The Three Legendary Saiyans.
Chapter 91: Dark Premonition.
"This is where your Time Patrol operates? Its an entire city… and why is the city shaped like an Hourglass?" Raijin shouted in amazement at the magnificent city laid before his eyes, the vast range of dome and tall buildings no doubt home to thousands of Agents, Time Machines identical to their own floating into the violet sky and vanishing into The Time Gate's, but one thing he noticed was that the city itself was shaped like a giant hourglass.
"Universal symbol for the passage of time?" Future-Mai chimed cheerfully; smiling widely while Future-Trunks flew The Time Machine though he clearly wasn't going for a descent when The Port came within view.
"As good a guess as any… I'll take it!" Raijin chimed with excitement; his voice sounding excited as the green-grass strewn planet at the very centre of the city became visible while The Time Machine that The Trio sat within flew straight over the ports on a path straight for the small planet sitting at the core of the city.
"Umm… I think you missed the port" Raijin glanced back at the port long after they'd already flown past it on their path towards the small green planet at the core of the hourglass-shaped city that reminded him greatly of The World of The Supreme Kai's but only smaller.
"We're not going to the port; we're going straight to Lady Chronoa herself" Future-Trunks spoke calmly; having known that they'd be meeting with their Leader from the beginning but hid the fact from Raijin solely to keep him focussed on the mission but now that they'd succeeded it was time to reveal that information.
For a full minute Raijin did nothing but simply stare at Future-Trunks with a look of dumbfounded shock; staying silent for the remainder of the flight and not paying any attention to the vast array of Time Patrol Agents staring up at them as they flew overhead, the Agents ranging from Humans, Majin's, some members of The Changeling Race that Frieza heralded from, Races that Raijin wouldn't have ever known existed watched for even some Demons akin to Demigra were agents but Raijin kept quiet until The Time Machine came to a landed on the rolling green grass of the small planet where the Supreme Kai of Time: Chronoa herself stood in wait with a beaming smile.
As The Time Machine's canopy opened; Future-Trunks and Future-Mai got out from their machine first and gave a salute before Raijin climbed out, his worn-out and badly beaten-up body feeling somewhat lighter once his bare feet touched the grass, the burns on his shoulders immediately feeling soothed by the presence of The Time Kai.
"Supreme Kai of Time: Chronoa, I report that Demigra has been defeated and slain, The Altered Timeline continues without further disruption" Future-Trunks spoke from his salute; speaking clearly though Chronoa seemed far too relaxed for such formalities, but Raijin knew Future-Trunks too well to figure we would maintain all formality.
"I wouldn't say that The Alternate Timeline will continue unaltered considering the actions of your friend… however the events I've foreseen may prove to be more beneficial than we first thought" Chronoa spoke; opening her hands and projecting an image of The Timestream they'd floated down during their travelled, the crimson flow turning to green indicating that the great danger that Demigra had presented had indeed come to an end.
Even Raijin breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Alternate-Gohan's and Alternate-Piccolo's safety was assured even with Cress having survived the long night.
"If I may say so, I feel the mission could have gone much better if not for the interference of Cress and the inhabitants of That Timeline, the mission could have been executed more efficiently" Future-Trunks began to speak; reflecting on their mission with a pinch of salt and voicing his thoughts on the deterrents that had affected the time between their arrival and the appearance of Demigra.
"I also share my comrade's sentiment, though Demigra only showed himself after Cress' defeat… I feel the covertly assassinating him may have been surficial incentive to force him into the open" Future-Mai spoke up; sharing in Future-Trunks' sentiment on the havoc caused prior to Demigra's death.
"I am sure the mission could have gone better, but regardless of those sentiments… the mission was still a success" Chronoa spoke solemnly; bringing her hands together as she walked closer to a domed building next to her homestead, her eyes never leaving the trio stood before her.
Standing behind his two friends, Raijin couldn't help but feel as if they were blaming him for how much had happened in the hours they'd been present in That Timeline.
"Now; I'm sure you have some questions for me… don't you Raijin?" Chronoa spoke with her tone changing to one of wisdom; her lips curling into a knowing smile as she stared solely at Raijin with an expression telling that she already knew exactly what questions he was going to ask for answers.
