Number Thirty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Four
The Meeting at Blue Bridge
Whatever has happened must be big news.
Yesterday, whilst busy, Blue Bridge bristled with its typical proactivity. Nothing unusual held in the air, unlike today where the electric energy seems to be contagious. Soldiers congregate in rambunctious groups. Men and women alike whisper amongst one another, eyes wide, with a pointed finger that follows Goku along the hallways as he walks. They read from their computers and assemble around tablet screens and other devices. They seem… positive about whatever it is that has them so active, which should be a good sign to Goku, but for some reason, it's not.
It's obviously about the Frost Empire, which now means it could be about Gohan. They consider Gohan a pretty big player, all things considering. Goku knows they'd love to see his downfall. Under the wrong circumstances, good news for them could spell out bad news for Goku.
Regardless of revelation, negative or positive, he knows that the meeting today is going to be a stuffy, political affair that Goku won't fully understand. His appearance has been requested, which equates to "mandatory attendance" according to Piccolo, who has begrudgingly been allowed to accompany Goku so long as Vegeta remains hidden away in his quarters.
"I'm gonna' ask that they send me to the Southern frontline," Goku reveals to Piccolo as they traverse the fort in aim of the allocated meeting gallery.
"Let's see if they grant it to you."
"You don't think they will?"
"I think they'll question your motive."
"It's better than just making all these dumb videos and talkin' to people all day."
"You've doubled the conscriptions. Why fix something that isn't broken?"
Goku sighs, scratching his head, knowing that Piccolo is right and that Cilo wouldn't want him risking their growing numbers. He notices that he isn't the only one troubled by this. "Piccolo…?"
"It's just…" There's a pause. "Cilo now has a lot of people working for them. After this is over, what happens?"
"What do you mean?"
"Should Cilo win, then what? Will their men be mustered out? Will Cilo disband all their units? What will happen after the Frost Empire is finished?"
Goku doesn't know. It's been bothering him, too. But he has other things to worry about, notably, his missing son who's been indoctrinated into this entire mess. "I'm just focusing on Gohan right now," he admits. "I can't say about what else will happen… Earth is protected because of the dragon balls so we don't gotta' worry too much."
Disbelief crosses Piccolo's face. "That's… surprisingly selfish of you, Son. What about everyone else? All the other planets? What about planet Namek? You still owe them their dragon balls, remember."
"That kind of goes hand-in-hand with finding Gohan," Goku returns, "I'm working on it."
"And what about protecting them?"
"From Cilo?" Goku rubs his eyes, deflating. "I'm only one person," he then mumbles.
"I just want you to think about who you're helping."
"So, what you're saying is that you don't trust Cilo."
"I don't trust anyone."
Goku scoffs, amused nonetheless.
"But we don't have a choice if we want to find Gohan," Piccolo understands. "It's just worth keeping in the back of our minds that Cilo might not be as sanctimonious as they say they are."
"That would make both Vegeta and Gohan right with their doubts."
"I think Vegeta is predisposed to hate."
"To hate what?"
"To just hate."
Goku laughs, but quickly sobers when they enter into one of the busier sections of the fort, adjusting to the cooling of several degrees due to the many doors leading outside. He shivers. What a miserable place.
Blue Bridge itself is bloated with kachin coated walls that drain it of any personality, reiterating that connection to prominent mining groups that Goku is so very proudly told about on repeat. This room in particular is the metal mouth of Blue Bridge, which feed into the many lively containments brimming with Cilo soldiers. Non-combatants appear in these rooms, too, always without fail recognizing Goku and (as usual) rushing over to praise him, with them eventually being introduced as a celebrity, politician or royal figure from some important planet Goku knows nothing about.
It happens again and Piccolo not very patiently waits for the circus to be over. It's kind of bad. Against the cool metal furnishings, Goku stands out like a beacon, what with his purple, itchy cloak that trails to the floor, making him look more like a pair of curtains than a martial artist.
"You wanted this," Vegeta had reminded when he first complained about the uniforms here.
Goku had wanted to be involved. He hadn't known at the time how much useless, busy work that would require of him, but he doesn't regret it. Recently, he found out that Gohan has been seen. This is proof that Goku was right all along—that Gohan is above death—and that, finally, they are coming to understand what happened to him all those years ago.
Right now, he's back working for the Empire. Grimly, Goku wonders if Vegeta is right that Gohan has at least some loyalty to Hailer. To attend a Saiyan execution? Why would Gohan even do that? It'd been obvious to Goku, and to Piccolo from witnessing Gohan and Pyrak's argument at the Youth Program, that Gohan would hate the senseless violence of executions. Was he forced to attend? Or maybe, was it a message destined for Goku? Perhaps Gohan went to support the Saiyan executions because he'd wanted to send a message to a particular saiyan; to Goku, of course, who'd centered himself in the middle of this entire thing.
