Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Peace ❯ Types of Freedom ( Chapter 77 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~```` Chapter Types of Freedom

Freedom, well, that's just some people talking. Your prison is walking through this world all alone. -

The Eagles- Desperado

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The first planet that came into their line of sight, brought relief to Vegeta and Trunks. Ten hours on this damn ship without feeling the warmth of the sunshine, and breathing in the cool crisp air that flowed in Earth’s atmosphere was enough to fly back home. But the two men stared at the planet, as small as it was, with excitement. It would still be more then an hour before they reached it, but they continued to wait on baited breath.

Trunks sat down, after cooking for the two of them and watched his father with curious eyes. Vegeta had ignored his son till almost all of his food was gone, when he just had to ask the dreaded question, “What?”

“You know this planet?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

Vegeta sighed, placing his fork down. So many things his son would discover on this trip. Vegeta just hoped this wouldn’t add to his many regrets. “It’s a trade planet. Called Kino Desta.”

“Why are we stopping here?”

“It will bring us up to date on who owns what. If there is a tyrant abroad. If anything dangerous we need to know about before heading deeper in space.”

“Will they know you?”

Vegeta shrugged and continued to eat, hearing the boy sigh and dig into his own food. Vegeta eyes turned to the window to view the planet, hoping beyond hope that no one recognized him.

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They finally landed without trouble which told Vegeta that this planet was still a free port. They hurried off and Trunks sighed with excitement. But of course Vegeta had to take control. “Do not be more then five feet from me. Do you understand?”

“Why, dad?”

“Do not call me that either. On the ship fine but among them, you are just another Sayian half-breed.” Vegeta stopped the boy from their walk and stared directly at him. “It is too dangerous for any one to know who you are. Understood?” Trunks could only nod when those jet black eyes fixed on him like they did. Vegeta turned on a quick foot and Trunks had to hurry out of his daze to catch up.

Vegeta kept his eyes ahead of him, knowing that the looks he received told him only one thing. That he had not been forgotten. A fear that vibrated through his body and left his fingers numb. Maybe this was the sign. A sign to turn back to that ship and go home. There was no need to bring back anyone’s pain of something that was healed by now. It’s been twenty two years, why awaken dead spirits?

But for some reason Vegeta kept straight, constantly checking with a quick glance to his side to make sure Trunks was handling this alright. And from those fast looks, it appeared Trunks was enjoying himself.

Trunks eyes couldn’t catch everything as they wanted to but he sure did try while keeping his feet up to match Vegeta’s. He didn’t notice, nor care why so many were continuing to stare at them, he could only guess that they knew strangers when they saw them. But his mind wasn’t on that, it was on the buildings that piled on top of the other, like legos. The streets were crowded with so many people he didn’t have time to dwell upon the weird looking creatures that ventured about them. So he tried to fixate his eyes on the buildings, the ones that hung in the sky like flying cities and the buildings that never stopped from reaching up into the sky passing the red and brown clouds. The pollution was something terrible, and the air smelt of something burning or rotting or both. But Trunks continued to ignore that watching advertisements digitize on the sky like it’s own screen.

They finally came to a stop which Trunks couldn’t understand the writings so he had asked. “It is like a bank.” Vegeta said tightly going through the automatic doors. The insides were as foreign as they could possibly be. The bank itself must of gone on for miles as far as Trunks could see but they pulled up to the first open teller they could.

Trunks listened as the foreign language rolled off his father’s tongue like there was oil sticking to the inside of his mouth. It was the worst language he had ever heard before no matter how unique it was. But Trunks watched the creatures wart covered face and even noticed how wide the four eyes on this she-male got. “Ve-ge-to?” It sounded out as if it were a sacred word.

Vegeta hated this part of the journey, but in order to travel one must have money. And Vegeta knew his account would last an eternity no matter how constant the flow of money changed in the universe. “I’m sorry, sir. Allow me to go and get my supervisor.” Vegeta nodded knowing that this in itself was going to cause some problem. But this is what he wanted to find out. How many left in this universe knew him still?

She was back quickly with a midget that stood about three feet tall and the she-male lifted him up on to the desk which he leaned over to inspect the man that called himself Vegeta. “Yea, you do look it. But to make sure, give me a thumb print and write down your account number?” Vegeta wrote it on a piece of paper, and passed it to them, then placed his thumb on the small computer screen. “You know, everyone thinks you’re dead? When Frieza was blown up, people say you were on that planet. That you were the one to blow up Frieza.” Vegeta liked this news almost entirely too much. He looked over his shoulder to Trunks. The boy didn’t understand a single word that was going on. So what was a little lie? Vegeta nodded and the man smiled widely. “Get him his money.” He handed the piece of paper the creature and leaned into whisper, “And they say, that a Sayian killed Klooer and King Cold. Was that you too?” Vegeta smirked and laughed full-heartedly inside of his head. Oh, what a wonderful thing! Vegeta nodded, holding back his happiness at his own luck. This was going to be great, he could feel it. The man was beside himself and hopped down off the desk, laughing the whole way back to his office.