"Chronoa; since you are a God yourself I need to ask you this… how exactly did I enter The Omen Stage of Ultra Instinct?" Raijin spoke carefully so not to offend the deity; having learnt how to speak to Gods from Whis when in the presence of Beerus but The Kai's tended to be more forgiving, posing his question though Chronoa stared at him with interest when mentioning The Omen Stage.
"That is a very good question Raijin, and the answer is that because Cress severed your Tail; your Animal Instinct ability was dulled which was what blocked you from entered the state in the past or more specifically… during The Tournament of Power" Chronoa answered almost instantly; speaking as soon as Raijin stopped speaking but giving a very curt answer though her tone implied she already knew of Raijin's ability of Animal Instinct but also revealing that she had watched The Tournament of Power remotely.
"But when Goku did it the first time it was after he's been exposed to the energy from his own Spirit Bomb" Raijin spoke again unfazed by the fact she'd watched the colossal battle; briefly explaining Goku's awakening to his own, even Future-Trunks facially expressed interest in the process to awaken such a strength.
"Again an interesting question; I believe you were able to achieve the Omen Stage because to endured Cress' Black Dawn to defend that Timeline's versions of Son Gohan and The Namekian named Piccolo, because Cress' energy is so similar to your own then it functioned the same as Goku's Spirit Bomb did in that moment" Chronoa opened her hand; casting a holographic projection screen out from her open palm and played the scene of both Goku and Raijin emerging in The Omen Stage, Raijin stared at the display with a discerning eye for the details of the silver light in his own eyes and the silver streaks in his hair.
Raijin stared blankly for a moment as his mind was joining the lines to the dots in his head as he realised that for himself; clapping his hands together that enduring The Black Dawn had been a literal all-or-nothing gamble that had paid off in his favour, but now he wondered if he'd inadvertently given Cress another future-power-up for Alternate-Gohan to face to either suffer crushing defeat or struggle to overcome.
"If I can ask this; what happens next in The Cress Timeline? I have more questions than I can list, Cress continues to live though being incarcerated forever; Gohan and Piccolo are the only Z Fighter's left to fight Frieza and his cohorts, I want to know what happens next!" Raijin begged for an answer to his questions; wanting to know what became of those he met and the others he saw within the walls of that Prison City.
"That is something I cannot tell you Raijin… only time will tell what becomes of that world but you have had a hand in shaping the future for those living in that Timeline; so it is impossible to tell what becomes of those still living for their paths are as unknown as any other, bit one thing I can tell you is that your interference has prevented the deadly fates that would have befallen Alternate-Gohan and Alternate-Piccolo at Cress' hand" Chronoa answered softly; understanding his desire to know what became of Alternate-Gohan, Alternate-Piccolo, and Cress but the fact that Raijin had prevented their deaths brought him solace.
"I think I understand… I'm sorry for asking so many questions" Raijin slowly bowed his head before rising back to his feet, noticing that The Masked Saiyan watching him from the archway of the door of the domed building despite not being there only moments ago.
"Your concern is understandable for those who you met and saw however their futures are their own to pave, but I do have a reward for you and your efforts with a glimpse upon the pages of The Future Scroll" Chronoa answered again; her mind fighting the temptation of the events beginning to transpire following the defeat and arrest of Cress.
"A reward? I must decline your offer…" Raijin stood stunned at the notion of a reward when he'd knowingly affected the future of a Timeline by violating Chronoa's own rules, even Future-Trunks and Future-Mai appeared surprised by the emergence of The Future Scroll: something even they as Agents were not permitted to gaze upon.
"Raijin! Don't reject this! Its exceptionally rare that Lady Chronoa rewards anybody outside of The Time Patrol and this reward is The Future Scroll!" Future-Trunks leapt to Raijin's side, urging him to accept the reward when the last time someone had been gifted such a grand opportunity was long before he'd been born.