Was it Gohan's roundabout way to reject him?
Or is Goku overthinking all of this? He isn't exactly very good with understanding subtleties.
Actually, it doesn't even matter. None of it does.
However Gohan feels about Goku is irrelevant to the mission, he reminds himself. This is about extracting him from that awful Frost Empire army and keeping him safe— it's about taking him home. He's still a kid. He's Goku's kid. He's coming with him.
Goku imagines himself saying all that to Gohan's face—to his young, teenage, sullen face,—knowing full well the battle won't end upon finally getting his hands on his son.
Whatever the case, he'll do what he has to.
Including attend Cilo meetings.
"Goku!" Clow gasps, hands raised in joviality, as though his presence here is a surprise despite him being the one to invite him. "Oh, how wonderful for you to join us. Please do come and sit by me. Come, come."
The meeting chamber is a sizably big space with enough room for several peppered tables, adjacent chairs of varying sizes, and a stage with a podium with a microphone attached. There is a screen behind with the Cilo logo on a looped animation reel that glitters as the room fills. Goku is one of the last to arrive, with only a couple others filtering in behind as the lights are dimmed, the stage soft with ominous blue. Quietly, instrumental music plays. He does sit by Clow, with Piccolo on his right looking uncomfortable as his ridiculously long legs knock against the table, wobbling complimentary water bottles Goku won't touch.
The strange energy from outside has followed Goku into the chamber. As a lone man readies himself on the stage's podium, people animatedly talk amongst themselves, faces split joyously.
"What happened?" Goku asks Clow.
Clow taps his head, indicating a secret, and then his lips when the microphone is turned on.
"Good morning," says the man, unambitious in voice or appearance. Goku wouldn't be able to pick him out of the crowd of purple cladded Cilo members onstage. There's a wry smile. "We know there are a lot of rumours going around Blue Bridge—."
"Confirm them!" someone shouts from the audience.
The man chuckles awkwardly, looking towards his colleagues. Another takes the microphone, a wine glass in hand. "Patience is a virtue," he says, raising it. The room laughs, and Goku looks to Piccolo to see his usual calculating eyes scraping over the situation.
"First thing's first," starts the original man, temperate. "We lost eight units to Hailer's forces in our most recent surveying of the Yeech-On-Rock Mines. This means Hailer now has a controlling hold over the Central sources of metals, black matter and energy deposits."
"There will be inflation on black matter especially," interrupts yet another, "It's worth double checking the cost of voyages, especially southward. If you thought fuel was hard to get before…"
"Yes," agrees the first, the speaker. "So, expect stocks to drop and market volatility. The price of kachin is also expected to rise, of course, as well as sheenks. The news is not yet public so it's going to be recommended to our teams to invest a higher than usual amount of funds into material acquisition this term."
Other points are brought up, with a great many of them not understandable to Goku. Mostly because, it's, as guessed to be, outright dull. Food is served. It's a roast of some kind that makes his stomach rumble, but the atmosphere and promise to Vegeta to abstain from strange food prevents him from eating.
There's going to be an announcement.
Finally, the man smiles, knowingly, looking down at his notes.
He leans in, dramatic.
"Next…" A pause. "Cooler is dead."
The cheers are deafening. Everyone is on their feet, applauding. Drinks spill. Chairs throw up their legs. The room is wild with elation.
But Goku is left with questions. What happened out there? Who killed him? What about Hailer? With action going on, Goku feels very wrong to be stuck in here with these people who look like they've never so much as had a fist fight.
It takes some time but the room does eventually calm down.
"On-screen now is a list a notable Empire servicemen who were brought down in what we have come to call the Battle of Swarming, named after the aggression and persistence of the Cilo fleet that brought down the infamous BattleAxe2344."
Goku can't read the names, although he wishes he could because everyone quickly grows loud again.
Clow leans over towards Goku, nudging him with a smirk. "Ytvl," he says.
"Ytvl?" Piccolo mouths to Goku for clarification.
Somewhat numb, Goku nods, and Piccolo schools his expression once more. But he's bothered, too. Goku can tell from his faraway glance across the stage.
"Yes, I'm sure you can spot a familiar name or two," the speaker says with humour. "As appreciated in Blue Bridge; 'what goes around comes around'. This is the power of Cilo. This is proof that frost indeed does melt. With the deaths of our adversaries, we are one stop closer to peace, to an existence without cold, hard Frost!"
More applause follows, slowly coming to a halt when they notice Goku's awkward hand wave gawkily over the sea of heads.
