Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Distant Light Years ❯ The Army of the Red Monkeys ( Chapter 8 )

Chapter Eight: The Army of the Red Monkeys

He picked up the thin bone and tapped it on the fine china plate in front of him. He rested his head on his hand in a bored fashion. Huffing lilac hair from his eyes he sat back, playing with the bone between his fingers. He glanced over at his sister who sat half way down the long mahogany dinning table. If she wasn't here he would be able to gnaw on the gristle which the bone still held on each end. For some obscene reason Bra hated the crunching of chicken gristle, and thought it was disgusting. Trunks thought it was stupid; when you eat you eat the whole thing unless it was too hard to eat like the T-bone in a steak. He could understand not eating that because he had seen Goten try to once and Trunks had needed to punch him on the back to remove the bone lodged in his throat.

He smirked at the memory and flicked the bone in his hand. With a twist of his wrist he flung it a Goten who sat at the opposite end of the table. With out looking up Goten raised a finger and blasted the small bone into a pile of ash which snowed onto the vanished table top. Trunks barked out a laugh and then got the full glare of his angry sister.

"Animals!" She yelled as she pushed herself away from her food and stormed out of the room followed by Trunks's giggling. Goten looked up at his friend.

"Gees Trunks, why do you always do that?" Goten tried to cover a smirk. He did want to support his wife, but she *had* just called them both animals. At that moment Vegeta walked through the door, he was wearing his usual blue spandex instead of his new royal uniform. He glanced after Bra and then shrugged before sitting down at the dinning table.

He shot Trunks a stony look. "Have you quite finished?"

Trunks muffled his giggling and his face immediately fell into a mirror of his father's emotionless expression. "Yes." He said in a bland voice. Vegeta stared at him harshly for a moment. His son was acting very strange. Perhaps it was a mental condition? Perhaps it was the years living in loneliness. Vegeta had never heard anything about Trunks having a wife or family of his own.

He ate his meal in record time. Vegeta wanted to explore. He especially wanted to find Kakarott. Vegeta wasn't feeling much like a King, Trunks still ran every thing, it was now just all done in his name and Vegeta didn't really feel like changing things just yet. An official proclamation had been announced the day before that the King had finally returned from his "endeavors into space". So Vegeta knew every one would know he was back now. He was sure even Kakarott would. But who knew how his former rival was. None of them seemed to have heard from him in years. Not even Goten.

Trunks stared at his father for several minutes. His father was back. Kami, it had been so long! He blushed slightly. ~I can't believe I use to think so little of him! I wish I had paid more attention to all the things he tried to teach me.. Well there he is. I know he's proud. He has to be! I took over the world to prove my worth to him!~ He sat forward in his seat. He fidgeted slightly. "Father, you are proud of what I've done right?! You're proud of me yes?!?!" He stared, his eyes round. Vegeta glanced up and was slightly taken back by his son's mad look. He wasn't sure what to say, his son was obviously unstable. He hesitated. If he said the wrong thing.. How would he react?

Suddenly a huge explosion rocked the palace. The siren went up and the lights flashed crimson. "What the fuck?!" Cried Goten, jumping to his feet. "WARNING! WARNING! THE PALACE IS UNDER ATTACK, VACATE THE BUILDING AT THE CLOSEST AVALABLE EXIT! WARNING! WARNING! THE PALACE.." Another massive explosion rattled Trunks's china. Vegeta was gone in seconds with out a word. Goten followed, a flash of black.

Trunks stood slowly and turned to look out the window. He recognized the emblem on the sides of the attacking helicopters immediately. It was a red monkey. The symbol of the human resistance. They called them selves the Army of the Red Monkey. They had been inactive for the last five years. Obviously they had been mustering their forces behind Trunks's back. He snarled. Just his luck. Well, he'll be able to take them out easily enough. He smirked and walked off down the dark hallway towards the disturbance.

****



Goku watched his son where he stood on the cliff. His arms folded, his face a scowl. Goku watched his son, a worried frown creased his face. He looked away, ashamed. He had seen what Gohan had done. He didn't want to believe it. It wasn't possible. Was it?

The battle had just started in the city below. The Red Monkeys. He had nothing to do with them any more. He staged his own sabotage on the Empire. The Red Monkeys were a bunch of suicidal morons, as his son had once blatantly put it. They thought they could actually beat Trunks into submission. But that's not why Goku had come out here after his son. It seemed the Red Monkey's had a new weapon. A huge fucking rail cannon which was decimating the city as they watched.

