Allegiance - Part 2 (see part 1 for notes)


The day was just dawning on the planet known to its inhabitants only as
'Earth'; bright rays of sunlight were stretching across the land like
fingers with their warming touch.  Birds were calling out their
greetings in the growing light, other animals just stirring from
slumber...

At the center of a small clearing the embers of a small campfire still
glowed faintly, in a doomed battle with the spreading blanket of
sunlight.  Two figures were visible at the fireside; one was sitting
with knees drawn in close to his chest, the other still recumbent,
wrapped in sleep.

"Is that him, then?"  The whisper was heard in the depths of the shadows
beyond the fire.  "The one lying down?"

"Of course it's him!  He looks exactly like his father."

"Who's that with him, then?  Not Saiyajin - not with that hair."

"Who cares?  We don't need that one - just *him*."

"Alive and in good condition, don't forget."

"Heh.  I could take them both in my sleep!"

"Don't be so stupid!  You *know* who his father is, and what *he* could
do!"

"Yeah, but this is his *kid*, not him!"

"So?  We're being paid *not* to take chances.  We'll do it as he said."

"How boring."

"Do you want to live or not?"

The whispered conversation died away.  The two boys who were its object
did not stir, one preoccupied with his own thoughts, the other oblivious
in slumber.

A small click - easily mistaken for an insect - and the air in the
clearing began to thicken, a sickly sweet aroma taking hold.  The pale
haired boy soon became aware of the danger, his head snapping up at the
first hint of that strange scent - but by the time he reached his
sleeping companion it was already too late.  He collapsed on top of his
friend, consciousness lost to the potent drug.

Several shapes moved out of the shadows, coalescing into vaguely
humanoid figures and surrounding the two helpless boys lying prone on
the ground before them.  They were all wearing masks, sparing themselves
from the effects of the fumes.

One snorted in disgust.  "That was just too easy.  We should have fought
them instead.  It would have at least given us *some* entertainment." 
He nudged the unresponsive bodies with his foot, as the haze began to
clear.

"Knock it off!  He's wanted undamaged, remember!" A second masked figure
rolled the pale haired boy off to one side and hoisted the objective of
their mission over one burly shoulder.

"Hn, but what about the other one?  We can wake him up and have a little
fun..."

"I doubt he'd be worth it.  Probably a native - and they're a pathetic
species.  Waste of effort."

"It'd be better than nothing!  This whole mission has been a waste of
our -"

A ki-blast cut him off mid-sentence, sending him flying backwards.  The
others spun around to see several Saiyajin approaching at a rapid rate.

"Kuso!  Let's get out of here, now!"

The masked kidnappers fled the clearing, hotly pursued by the Saiyajin
warriors, until they managed at last to reach their spaceship, hidden in
a valley several kilometers away.  Within moments they were headed into
space, narrowly avoiding the ki-blasts sent after them by the
unsuccessful pursuers.

"Why couldn't we have fought them?!"  The speaker threw his mask to the
floor in frustration, revealing a blue face with slit-like eyes.  "It
would have been better than just turning tail and running..."

"We have a mission to complete - if we want to get paid, that is.  Go
back and get yourself killed if you want.  One less person to share the
rewards is fine by me!"

The others laughed, causing the blue face to turn purple in rage.

"Ah, cool it, both of you," another of the kidnappers told them as he
unmasked.  "The amount he's putting up is enough for us all, easily."

"True.  I wonder what he wants with the kid, anyway?"

"Maybe kill him for going over to the Prince's side..."

"Don't be an idiot.  He wanted him unhurt, remember."

"So he can have more fun himself?"

"Who cares?  All that matters is that we get paid."

The mercenaries settled down for the journey to their meeting place with
their employer.

***********

<Hn...What..?>  Goten froze as he noted the surface beneath him.  <Hard
and cold...  Definitely *not* my own bed...  So where...?>  Memories of
the previous day slowly drifted up to his sleep-mazed conscious mind. 
<Oh.  Trunks.  That dimension-thingamajig.  I'm in another world.>  He
started to stretch, but stiffened once more as his hands slid across the
floor.  <I don't remember the ground being so smooth...>  He opened his
eyes cautiously - and stared.

He was in a small, sparsely furnished room.  He himself was lying on
some kind of pallet, while the only other piece of furniture was a
simple chair.  An occupied chair.  The occupant spoke.

"Awake so soon?"  The appearance of the speaker was something of a shock
- a face much like his father's, or his own,  but placed above a body
wearing most distinctly Saiyajin-style bodysuit and armor, with a tail
tightly wrapped around his waist.

<Oh boy.  What have we landed ourselves into?>  Goten wondered as he
lifted himself into a sitting position.  <Is he this world's version of
my father?>

"Your powers of recovery indicate that you do indeed have the strength I
foresaw you as having."  The familiar-looking stranger examined him with
his scrutinizing gaze.  "That gas would have had a normal boy your age
unconscious for at least another day."

