Whis again tapped his Staff and begun the return journey to The Seventh Universe.
Raijin and Goku both stood in total silence during the entire journey between Universes; Goku remained smiling in his eagerness to return to Future-Trunks' Timeline and settle the score with Goku Black now that Zamasu had been taken care of and would likely no longer play a factor in the coming battle, while Raijin remained sceptical of Beerus' confidence that Zamasu would no longer be present but only time would tell.
Upon returning to Earth; Raijin found that Trunks and Goten sat on separate seats with Bulma leaning over them, an unspeakably angry look on her face which quickly turned to a loving expression once Raijin returned.
"Your finally back… you won't believe what these two tried to pull in your absence" Bulma spoke harshly; Ewan standing beside her with an unusually stern look on his normally geeky expression, Trunks and Goten sitting with a shared look of guilt between them.
"What did they do this time?" Raijin felt his facial muscles tighten in irritation towards the continued rebelliousness and recklessness of his son.
"Believe it or not… they tried to hijack The Time Machine and face Black themselves" Bulma crossed her arms over her chest; looking down fiercely at Trunks and Goten, Future-Trunks and Vegeta too stood present; both looking equally disappointed in the boys recklessness.
"Really?! Didn't you see the condition that Goku and Vegeta came back in? they were badly wounded and let's not forget that they are currently stronger than me!" Raijin spoke carefully; using the facts of the last excursion he'd made into The Future and the grim injuries that Goku and Vegeta had suffered.
"Currently?" Vegeta snapped; his temper rising indicated by the throbbing vein in his temple.
"Yeah… currently; I am going to become stronger than you Vegeta" Raijin shot a cocky smirk in Vegeta's direction; his tail waving from side to side in his proud declaration.
"Like hell you will! Only I can stand at the top!" Vegeta's anger finally burst; Future-Trunks, Bulma and Ewan all taking a step backwards from the increasingly violent aura Vegeta was radiating.
"Father… please not now; we need to travel back to my Timeline and see if Zamasu and Black really have been erased and my people saved" Future-Trunks begged; his words instantly drawing the ire of Lord Beerus.
"What do you mean IF? Do you doubt the word of a Destroyer God?! when a God says something had been done then it has been done!" Beerus snapped harshly; a purple shimmer coating his body.
"I apologise; I am just eager to return to my comrades" Future-Trunks bowed his head to the God, Whis nodding curtly in acknowledgment.
Beerus scoffed at Future-Trunks' meagre apology; turning away and moving to ignore the group.
"And I'm pleased to say that we've already refuelled your Time Machine for another round-trip" Ewan announced with wide sparkling eyes which stared out from behind his work-goggles; clearly overjoyed that he got to work on The Time Machine for a second time.
"Thank you Ewan; and this time I'm going too" Bulma thanked her protégée; making her announcement about her intentions to multiple surprised expressions.
"No Bulma; you cannot come too" Raijin blurted; a look of worry overcoming his own expression.
"And why not? You Saiyans don't have enough smarts between all three of you to repair the Time Machine if its needed!" Bulma shot back; giving a slight slap to Raijin's left shoulder.
Raijin didn't want to admit it; but Bulma was right.
"So what are we going to do about the boys?" Goku asked; looking down upon his youngest son; though he smiled warmly towards Goten instead of being a stern parent in the present situation.
Raijin gave a sigh as he locked eyes with Trunks and Goten; knowing that Pilaf, Shu and Mai wouldn't be far away to spring them out of whatever punishment they got, "We've got more important matters to attend to right now; it'll have to wait".
Trunks and Goten looked to each other with a look of joy as it appeared like they were being let off the hook, Pilaf, Shu and Mai were indeed finding just behind a workspace; listening in on the conversation; though Mai was peeking over the edge just to admire Future-Trunks from afar.
"However; once we return… well I'll leave that to you boys imaginations" Raijin smiled as he spoke; his voice changing into a colder tone implying that a punishment even worse than the manual labour would be coming their way.
The tone of Raijin's voice sent a shiver down not only both the boys spines but also sent shivers down the spines of Pilaf and Shu.
The group of Future-Trunks, Goku, Vegeta Raijin and Bulma all climbed into the cockpit of The Time Machine; Future-Trunks sitting in the pilot seat with Goku and Vegeta on either side of him again, only now he had Raijin and Bulma sitting in a rather cramped position of Raijin sitting cross-legged and Bulma slung across his lap with her feet on Vegeta's shoulders and her head on Raijin's shoulder.
"Everyone comfy?" Goku smirked jokingly.
The unanimous glare emanating from Future-Trunks, Raijin, Bulma and Vegeta all suggested that the joke was not appreciated in the time or place.
Not another word was spoken as The Time Machine hummed to life; lifting up into the sunset sky and vanished back into the Timestreams towards an even more uncertain future.
Authors Note: apologies for the long wait for these last two chapters, I have been binge-watching Sword Art Online: Alicization, Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto and Konosuba for the last couple week, but I'm back at work now and I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter, I thank you all for your patience.