Bringer of Death

Android Saga - Part 1: Tales of the Future

Android Saga - Part 1: Tales of the Future 

Gohan collapsed from exhaustion, his arms spread wide as he gently landed in the soft dirt. He was smiling and extremely relieved; not only had the Earth been saved again, but his father had somehow survived. It had taken every ounce of willpower he had to fire against his dad, knowing that it would likely mean he would never see him again. But the boy was growing up, each battle building both his confidence and his battle senses. The thankful seven year-old opened his eyes, seeing the tall outline of his Namekian mentor outlined by the sun. 

I'm proud of you, Gohan, the voice said telepathically. You were the only one brave enough to help, in spite of all the fear you must have felt about hurting your dad.  

The half-Saiyan widened his grin, turning his head to the side; he wanted to see his dad. There, not ten feet away from him, stood the exhausted form of Goku. His strange, ornate clothing was now shredded and his body was scorched and bruised all over, but he was smiling contentedly. The boy's father had relaxed from his Super Saiyan state as well, and wore a look of pride when his eyes met with Gohan's. No one had spoken yet. 

Vegeta, still in his Super Saiyan form, strode angrily towards the golden-haired youth and grabbed him by the jacket. Goku's smile evaporated along with Piccolo's, each waiting to see what Vegeta would say to the newcomer. They had determined from his energy that he was good-hearted, but the boy was still shrouded in mysteries, not the least of which was how he could possibly be a Super Saiyan. 

"Who are you, anyway!? Where did you come from? I demand that you answer me immediately!" Vegeta wasn't beating around the bush. Clearly still the strongest, he wasted no time asserting his dominance. 

The young Super Saiyan relaxed his aura, returning to his normal state. His fiery yellow locks fell back down around his head, returning to their normal greyish-purple. Despite being literally hoisted into the air by Vegeta, the boy showed no sign of fear. His tattered clothes and wild unmanageable hair were overpowered by the confident smile he bore. 

"Sure thing...dad." 

The prince froze in stunned silence for the briefest of moments, his eyes nearly doubling in size. "What did you just say?" Unsure how to properly react, Vegeta tightened his grip and readied a threatening punch with his right first. But Bulma interrupted. 

"Hey, wait just a minute here, what's going on? Did he just say YOU were his father? UGHH! You'd think this is the type of thing SOMEONE would have the courtesy to mention before now!" 

For Vegeta, it was the first time Bulma had been present when he was around the other Z fighters. He had accepted the annoying woman's overbearing personality, at least in private, but being addressed with such disrespect in public was an assault against his honor. He turned to the woman, determined to put her in her place. 

"Silence, woman! It's not your concern." Vegeta's mind was racing, trying to recall all his past lovers at once, wondering if it could really be possible. 'There is no way he could be my son! It's just not probable. He's far too old, for one thing.' 

"Well, Mr. bossy-pants, I'll have you know that it IS my business! Now you tell me the truth! Is he your son or isn't he?" Bulma suddenly noticed the Capsule Corporation logo on the boy's jacket, something she found incredibly odd. "Why would a Saiyan be wearing that, anyway?" 

Vegeta grunted. "He looks more like YOUR son than mine, woman! Just look at that ridiculous hairstyle. No offspring of mine would ever have such outlandish, unkempt appearance!" 

The young man suddenly interrupted them. 

"Actually," he smiled, "you're both my parents." 

The silence that followed this stunning revelation was awkwardly broken by a burst of uncontrolled laughter. Goku fell on the ground in hysterics. "Those two are your parents! BAHAHA!" The Saiyan's hilarity had taken some of the tension off, setting everyone a little more at ease. Bulma and Vegeta shot him threatening glances, but he ignored them. Picking himself up, Goku continued. "Bulma and Vegeta, huh? I always thought she was going to end up with Yamcha, but Vegeta? Wow!" At the mention of the scar-faced weakling, the prince of Saiyans narrowed his eyes. He hated that Earthling.