Trunks leaned in “What did you say? Was he laughing, or crying?”

“It is nothing. They were just surprised.”

“You sure made an impression.”

The woman was quick to come back with a single chip, no bigger then a quarter. Trunks looked down at it and held it his palm as they left the bank. “What is it?”

“It is a money fig. It is like a bank card.”

“How much money do you have?”

“More then enough. Even though Frieza made us unable to leave the army, he gave all enough for each planet destroyed or each race extinguished.”

“He gave you money? Wouldn’t he be afraid that you would use it against him?”

“Trunks, money does not work the same way it works on Earth. It is power that is the controlling substance in space. Nothing else matters. If you have power, you have the ability to do whatever you wished.. If you were weak, you were nothing. You are dead, or you are used.”

“For what?”

“For whatever a person of higher strength wishes.”

“So like slaves? Like prostitutes?”

Vegeta was amazed that his son even knew what those type of people were. But then again, Trunks was old enough by now and must have watched hundreds of movies and shows to gain this kind of knowledge. Vegeta nodded. “There are no laws. Not on this planet. It is free.” Vegeta and Trunks stood on top of the bank steps, that towered twenty feet up and over looked the decomposing city.

For the first time, instead of amazement shining in Trunks eyes, it was sadness that now reflected in them. He took his gaze away from the spectacular view and gazed upon the faces that surrounded them. And the buildings that crumbled and decayed. The smell of the planet somehow suddenly struck him with full force. It made him nauseous as he now looked around. Creatures laid dead and others walked right on top like if they were speed bumps. Children and women leaned against the walls of buildings with puss pouring out of their sores and blood dripping from their eyes. Starved creatures crawled on the ground, reaching for whatever foot they could grab. Trunks thought of his father’s statement suddenly finding the irony in it. So many people on Earth long for freedom, yet, this is what freedom would bring. Death, sickness, and hatred.

“There are no cops? What if someone gets murdered or something?”

“Free planets have no laws. That is why only two that I know exist still. This one, and the ice world. Which was Frieza’s home world. I do not know what has happened to it since his death.”

“Fa–Vegeta, why are so many looking at us?”

Vegeta had realized the moment they had stepped out of the building that the looks were increasing. But he held his head high and stepped down the stairs as a king would. And for a moment, if felt like it had so many years ago. Five years old, with a tongue as quick as his father’s and an attitude and power to make anyone cower in fear. And as he did so, it struck rather hard, how much he no longer wanted anyone to cower in his presence. Especially with his son standing beside him.

Vegeta turned left instead of the right to get back to his ship. Believe it or not, he wasn’t ready to go back on that thing. He needed a bit of time away from the confined ship that held memories of Frieza’s reign, even if it was built entirely different. It was still a ship. His eyes scanned the sky’s for anything that might have information about the universe and quickly spotted a bar. They got into a glass elevator, which made Trunks happy, gazing wide eyed as they got higher and higher till they reached the main level, which separated by four separate tubes. They took the left one that got them to the pub.


Silence stole the room and Vegeta sighed with aggravation. He sat, the boy slowly following suit as if caught up by all the eyes glaring in their direction. Vegeta ordered them both drinks which Trunks looked at, appalled by the sight and began to play with the miniature octopus that was his drink. Vegeta leaned his head down, and forced his ears into action, listening to every little whisper.

“That him? He don’t look like much.”

“Killed the Cold family did he? Wonder if he killed that Pink blob awhile back. Heard even the gods couldn’t defeat him.”

“Does that mean he’s king?”

“What about Lord Gideon? He’s the ruler now.” There was a voice he needed to listen to. Vegeta looked up to the mirror, and found the two that were speaking. But his eyes quickly dropped down when they looked over to him. They were Byhatons. Fish people from a hydrosphere. There were eight kinds in this section of the universe. Five of which, he had destroyed.

“I wouldn’t mind working for a Sayian. At least they have honor.”

“But you’re talking about Prince Vegeta, here. This ain’t no normal Sayian. I ain’t working for no Frieza no more.”

“He was under Frieza’s command. If you had his power, you would of had to do the same thing. You can’t still blame him for destroyin’ your planet. He ain’t got no choice. Just like you, when you had to go and kill your blood.”

“Yeah, well, he was more like Frieza then anyone else. He could of chose not to be. I chose not to be.”

“I ain’t gonna make excuses for the monkey. I’m just sayin’ it would be better workin’ for a Sayian then Gideon.”

“Who’s that he’s got with him, do you think?”