"Please Raijin; please accept your reward and cast your gaze upon The Future Scroll" Chronoa spoke; gesturing Raijin to the Scroll she'd held out for him to see, allowing Raijin to walk over and past Future-Trunks and Future-Mai as well as The Mysterious Saiyan to see what the scroll had to show him only for the page of the scroll to be blank though the papyrus to shimmer with an emerging image.
Raijin stared down into the once blank scroll that had been laid before him; an image spreading out across the paper until the full image was printed upon the scroll's surface until the image itself burst free from the papyrus until it enveloped him within its premonition represented by pulling him into the image itself, a large dark chamber with little light except the frigid coldness kept within tall and cold metallic floors and walls where only a single solitary figure limply hung suspended by a myriad of wires and threads that had punctured the flesh of a future and dead version of Raijin himself, Raijin stared at his lifeless corpse as in the darkness he could just make out the shape of a disembodied face staring out through the shadows with a single red eye and cheeks curling into a victorious grin followed by a shrill synthesised but familiar laughter sounding like it was coming from multiple sources before being returned back onto the Planet of Chronoa.
Stepping backwards after bearing witness to his own death; Raijin felt cold and drenched in sweat after hearing the cold shrill laughter and seeing his own lifeless body, still able to see the image when closing his eyes but only the warm and friendly hand of Future-Trunks and Future-Mai touching his shoulders snapped him back to reality.
"What was that? It felt so real… it was real? Wasn't it?" Raijin spoke with an extremely noticeable fear in his trembling voice, the vision displaying his own death at the hands of someone who seemed so familiar yet he couldn't quite recall who the face peering out of the darkness was.
"What you saw is as you have been witness to; this is the fate that awaits you in the war that shall take place in three years, if Earth is to survive this looming war then you must avoid this fate at all costs" Chronoa spoke with concern; her eyes telling that she knew more than she was letting on but the premotion was Raijin's to bear and solely his to overcome if he was to be victorious in this looming war.
"What happens if I fail? And I die?" Raijin asked; his voice still trembling from the fear of the vision, the laughing voice seeming so familiar but the synthesized delivery made it harder to place but he still felt cold at seeing his own corpse.
"Then Earth, all you know and love and even your Universe shall disappear, collapsing in on itself by a great catastrophe" Chronoa spoke with mourning; her expression glum and saddened when it came of the future war that Earth faced if Raijin were to fail to prevent his fate.
"Raijin; when the flames of war break out then you can depend on the two of us to fight by your side!" Future-Trunks instantly stepped forwards; placing his hand on Raijin's shoulder and giving his solemn word and pledge of support after all that Raijin had done for him during the crisis of The Androids, Cell and Zamasu.
"After all; I owe you for saving us from Zamasu and Black, and choosing to stay with us when you could have escaped our Timeline" Future-Mai stepped forward, adding herself to the reinforcements that Raijin could rely on in the coming future war.
"I understand… and thank you" Raijin gave an appreciative smile to his two friends and comrades, standing full and tall even though his hands were still visibly shaking from the horrifying vision.
"Now that you have been rewarded for your efforts; I must send you back with only the knowledge that you have been gifted, farewell Saiyan Raijin of Namek and of Earth" Chronoa spoke softly; gesturing to her right as with a snap of her fingers summoned the emergence of a Time Gate, the silvery construct opening a void-like portal to Capsule Corp at the very moment Raijin had left in The Time Machine.
With a quick bow of reverence to the Kai of Time; Raijin limped through The Time Gate with all of his injuries and burns with The Time Gate quickly closing behind him, Future-Trunks and Future-Mai both giving a respectful bow as they too left to return to their shared home to rest and share a meal before leaving on another mission.
Now left with only the company of The Masked Saiyan; Chronoa holding The Future Scroll in her hands as she met the stare of her compatriot, "I'm sure you have something to say…".
"Are you sure it was wise to show him that fate? Mortals with that kind of knowledge tend to suffer worse fates than death, since the last Mortal you rewarded with such knowledge went raving mad trying to prevent his future" The Masked Saiyan remarked with a gruff tone; his voice giving away his displeasure at allowing a stranger to so much as glance at The Future Scroll when all he saw was his own death, additionally speaking on another who'd been driven to insanity by that knowledge.