The speaker coughs. "Uh, yes…?" Thy guy leans over and whispers something to him. "Yes, Goku?"
"Yeah, uh… So, what happened?" questions Goku, coming to stand. "Cooler, by all accounts, was pretty strong. Who from Cilo was able to take him out? Ytvl—too,—I remember him being able to hold his own. At Cilo, is there another fighter capable of… y'know…?"
The collective on stage share weighted expressions, as though holding a breath.
"No," the speaker releases, and then, with pressed brows, his eyes roam over the audience. "Once Cooler arrived and his ship, the Red Carrier, took severe damage, it is believed that this was the time Hailer decided to involve himself. Reports vary but it is believed that Hailer delivered the finishing blow."
Hailer…? Hailer?! Then why are they talking as though this is a personal victory? None of this feels right at all! He sits, aiming for Piccolo's eye line, but he's hyper focused on the stage. On the speaker.
The chatter which follows is lively, but not angry. The speaker and his clones wave their hands in a bid for silence. "Naturally, war is complex," the speaker tells them all, "And as such, I'm not the correct person to articulate the complications of a battlefield… Which leads us to our final announcement, and then I promise you, my Cilo family, that I will leave you to your congratulatory beverages. Celebrations are to be had, after all!"
"Indeed!" calls out Clow, amongst others.
"Cilo has operated with a democratic sense of leadership, which has served us well up until this point. To further build confidence. However, to have a realistic chance at a governing position once the Frost Empire is fully exterminated, we have decided to put a name and face to our movement. It wasn't an easy decision. Cilo understands the importance of the unity of Man, of our word, of our hope. Our history was built off the backs of millions—billions perhaps—of individuals who joined hands and minds to make this moment happen. To carry this burden, a chairperson has been selected to be a guiding figurehead."
From off-stage, a man, at a smooth, glacial pace, approaches the podium.
"I present to you, Chairman Cace."
There is no hesitation. As if routine, the audience claps, some cheer, and they smile and talk between one another with zero surprise crossing their faces. Goku uncomfortably claps, too, watching the man, Cace, smile thinly over his loving audience. He takes the microphone after shaking the speaker's hand. He nods to his colleagues.
"What does this mean?" Goku whispers to Piccolo.
But Piccolo doesn't reply.
"Thank you all," Cace appreciates, his soft drawl enough to command silence. His voice—the accent. It sounds like Gohan. He's got to be from the South. "It is an honour to represent an establishment as such as this. Cilo has been a beacon of hope for many in the face of the Frost Empire. With the defeat of Cooler, we are one step closer to bringing this wretched war to a close. As Chairman, I promise to perform my duties to the very best of my ability, and to serve our family as its rightful head. We—."
Goku loses focus, feeling like he's forgotten something very, very important, knowing that whatever just happened here isn't good. A figurehead? What does that mean? Is this guy the boss now? Just who the heck is he? Where did he come from? Is this who Goku answers to now? This Cace?
Cace talks with a practice professionalism. It isn't the first time he's addressed a crowd, Goku can tell. Sure, his charisma isn't anything to write home about, yet… there is something that keeps Goku immersed.
"—ku. Goku," Piccolo mumbles, needling him with discretion. The way he's doing it gives the impression that it's not the first time he has. Goku slides his gaze towards him. "His name is Cace."
"Yeah, so?"
Piccolo's lips are barely moving. He's trying to be sneaky, Goku realizes. "Wasn't that the name of Gohan's overseer—at the Program?"
Goku's eyes snap back on Cace just as he finishes his speech. The room stands, applauding. Goku does, too, when Piccolo drags him up.
Surely… it's a coincidence, right? There must be lots of people with a name like that. There must be millions of 'Cace's in the universe… right?
Just as Cace turns to leave the podium, his gaze connects with Goku's. A chill crawls down his spine.
"The universe has now been made aware," Cace drawls softly, "Of Cilo's power… and of myself, Chairman Cace, the man who will bring great change upon Cilo."
Something… Something isn't right here.
"Let's go," Goku murmurs. Piccolo is unsure at first, but something in his gut must agree with Goku, because, as the dessert is being served, they manage to sneak out the fire exit.
They walk in silence until they reach past the central hallway, and even then, their voices remain low, and Piccolo's eyes bounce along the walkways. There are numerous soldiers that pay them no mind, still likely gossiping over the news that will be made public soon enough. Cooler, dead. Cace, Chairman. Cilo… Victorious.
Lya and Ytvl had been Goku's point of contact here months ago, now it's all changing and Goku can't recognize much of what he agreed to sign onto. If Cace and Overseer Cace is the same person what does that even mean?
