Majin Chu [Majin OC - DBZ Canon Divergent]

16 | Seeds of Doubt

Two Namekians sat in quiet meditation high above the now peaceful world. The Lookout was quiet aside from the rustle of the few trees and the whistle of brisk winds. The cold from being so high up didn't bother them, their ki keeping them at a steady temperature as they navigated their minds.

For the older, it was a simple task, one he took to often. But for the younger? His brows creased with strain, fangs bared in agitation as he tried and tried again to regain his calm. But thoughts spiraled into questions, rage answering them as he played back the events of their most recent victory.

A struggle that needn't have even gotten that far if not for some insufferable Saiyans and their need for thrilling battles, lack of better judgement, and overbearing pride. Two of those points was from a single Saiyan he already hated.

The first instance that sprung doubt within him was actually before everything truly started. The Future Warrior, an older Trunks, had warned them that Goku had died before the battle in his timeline. He'd given them everything they needed to prevent his death and ensure his recovery from said illness.

Bulma had even taken it a step further to analyze the medication, making sure that when the virus broke out for the rest of the world, it was ready for mass production to save lives. Though she wouldn't release the medicine until something actually happened to avoid needless suspicion. Kyuri thought it was smart to be prepared.

If Goku took the medicine as soon as symptoms showed, it would kill the virus by the end of the day. If he let it persist, since the virus gets stronger with time, it would take longer to recover.

Kyuri had learned the hard way to be vigilant. Cautious. It was how he stayed alive until Chu saved his village. His existence—and Chu's— was a variable that threw off the "known" timeline. Things were already straying from what Trunks had told them. Little things Kyuri understood would spiral into larger things. He'd read about the butterfly effect, was actively seeing it.

But the general events, catalyst that began new phases of their predicament, remained mostly the same. There was an attack on the day he said there would be, and it was androids (though they didn't know it was the wrong ones). But other things could, and would, change.

What if something changed in regard to Goku's illness? What if things happened later, sooner, or more violently than in Trunks' timeline? It was possible, so Kyuri told Goku to keep the medicine on him.

What happened? The day they actually went to face the androids, Goku didn't bring the medicine.

He started showing symptoms during their battle. He pushed his power up to its limit trying to fight a little longer, but the virus was one that could burn through ki. It attacked the heart. It wasn't a simple cold that would be burned through with energy.

He should have warned someone, anyone, but he wanted to keep fighting. It was a precaution the man simply... forgot. Too eager for a battle. And whether he knew it or not, too prideful to admit he felt he hadn't needed it.

Kyuri should have seen the signs then. But he pushed away his doubts in quiet worry for the man's health. While dumb, it wasn't out of the ordinary for a man like Goku to forget something like that. Kyuri had simply taken it as a lapse of judgement, letting it pass with withheld irritation.

The next instance was Vegeta. It's always something with that stupid prince. After he finally pulled out his shiny blonde hair his ego took an... unfortunate boost. He stopped listening to others, doing stupid things to stroke his pride. He challenged the newly awakened androids (the right ones this time), and got his ass handed to him.

It was hilarious to watch, and Kyuri would pay good money to see it again if money had any value to him.

But that isn't what was bothering him. No, that happened when Vegeta, in an effort to fight 'a more worthy opponent' let the androids get absorbed by Cell. A monster they'd discovered was after them to gain his full, most powerful form.