"Where the hell did they get that from.." Goku muttered as he watched with worry. So far all the cannon had fired was two shots. Both hitting the palace. It was situated about 20 clicks out of the city, in the desert west of it. As soon as the blasted thing hit any other building he was going to be all over it like a ton of bricks. That is if Trunks didn't get to it first. Woe be to them who have to face that evil tyrant. Goku had heard of what Trunks did to rebels that were captured. He winced. It wasn't pretty.

He didn't believe a word of that royal proclamation bull shit that stated Vegeta had returned. He hadn't sensed the man, nor did he believe his old rival and friend would ever return from the depths of space. He was positive Trunks was using it as a ploy to control the people. Vegeta's antics were in every history book, Trunks had been sure to install terror into the general populous of Vegeta's horrifying past. They must fear their King as he was all powerful. And as far as Goku was concerned the lavender haired monster was King in all but name.

Another blast shattered out the left sector of the huge palace. The palace itself was a marvel of building design. Covering over a square kilometer wide just in the main building it's self. Gohan frowned deeper. He should do something. He could hear the screaming from here. It sent a shiver down his spine. He spat on the ground. What would Videl do? She would do what ever she could to stop that rail cannon. But a cannon that size! It could kill a Saiyan.

He lifted off the cliff and blasted towards it. He saw two flashes of black with golden auras in the distance. They had to be Trunks and Goten. Perhaps this time he wouldn't turn down their proposal.

****

Goten spotted his brother heading for the huge rail cannon in front of them. He could sense Vegeta to his left. They had to have about an even power level. This amused him slightly. It had taken Goten 250 years to get a power level about equal to Vegeta's. It was astonishing really. When you think of how old Vegeta was in comparison now. It had taken Trunks's father only 40 or so years to get this powerful. It had taken Goten 250.

Gohan arrived first. Goku watched from a distance as his eldest slaughtered the rebels mercilessly. He looked away sadly. If only things had been different.

Goten watched with a quiet awe as his brother reveled in his Saiyan side. "Man, he's lost it." He shook his head. He never would have thought it would happen. His brother use to be such a stable force in his life. Now look at him. He narrowed his eyes from the explosion as the four helicopters the Red Monkeys had erupted into fire and crashed into the ground as burning wrecks.

Vegeta watched with wide eyes. Things were definitely not the way they were meant to be.

Gohan swooped down snatching up two machine gun welding soldiers, who both screamed as he snapped their necks and threw them down on top of their comrades. He watched one of the female rebels run over to a fallen man, tears weeping down her face as she fell beside him. "Johnny no!" She screamed before Gohan raised a hand subconsciously and blasted her into a roasting carcass. He looked at his hand. He had just murdered her. An innocent. "Kami, what am I doing?!" He breathed as he stared in horror as the rail cannon was turned to face him. Its huge back nozzle aimed at his small body.

"I should let it take me.. damn it. What have I become.." He watched slowly as it charged, blue static flickering around it between the giant magnets that shot the shells from its large squat base. Then a black blur zipped out of his peripheral vision and side swiped him. He was smashed into the earth, mounds of dirt rolled up around his impact. The cannon let off with a horrendous boom, shaking the ground around him.

"What the hell did you think you were doing boy?!" He felt a heavy punch smack his head sideways and bring stars to his eyes. He blinked in confusion before he turned to look up at the owner of the voice. Scowling black eyes glared back from a pointy face, with jagged black spikes of hair which flamed upward in an all too familiar design. Gohan slowly sat up, his hand slipped on a loose pebble and he fell back with a jarring impact to his back.

"What would your father think?! He would be disgraced that his eldest born let himself be killed with out a fight!" Vegeta kicked Gohan back as he tried to stand again. Gohan wiped the blood from his lip. Trunks landed beside his father. He looked down at Gohan like one would look at an insect.

"Thank you father, for taking down this traitor." He muttered before looking hungrily over to the screaming soldiers, who were running for their lives. Gohan could hear Goten laughing. He didn't want to know at what. Vegeta looked at his son in disgust. "Traitor? Gohan isn't a traitor boy."

Trunks snapped his head to his father in surprise. "What?!"

Vegeta glared at his son. "He came here to stop the rail cannon obviously." He turned to see the huge metallic thing which sat humming. He raised an arm straight out pointed at it, his hand vertical, his fingers together and his thumb tucked in front, over the palm. He said nothing as he blasted the cannon. There was a magnificent explosion, shattering shrapnel every where. The bits off metal bounced off their skin, but slashed the running soldiers to ribbons. Shrieks and blood curdling screams followed. Vegeta turned back to where Gohan had regained his feet and was staring at him coldly.

"When did you return?" He asked sullenly. Vegeta watched him for a moment. Suddenly a hand landed on his shoulder and he spun around to come face to face with Goku.