Goku and Piccolo had agreed to inform Vegeta about the announcements, and their journey throughout Blue Bridge is an attempt at nonchalance even though Goku can feel his heart in his throat. Doesn't Overseer Cace have ties to the Youth Program, and doesn't the Youth Program supply children soldiers to the Frost Empire? Does Cilo know this?
"Hailer killed Cooler," Piccolo says under his breath. "Isn't that… convenient timing, for Hailer to arrive at the battle, unprompted?"
Goku's brows knit together, his bubbling conclusion at the tip of his tongue. "…Do you think they were working together?"
"Not exactly."
"Then what?"
Piccolo looks over their shoulders at the empty corridor in their wake. "I think Hailer just publicly planted a puppet leader in Cilo." The confusion must show because Piccolo elaborates. "If Cace is the Cace we know of, with his association with the Youth Program and Hailer, then we can assume that Cilo is not operating with idealistic goals in mind. Why would they employ a leader now? Why do this now—the moment Cooler was defeated—in the midst of celebration? Because nobody cares? Are they trying to sneak his anointment under the rug? Or maybe they're correlating it with their victory—which they didn't even achieve without Hailer's help."
Goku doesn't know what to say, so Piccolo continues.
"I think we need to leave, at least for now."
"But working with Cilo is our best bet at Gohan," Goku reacts. "If we leave then how will we know where Gohan is? They're watching "Thirty-Two", right? They'd wanna' keep track of him."
"Goku—."
"I don't want to throw that away."
"Let's see what Vegeta has to say, about all this," Piccolo offers after a stretch of silence, reasonable. "God knows how he's going to run his mouth about this."
Or he would've, should Goku and Piccolo been able to reach him. When they arrive at the guest barracks, they're not exactly met with a warm welcome by the guardsmen blocking the way. Noticeably, he's not the usual guard, who'd always greet Goku as though he's most fantastical person in the universe. Instead, this guard is a sour-faced sort of alien unbeknown to Goku. He reaches towards his firearm when they approach the door.
"No entry."
"We're staying there," replies Goku with equal energy. "You're kinda' in our way."
"No entry by order of the higher ups."
Piccolo moves forward the moment the guard raises his weapon. He eyeballs it, unimpressed. "That's hardly intimidating."
"Our friend is in there," Goku continues, trying to diffuse the clotting atmosphere. "Vegeta."
"No entry."
Piccolo takes the guard by the front of his shirt, the gun clattering, just as Goku hears the approach of footsteps behind.
"Whatever is happening?" asks Clow.
Where did he even come from? Did he follow them here? Goku tenses and his eyes find Piccolo's. Why would Clow have felt the need to tail them?
"I'm sure we can clear this misunderstanding up. Could you please lower our guard, Piccolo?"
Piccolo doesn't, instead swinging him towards Clow, the guard's face now somewhat paler than before. "Maybe you can tell us why he is disallowing us entry into the guest barracks—where Vegeta currently is."
"Oh." There is an emphasized cooing as Clow leans against his hand. "Oh, I see… Well, if it's of any help, Vegeta isn't in the guest barracks. I'm sure you will be allowed entry once the search is over."
"What?"
"What do you mean search?"
"It's protocol after an arrest. They have to—."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, arrest?"
Piccolo tosses the guard wayside. "What's going on, Clow? Are you to tell us that Vegeta has been arrested? By what right!"
There's another sympathetic noise. "I know you were all close. Why don't you both return to the meeting? We can talk this over a hearty drink."
"No, we can talk about this now," Goku pushes. "Where's Vegeta?"
"The holding cells, most likely. Although, one can't be too sure with all the extra security restrictions in lieu of today's meeting. Oh—Oh, where are you both go—? Boys, the cells are off-limits! You cannot turn up at your own whim."
"You watch us," snarls Piccolo. "Goku, the cells are in the basement level of—."
"You need an access card," interrupts Clow. "You can't just—!"
"I'll blow the entire place up!"
Clow manages to keep pace. "It's been constructed with concentrated sheenks. There is no forcing your way in. Let us return—."
"Why was Vegeta arrested?" demands Goku, cutting him off. "We're supposed to be your guests, right?"
"Really… I implore you to see truth, despite your friendship. With the crimes Vegeta committed during his service in the Frost Empire, the committee and our newly elected leader, Chairman Cace, couldn't allow Vegeta his continued freedom. Didn't you see with Ytvl that the Frost Empire is not only something they serve, but something that is ingrained into them? They are condemned. They will not bring any fortune to our cause."
"He's a person!"
"Goku, he murdered millions. His execution will serve justice."
They stop, horrified. "What… did you say?"
Clow takes a breath. "Really. You weren't supposed to find out this way."
"Clow!"