"I think you've made a mistake," Goten informed him.  "I'm not who you
think I am."  <How did I get *here*?  And what about Trunks?>

The Saiyajin laughed with genuine amusement.  "And when was the last
time you looked in a mirror, Toronipsu?  You surely can't be as blind as
your brother was!"

"My brother... blind?"  Goten inquired, distracted from his thoughts.

The Saiyajin's expression darkened.  "Yes, blind!  How else could he
possibly have followed that treacherous Prince of his, and dragging you
with him, no less!"  He broke off from his angry exclamation to lean
forward, gazing deeply into Goten's eyes.  "He convinced you, didn't
he?"

Goten blinked in confusion.  "Convinced me of what?"

"That that so-called prince would be a savior to the Saiyajin race,
instead of the cause of our ruination!"  The reply was half-snarled in
the anger that Goten could *feel* seething through the warrior before
him, as he sprung out of the chair, with fists clenched.

"'Ruination?'"  Goten asked, caught up by the sheer force of the
stranger's will.  "How do you know?"

"I have *seen* it!  Seen it with my own eyes!"  Goten followed the man
with his eyes as he paced the length of the room restlessly.

"'Seen'?"

"The future!  Did your brother tell you nothing of me?  I was cursed to
see the future, shortly after you were taken from the tank!"

<Tank?  Oh yeah - Saiyajin baby farms...>  "What have you seen?"  

The Saiyajin stopped pacing to stare at him.

"What have I seen?"  He laughed again, but this time the sound was
twisted by bitterness.  "Our people live in division already , with the
brash young fools following the *Prince* while others support his
father, the rightful King.  This division is but the start:  I have seen
our homeworld destroyed, shattered by a single blow.  I have seen the
races we have conquered rise up against us, united, to wipe out the last
vestiges of our once mighty people.  I have seen a future where the
Saiyajin are no more than a memory!"

He slammed his fist down beside Goten, his other hand gripping Goten's
shoulder, pulling him close until mere centimeters separated their
faces.  Goten met his gaze evenly, until the Saiyajin pulled back,
slowly.

"But I have also seen *you*."  The Saiyajin's voice was mush softer,
now, and touched with the faintest hints of pride.  "I have seen you
ready to strike Prince Vegeta, with power enough to do what I cannot.  I
tried.  All the powers of the universe know I *tried* - but it was not
enough.  I had not counted on Radditsu stepping between us like that. 
The blast that should have eliminated Vegeta only wounded him, killing
my son instead, and I will not get a second chance.  Vegeta is too
powerful for me now."  He paused, then narrowed his gaze.  "Do you hate
me for that?  For killing Radditsu?"

<Radditsu?  Wasn't he my uncle or something?  He called him 'son' - does
that mean *he's* my grandfather?  What was his name... Bardock?>  "Why
should I hate you for that?" 

Bardock smiled, nodding.  "I knew you'd understand.  Your brother died
well enough, despite it being for the sake of that bastard."

<Brother?  Radditsu?  Does he think I'm Tousan?  But he called me
Toro-something-or-other...>

"What happened to your tail?"  Bardock demanded, glaring at his
tail-less waist.

<My *tail*?!  Uh oh...>  "I.. ah.. lost it in a fight.  Does that
matter?" Goten hazarded.

Bardock looked at him in disbelief.  "Our tails are what gives us
strength!  How can you ask if that matters?!"

"I mean, did you *see* me with a tail in your visions?"  <If so, then
he's *definitely* not talking about me.>

The older Saiyajin frowned.  "I don't know," he admitted.

<Damn.>

"But you're still the only hope for our people," he continued.  Goten
blinked.

"What do you want me to do?"

Bardock  stared at him.  "Kill Prince Vegeta, of course."

"Hn."  <Kill Vegeta?  From what he says it's probably for the best. 
Vegeta's turned into a bastard once again...  and this time *I* get a
chance to kill him!>  He smiled at the thought, remembering that in his
own world, Vegeta had been the cause of all their problems.  <It was all
Vegeta's fault then, just as it will be now...  Only this time I can
stop him!  If he hasn't - >  He paused, a new thought occurring to him.

"What of the Legendary Saiyajin?"

"You turn to legends?"  Bardock was frowning once more.  "They won't
help us now!"

"But what if he returned?"  Goten pressed, a gleam lighting up his
eyes.  "The Legendary Super Saiyajin would be able to defeat Vegeta!"

"And just *where* do you propose we find *him*?!  You are our only hope
- and you *will* face Vegeta and confront him!  I will not permit my son
to live as  a coward!"

Goten laughed.  "But you just said I was stronger than you.  I don't
really think you have much of a choice.  But you don't have to worry. 
I'll take care of Vegeta."

Bardock nodded in relief.  "I know you will."

<*This* Vegeta will die, by *my* hand.  It's the least I can do for this
world, ridding it of him, just as Trunks - >

The smile fell from his face to be replaced by an expression of alarm.

<*What the hell's happened to Trunks?!*>

***********
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Island/3226/fanfics.htm