"Kakarott!" He barked with a snarl. Damn it, he had given him a fright. He hated to be taken by surprise. Goku stared at him. He couldn't believe it! He poked Vegeta in the chest just to see if it wasn't another illusion. Vegeta punched him backward. Nope, he was real alright. "Amazing.." he whispered as he stood up again rubbing his cheek. "It really is you."

Vegeta growled sullenly. "Of course it's me, baka!" He crossed his arms. Then snapped his head to his son as the man launched himself at Goku with a scream.

"I HATE YOU! BASTARD! DIE!" Vegeta grabbed his son and flung him backward. He glanced at Goku who was watching Trunks coldly. Vegeta had only ever seen that look when Goku had looked at Cell, Frieza or Buu.

"What is this?" He growled. Trunks regained his composure and walked to stand beside his father. His murderous gaze never leaving Goku. Trunks shook his head and looked at the ground for a moment. A reflection of his former self, if just for a second. He looked up again.

"He's such a fucking hypocrite." He spat. "Telling us what was good and right." He laughed mockingly. "He's just another fucking murderer like us all. Just another killer. Right Goku?!" The barb seemed to be ignored by the larger Saiyan. Goku stood, his face cold and focused.

"Shut up Trunks." He said quietly. "You don't know what you're talking about." He turned his dark eyes on the younger man. "You're the fucking insane one here. Not me." Trunks shivered and grinded his teeth. A drop of blood wound down the corner of his mouth to drip from his chin. His hands twitched.

"If I'm so fucking insane, how come it's me ruling the world and not you huh?!" He jumped as Goten placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered into his ear.

"Calm down damn it. You're loosing it." Trunks gave a quick, but hesitant twitch of his head as a nod. Goten patted his shoulder. "That's it, just think of that song you love. You know, the one that calms your nerves?" Trunks's head twitched again.

"Right, right.. I know which one.. yeah." Trunks started humming. Bits of lyric some times escaping from him. "Down with the.. sickness.. It seems what's left of my human side is changing.. Can you give it to me.. Is slowly changing in me.. Looking at my own reflection.. When suddenly it changes.. Violently it changes.. I know, there is no turning back now.. You've woken up the demon in me.." Vegeta stared at his son. Yes, he was fucked over alright. Gohan raised an eye brow. Goku sighed and rolled his eyes. Goten just bobbed his head to the song.

"Riiight." Vegeta turned to look back at Goku again. "What has happened Kakarott. Trunks gave me his garbled raving version of what's happened here but I need a more rational account." Goku turned his eyes to Vegeta's. They were full of sadness and loneliness.

"I will just say Vegeta, that it's a very good thing that your back. Very good.." He shook his head slightly and turned to watch as Trunks and Goten jogged over to where the bodies flagged the ground. They each looked over every man and woman, killing the ones still alive. Trunks seemed to enjoy stomping their skulls like melons with his feet. Goku flinched. Gohan stared with a kind of strange hungry want, like he too wanted to kill, but dared not. Vegeta watched each face carefully. Trunks was right. They were all killers. He could even see it in Kakarott's face. It was well hidden but it was there. "There's nothing I can do for them now." Goku shook his head slowly. "There's nothing I can do for any one any more." He folded his arms. "We're our own worst enemies. We are what every one hates!" He clenched his fists. "We are the Saiyans. I gave up being a human long ago. Not after all the horrors I've seen them do to them selves. I would rather be a monster with my own kind than pretending to be a hero of monsters." He turned and walked away from the carnage and the dead. "I hate it all." Vegeta heard him mutter as he took to the skies. Vegeta watched him with his black opal eyes.

What had happened to him?! Kami, would he ever become use to this? Did he ever want to? Every thing was fucked. His family was fucked. Kakarott's family was fucked. The whole world was fucked!

"Fuck." He spat before walking over to smack some sense into his only son.

****

"Bra!"

"BRA!"

There was silence in the rubble.

"BRA! DAMN IT!" Goten hurried about, shifting boulders and carnage out of his way.

"ANSWER ME!!"

Vegeta blasted away a boulder. No, just the torn limbs of a human servant. "Bra!" He cried out.

Goten looked up when he noticed the bright red leather peeking from beneath a slab of marble. "No.." He slowly moved towards the rubble. "No.. it can't be.." He breathed. He slowly lifted the slab away and looked down. He quickly looked away. "Kami.." he clenched his eyes tight. He wanted to crush his eyes out of his head at the sight he had just seen. His face drained of colour, he haggardly looked back down at her body. He pushed the slab back and fell to his knees beside her mutilated body. "Oh Kami Bra.." He stared at her, his face slack. Vegeta landed behind him.

"Have you found her.. yet.." He stared down at his little girl. His face went white. "She's.."

Goten broke down and started sobbing.



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