The surrounding synchronization of firearms being lifted indicates that they are no longer alone, that they have been encircled in a small, non-maneuverable room.
"I think… we all should calm down," Clow continues, his smile thin and not nearing his eyes. "I think… you boys should return to the meeting and enjoy in our celebrations."
"And I think you're crazy if you think we'll let you hurt Vegeta."
"Well, that would be a shame," Clow says, simpering. "Because we believe to have a lead into your son's case. Our researchers have found a saiyan youngling to have been spotted eastwards of the Frost Empire's factory communities, only just last year. We think him to be your so—."
"You're lying," Goku bites out, unable to catch his tongue.
"Gok—."
"Dangling information in my face won't work anymore. Ytvl tried it and that got him nowhere, too." And besides that, Goku knows that Gohan wasn't eastwards last year. He was in the South. They're definitely lying. They're trying to string him along—again.
Several triggers are audibly pulled, and after a moment, Piccolo lays a palm over Goku's arm.
"We'll listen to your information."
"But, Piccolo—."
"Goku." His eyes are intense. "Think about Gohan. They have information about him. Don't you think we should at least hear them out?"
It's a purposeful tone and as Goku tries to figure out the intention, his body loses tension. Piccolo wants Goku to trust him, and so he nods, just once, glaring around the small army of men that's formed a halo around them.
Clow is brightened by this—or so, he at least appears to be, bringing his hands together, pristine teeth in smile above. "Yes… I'm sure when you take a moment to think this over properly, Goku, you'll come to understand how Cilo only has your and the universes' best interests in mind. I promise, we are not the bad guys. We are the future.
"…Now, shall we return to the meeting?"
It's like a procession, being led down the corridors and back to the meeting room. Goku almost feels like a criminal, if not for remembering that the real criminal here is Vegeta. Is he okay? They're not torturing him, right? He wants to ask why Cilo has betrayed them in such a way—wasn't Goku doing good? He was helping them collect recruits from all over the universe. Why wasn't this enough? Cilo, as a result, was supposed to help find and capture Gohan, not imprison Vegeta!
Regardless, Goku and Piccolo behave for the rest of the meeting, which just includes the "higher ups" and the new chairmen walking around individual tables, raising a toast to Cilo's success and exchanging pleasantries. When they reach Goku and Piccolo's table, Goku finally manages to get a good, close-up look at Cace. Is he really the same person that watched over Gohan at the Youth Program? Did he or does he work for the Frost Empire? What sort of person is he? Is he someone Goku will be working with or against?
Cace isn't someone who smiles easily. His face must have been branded neutral from birth because he wears emptiness like a veil, regarding Goku with the same level of emotion as someone might a tree or a park bench. It's only when Clow personally introduces Goku by name does a flicker of something more cross his cold, dead features.
It's unnerving. This time, when he looks at Goku, it's as if he's not seeing Goku there, as if he's looking through him, past him perhaps to something only he can envision. A hand offers out and Goku unwisely takes it. It's ice cold to the touch.
"I've heard a lot about you," Cace says diplomatically.
"I can't say the same," Goku replies, unable to help himself.
Cace actually smiles—smirks, really—at this. "It must be quite the shock to witness such a change within the Cilo family, even if you haven't been a part of it for very long. Whiplash, perhaps."
There is a squeeze of Goku's hand, and that's when Goku recognizes a man sizing him up. His eyes start from the toes, climbing to the face and settling there for an uncomfortable length of time. As if stung, Goku releases the hand, suddenly feeling tainted.
"Have you met many saiyans?" Goku feels his lips say, his words slow.
Cace grows amused even though his face doesn't change. Goku can sense the subtle shift about him. It's at this moment that Goku understands his own intense dislike of this man.
"I've met a few." He looks down, crow's feet crinkling with pleasure. When he reconnects with Goku, a cool breeze chills Goku to the bone. "Mostly… half breeds."
Oh. Oh.
In the chill, Goku's entire body grows numb.
"And Vegeta," Piccolo speedily inserts before Goku spouts something he shouldn't. "There's been a misunderstanding, perhaps, with taking him prisoner. Vegeta has only been an asset to Cilo's cause."
Cace doesn't turn away from Goku. "Perhaps... It is to be seen," he eventually replies, slapping a hand against Goku's arm. "Well, what an honour it was to meet you, Goku. I'm sure I'll paths will cross again soon."
Hadn't Pyrak once cited Overseer Cace as the reason for a great loss of young life at the Youth Program? Cruel, over-bearing Overseer Cace. The man who had pushed Gohan. Pushed him until he broke over and over. The hands playing with broken soldiers.