"I regret to say… that fate is not the only one that may befall Raijin in this coming war, a much worse fate lies in store for him and his Universe if Earth's Special Forces lose this war" Chronoa answered with sadness; staring down at The Future Scroll in her hands when the untimely fates of so many who'd gained knowledge had all suffered instead of being saved and yet she chose to make that gamble again.
"I see… allow him to know the lesser of two evils" The Masked Saiyan spoke glumly; his tone indicating that he was frowning behind his mask when all Raijin had seen was only the first of many possible deaths in this future war.
Meanwhile in The Cress Timeline.
Several weeks after being arrested by The Galactic Patrol, sitting quietly on the inside of a dark and cramped cell aboard The Galactic Prison was none other than Cress, Cress sat incarcerated in an all-black prison garb and with both his hands and feet chained to the walls with thick chains including Energy Inhibitors to prevent him from using his powers to rebel or even attempt an escape when even that would be foolhardy with the automatic guns lining the corridors of the Cell Blocks all programmed to fire when cells were opened without authorization, the only sound coming to his ears were the cries of feigned innocence from other prisoners.
With his mind deep in thought at what he'd witnessed only a few weeks prior, his plans to murder Frieza and usurp his throne for himself had been foiled and instead used to rid The Universe of that tyrant's evil once and for all, but what puzzled him the most was that silver power at the end of their battle for he'd never seen anything like it in his years of exploring the Galaxy.
Barely glancing up from his thoughts as a slate in his cell's door opened up and a tray with his sole daily meal was pushed through, a bowl of thin, watery soup, a single piece of bread and a cup of water; Cress grimaced at the sight of the meagre portion when he'd partaken of grand banquets alongside Lord Frieza and other prestigious persons who co-ruled Frieza's Empire with his thoughts halted when a voice called out to him.
"Do you desire your freedom? Or maybe your rightful throne in which to reign over The North Quadrant of this Universe?" Spoke a sultry and feminine voice; unlike any voice that Cress had heard before but the offer of a throne in which to rule sounded appealing to him.
"Who are you? I don't take kindly to strange voices making promises they cannot keep!" Cress demanded with a harsh tone; speaking loudly to a disembodied voice of someone he did not know nor be willing to trust when only given someone's word.
"Yes… I suppose not, however I and my five comrades offer you a place amongst us, this choice is yours to make but if you'd rather rot in a cell until your life expires which will likely be any day now; The Galactic Patrol doesn't keep high-profile prisoners alive for long…"
"Quite the quandary, a pitiful death under an executioner's gun or reigning over a Galaxy with these six strangers… I suppose I'll choose you!" Cress shrugged his shoulders when he was certainly facing execution if he stayed in his cell, vocally agreeing to the offer of the mysterious voice when the shadow of a guard passed by his door.
"You chose well Cress; I look forward to meeting you in-person" Spoke the sultry feminine voice; her tone sounding more approving and eager to personally meet the infamous Saiyan before going silent and leaving Cress to wait for whatever was to come.
"Prisoner Number 137: Cress! Seat yourself back down or Guards will open fire!" Spoke Jaco's pompous voice from the other side of the cell door; the sound of Plasma Rifle's being primed from beyond Jaco's irritating voice caught Cress' ears.
"Like I care you pretentious prick! No constraint you pathetic Galactic Patrol Officers can hold me for long!" Cress shouted back through the slit in the door; ignoring the unmistakable sound of cartridges being loaded into Live-Ammo Rifles as well as the Plasma Rifles on the other wall of Cress' Cell was blown open and pulled out into the infinite vacuum of Space where an enormous sphere-shaped Spacecraft floated in Space while an Airlock Corridor extended out towards him.
Cress stood grinning and unfazed by the pull of Space's vacuum nor the rapid loss of oxygen while the chains restraining him shook in the rapid collapse as a Spacecraft larger than any ship owned by The Frieza Force connected an Airlock Corridor to his Cell, his chains snapping instantly as Cress stepped out from his Cell and into the Ship where his new path to a throne awaited.
Author's Note: Cress will return in Dragonball Z: The Cress Timeline.