Goku can't breathe. He's so encumbered with hatred that it could be vomiting from his ears, from his nose and mouth and even eyes. By the time he's regained himself, Cace has already ventured over to the neighbouring table.
"It's him, isn't it?" he asks Piccolo in a whisper.
Piccolo doesn't reply. The silence says all it needs to.
In the background, Clow and a cohort burst into song. They sing well into the night.
"We can't be brash," Piccolo tells Goku very, very quietly. It's barely audible. "We needed to play their game a little. Save face. Vegeta's life could very well be on the line."
"You don't know that. It could be that Vegeta isn't even trapped here," Goku mumbles back. "How can we know for sure they even have him? I can't sense him at all. Maybe he left."
Piccolo considers this, back pressed against the wall of Goku's private room. They'd already checked for hidden cameras and microphones, finding nothing. But they can't be too careful now, and so they try to remain as quiet as they can without resorting to charades.
"Vegeta talks a big game but he'd never abandon you for no good reason."
Goku laughs, dark. It would kill Vegeta to hear that said out loud. Still, the knowledge that Goku's surrounded himself with loyalty is touching.
"I don't plan on abandoning him, either," Goku replies, empowered.
"That said, we need to be careful ourselves. Cace took an interest in you."
"He did?"
"Yes. There was a lot of tension."
"I didn't even notice."
"You didn't notice your own dislike?" Piccolo snorts. "Really, Son."
"Oh, I noticed that. For the first time, he's someone I really want to fight—to… hurt?—in order to make him pay. He's clearly not a good guy."
"I felt the same. Although, we are biased, considering we know his connections to the Youth Program."
"He's definitely the same person, right?"
"Right."
Goku groans. "Ugh… Why has Cilo made him their leader?"
"Corruption."
"That's awful."
Piccolo sighs and they sink into silence.
But they don't have time for a lack of productivity. Goku eyeballs his friend. "So… What's next?"
"Vegeta is being held prisoner here—."
"Supposedly."
"Supposedly. And as for Gohan, he was last spotted in the South, back on the planet that holds the Southern Capitol. But who knows where he is now? He hasn't been televised since the Saiyan execution. Do you think he could have accompanied Hailer in his attack on Cooler?"
"Yeah, if he's as high up in the ranks as Clow said he is." Goku massages his temples. His brain hurts. "Does that mean that Gohan could be in centralized territory right now? If Cace is a puppet-leader-person like you said he is, does that mean Cace will have direct ties with Hailer and Gohan?"
"I doubt a deal could be struck, if that's where you're going with this."
"It's not," Goku spits out, disgusted at the idea of it. "I'd never work with someone like Cace."
"Good." Piccolo pushes away from the wall, looking towards the door, as if with the fear that the soldiers from earlier could burst right through it. "You know this means we're technically in enemy territory."
"You think Cace will turn on us?"
"He already has with Vegeta. It's a matter of time."
"So, we need to leave," Goku summarizes. "What about finding Gohan?"
"He's back working for Hailer, as we've come to learn. For what reason Gohan's subjected himself to that again, I have no idea. He also has the namekian dragon balls stashed somewhere. I doubt he's managed to summon Porunga because planet Namek has had no such visitor. To summon the dragon, Gohan would need both a lot of space and a namekian translator. And the password, of course. If I had to guess, I'd say that Gohan hasn't yet had the opportunity to attempt the summoning."
"I bet he's stuck working for Hailer," Goku mulls over.
"That's a fair assessment."
"Poor Gohan. He's a prisoner again."
"Which is actually good for us. Don't look at me like that. Think about it. Gohan can't get up to his usual tricks if Hailer has him on a short leash. He'll be more predictable this way. Knowing that, we can make informed decisions on how to reach him."
"Right. The main problem right now is—."
"Vegeta."
"—Vegeta."
It's not easy to come up with a plan, mostly on the basis that they are down one teammate, and it's that teammate who always has the most to say about the inner workings of the Frost Empire. Naturally, all their discussion mounts to very little when, that evening, the basement level of Blue Bridge explodes with very angry, very Vegeta-like energy. Goku and Piccolo hadn't chanced sleeping so they weren't awoken by the fireworks and are up and ready before the earthquake ends.
They pounce out of the room, unsurprised to find guards stationed opposite.
"By order of the high—."
Goku makes quick work of them, knocking both out. After resting them against the door, guns removed, Goku follows Piccolo down a plummeting staircase.
"Did you grab everything?" asks Piccolo, referencing the keys to the ship.
"Yeah."
They race along and into the main foyer of Blue Bridge to find that it's not as they left it. Large lumps of ore are gathered in mountainous piles, invading the walkway entirely. When Goku nears it, he suddenly feels drained.
"Sheenks," he realizes, winded.
It's not like his first exposure to it, back when Gohan had used it in the tavern in use for an ambush. This sheenks feels like it's sucking him dry,—a vampire of energy—forcing him to take a step back just to catch a breath. Is this the concentrated sheenks Clow was telling them about? Where did they get this? It's overpowering. Surely, if they had it lying around, they would have already used it against Hailer and Cooler.
"The mines," Piccolo remembers. "They have connections to sheenks mining."
"I thought that was Hailer's thing…"
Piccolo hums, his conclusion obvious.
Goku groans. "Damn it."
"Step away from it, Goku. You're becoming pale."
Goku does, immediately feeling lighter for it. "Why is it here?" he wonders aloud, and then turns on the spot, gazing down empty hallways. "And where is everyone? It's never this quiet."
The floor rumbles. There is another spike of Vegeta's energy.
They take off southwards, on the hunt for stairs. Worryingly, Sheenks lines all main hallways, making Goku wish he'd taken the guards' firearms just in case his ki decides not to cooperate. He keeps a healthy distance from the ore, pressing against the walls, and at one point, destroying an especially big cut of rockery, just not to near it.
As they go, Goku notices wall mounted television screens flash to life. An orange screen blinkers with what Goku construes as the symbol for an earthquake being shown.
When Vegeta's energy prickles a final time, Piccolo snarls. "Does no-one else feel that?"
"They can't sense like we can," Goku reminds him, equally stressed. "But that doesn't mean there should be nobody around. Weren't they celebrating tonight?"
Goku and Piccolo had left at a respectable time, but it'd still been considered early by most accounts. What time is it now? It's not even that late. After midnight, perhaps one? What sort of time monitoring system to they use here? Goku thought it was similar to Earth's.
"There aren't any stairs leading downwards."
"Should we just break through the flooring?"
Piccolo doesn't like the idea. "That's not exactly subtle."
"Neither is Vegeta's ki going haywire!"
"There were stairs back where the meeting was. They were guarded but I'm sure we'll be able to overcome that obstacle."
Blue Bridge isn't an easy place to navigate, as though it'd been built to confuse those unfamiliar with its design. They become lost several times in what Goku comes to see as a dead labyrinth. They encounter nobody, not even a single guard, which is weird considering all the effort they put into restricting Goku and Piccolo earlier this evening. Finally, they manage to walk the familiar grounds of the wide, open forum that takes them to where the meeting occurred.
The doors push open.
They halt.
Death.
"What...?"
Everywhere, the remains of those he'd just earlier shared the night with lay, spread amongst the spread.
Goku recalls the mess they'd found at the Youth Program.
Unbalanced, he touches down on the table he'd been sat at.
He recognizes this modus operandi. Instead of babes and their nurses, now, the bodies of the able are strewn throughout the room. There are figures slumped in celebration, eyes wide with jubilation and heads buried in dinner plates brimming with a delicious roast.
Clow's face is frozen in laugh, eyes dilated. His wine is slopped along his purple robes, his body an angel in the mass of other men.
This is different to the sleeping women and children. These deaths had been sprung upon them. They hadn't simply gone to sleep.
But... But there aren't any injuries. How did this happen? Goku doesn't see anything strange ab—oh... Oh, what's this?
Several men have congealing blood at the corner of their lips. Sprayed and fountains of red discolour the table.
"Poison," Piccolo decides, coming to stand by Goku's side.
Goku stares over the depleted carcasses across each table. "The roast."
"Or most likely, the wine," Piccolo argues, "Cace had been going around each table, raising a toast. You didn't drink at all, did you?"
Goku shook his head. Vegeta told him not to.
"Good. Me neither."
"Why would they do this? Who did this?"
Just then, from beyond the wide windows that overlook the scene of mass murder, a lone space pod fires off into the distance, the scent of Vegeta trailing behind.
About twenty to third pods follow him in chase.
There isn't time to react. The doors throw open and Piccolo snatches Goku, pulling him aside, behind the curtains and towards the door leading to the lowering stairs. Piccolo and Goku already keep their ki low out of practice, but now they are especially mindful as the room begins to fill with soldiers dressed in blue. They line up in perfect uniform with not a boot out of step. Sheenks is carried in abundance, and because of that, Goku feels his body slowly power down.
From the heart of this congregation, pours none other than Hailer himself. Goku's seen pictures, of both him and Cooler, and whilst the resemblance to Frieza had been striking in paper, it's in person that Goku is able to make those connections. There is an inherent evil about him. A cruel flare that has his lips twist in amusement as he surveys his handwork.
As he ambles slowly, the fur cape trails in obedience. All in the room watch him with devotion. His presence is commanding. His aura holds a quiet aggression, forbidding Goku to tear his attention away. He is a towering, broad sort of creature, reminding Goku of the many oxen he's seen grazing upon the fields of Earth. In contrast to Frieza, he is a mountain.
Goku feels his mouth go dry. This… This is power.
But physicality isn't Hailer's definitive trait. No. Goku can see, beyond brawn, Hailer is an intelligent man. He has outlived his brothers through wit alone.
Hailer clicks his fingers and a sorry looking man jogs forward, tray in hand. "My lord," he says, offering a wine glass. Presumably, this one isn't poisoned because Hailer drinks from it. He downs all of it and then throws the glass, smashing it into the mound of bodies.
"Cace has performed well, as to be expected. The higher up committee is dead," Hailer says. He doesn't have a Southern accent like Goku had expected, with it being a neutral, vacant drawl that makes the hair on the back of his neck stand to attention. Whatever he says next is in the Southern language, completely incomprehensible to Goku, of course, as he talks at length. It sounds like a speech.
"Repossessing society with violence makes a heroic group not," Hailer breathes out in common tongue, "Cilo believed themselves superior above the Frost Empire because they believed they had the right in deconstructing the system. Without the system, life would be chaos, and without death, life would be empty. What do you think, Captain?"
W-What?
How hadn't Goku noticed him before?
He feels his knees weaken. Piccolo's hold on him is the only thing keeping him back.
"Poignant... my lord."
Gohan…
He's filthy, with black stains that only comes from the lick of fire. His armour is cracked and broken, and the (red?) spandex suit beneath is torn, revealing painful looking injuries that could have only come from burning. There is no doubt that Gohan has been in the thick of it. His paleness is marred black and blue, and where there isn't blood, there is soot.
Hailer talks to him in the Southern language again, and Goku hears Cace's name being said—and then, worse of all, he hears his own.
Gohan doesn't flinch. He stares downwards.
"Status report," Hailer suddenly demands.
From the back, another soldier speaks. "The Super Saiyan cannot be located. His ship remains but he may have taken one of the pods. Because of the altercation with Vegeta, it cannot be determined how many pods there were before the destruction of the shipping station."
A shadow of something dark crosses Hailer's expression. "The pods?" he whispers, "Why would a dead man take a pod? Did he not partake in the meeting?"
"Yes, but reports suggest he didn't consume the food nor the beverage."
At that, Goku urgently hopes to see a reaction from Gohan. Nothing.
"A non-gluttonous saiyan?" mocks Hailer lowly, his scrutiny returning on Gohan. "How rare they are."
Hailer knows.
He knows everything, doesn't he?
Goku must have moved because Piccolo's hold on him tightens. He's restricted. Trapped. Gohan is just over there and, for some reason, he isn't allowed to retrieve him. Should Goku punch Piccolo in his stupid, green head and fly over there (should the sheenks allow it)? Should he just transform and challenge Hailer? Would Gohan become involved? Just how strong is Gohan anyway? There are a lot of unknowns—which is why Piccolo is holding him back. He's not like Goku. He wouldn't take the same risks.
Just as Goku goes to wrench his arm free, Piccolo whispers in his ear. "Look."
Begrudgingly, Goku does look, eyes landing on the fragments of glass where Piccolo had gestured.
"Feel," he next instructs.
It's not easy to clear his mind with how much his heart infiltrates it.
Gohan…
He's right there…
Sharp nails cut into flesh. Piccolo's impatience is a weapon.
Feel.
More than wants, he needs Goku to feel.
And when he does, more than anything, confusion replaces the anguish.
From the splintered glass, Goku senses… life. Thousands of equally, well, splintered lives, compressed in the dregs of juice.
What in the...? Why can he sense wine?
Hailer is communicating in a foreign tongue once more, his energy a dense fog that bleeds across the room as he instructs his men. One by one, they take leave, until only Hailer and Gohan remains. They speak lowly for a short time before Hailer, too, steps over his killings towards the exit.
"Let us go, Thirty-Two," he says, doorframe in hand. "For your loyal services, I promise a long, undisturbed sleep. You have but only one more task to do before I can allow you your retirement."
"Yes, my lord."
Fury and nausea threaten in Goku's throat. His hands clench around the curtain's fraying fabric, pausing only when Gohan turns for a moment of privacy.
But, of course, Goku sees it.
As Gohan looks over the bodies, something curious happens. There is a breath released that had been held for far too long, and then…
The first sapling in snow sprouts, green against white.
Gohan... smiles.
A real, beautiful smile.
It's painful. Goku senses relief, and he smiles with him.
Gohan…
And then, dark eyes close. When they open, the cloud of indifference has returned.
The captain retreats into the shadow of his lordship.