Vegeta took away his attention suddenly finding his son next to him, with a octopus trying to swallow his face. Vegeta gripped the head of the thing and ripped it off, killing it in his grip. Trunks gasped for air, holding the hand rails to keep himself from passing out. Trunks tried to smile innocently but Vegeta just shook his head and walked out with the boy quick on his heals.

Trunks loved the tubes. Glass, or plastic, which ever it was, one could see through straight down to the ground about a mile down. It was amazing to see the sights of so many creatures, not one bit of the side walk was unused. “Where are we going now?”

Vegeta ignored the boy’s inquisitive mind, passing a vendor and quickly buying a small box, what it held, Trunks didn’t find out until they were near their ship. “Here,” Vegeta dropped a slimy creature in Trunks palm. On closer inspection he found it to be a very tiny jellyfish-looking thing. “Put that in your ear.”

“What?” Trunks outraged. Vegeta sighed and stalled suddenly, taking the creature out of his palm and forcing Trunks to turn his head to the side. “What are you doing? Dad!”

“Boy, what did I say?”

“Vegeta, what are you doing?”

“Do you trust me, boy?” Vegeta demanded, a little insulted by the child’s desperation to get away. Trunks sighed heavily and nodded, allowing Vegeta to turn his head to the side. He winced when he felt the slippery creature slide down into his ear. He swallowed hard, flexing his jaw as if it were water that was stuck in his ear. He shook his head as he was let go and rubbed his ear. “Stop it.” Vegeta demanded.

“What was that?”

“You now understand every language in the known universe. Probably more then I do.”

“Okay, but what was it?”

He sighed in annoyance. “It was a type of translator. Polts attach itself into your brain. They breath brain fluids. And they corrupt your hearing abilities. You can understand every language in the universe, but you won’t be able to speak it. So every where we go, you must not talk. You are a mute. Do you understand?”

“Yeah, I guess. How do I get it out?”

“You don’t. They die in six months.”

Trunks sighed heavily still shaking his head every once in awhile to get it out of his head but gave up after a few minutes. “Can you tell me where we are going now?”

“Gideon is a new ruler. As I remember it, he was the leader of a...” Vegeta searched his brain for the Japanese translation. “Bat...faction. That operated on the planet, Eron.”

“Bat faction?”

“There are four clans of...bats. Have wings, their planet is complete darkness. They are as tall as us, and have legs and arms, with a black complexion to blend in with their surroundings. They were rebels against Frieza. Hard to find and harder to kill. Only I knew their location, for I was a spy.”

“You were a spy? That’s awesome.”

Vegeta quietly chuckled. “I was a spy for several planets. Most of which I ended up destroying. Frieza would find out that I was rebelling and forced me to kill them as punishment. He underestimated how much I could have cared less.”

Vegeta stalled, Trunks nearly tripped trying not to bump into him. “Vegeta?”
“Quiet.” Vegeta eyes darted this way and that, but he couldn’t make a distinction on where the creature was. They were being followed since they entered the market place. And now the creature or creatures were closing in. “I know you’re there.” Trunks gazed at him with uncertainity. He hadn’t felt anything.

“But do you know who I am?” Vegeta turned behind and there she stood. Yellowed skined, bald in every place. A gernak. And for a moment the memories ransacked his mind, leaving him incapable of speaking. “I was eleven.” She whispered. “If that helps.

Vegeta stared at her, noticing the knife she held in her left hand. It was for these reasons he had come back to space. And it was for these reasons he had decided a long time ago never to come back. Now she was here, the living reason why regrets were burned into mind and heart. The only female, he ever raped and let live.

How to make excuses for something that could never be fixed? How to make right what will never be right? How to be forgiven for something that cannot be forgotten?

He stepped forward, putting himself before Trunks. And it was then he noticed four others were joining her. They looked nothing like her but apparently they had their own reasons for being here. None of the others however, he remembered. Which means he probably just went on a killing rampage and killed someone they loved. The four, Vegeta didn’t really care about. People die everyday. No, it was the female that got all of his attention. It was her that he destroyed the most.

“What’s happening?” Trunks whispered, getting a bit more nervous.

“Stay out of it.” Vegeta snapped.

“You knew this come. And I have been searching for you since my mother died, giving birth to a still born and my father killed himself. But you fooled us all. Didn’t you? You wanted everyone to believe you dead. And it worked. We have been without Frieza and his kind for over twenty years. Amazing to find out that just when things started to get worse again, you show up.”

Trunks chimed in, “We have nothing to do with that. I assure you.” All their eyes were on him and Trunks nervously smiled.

“They can’t understand you, boy. Shut up.”

“What are you saying? Tryin to concoct a plan to escape? To run, like the coward you are?”

“I will not run.”

“You playing innocent are you?”

“No. I remember you.”

“Was I a topic of discussion on the board of rapists?”

“I never spoke of it.”

“What, a eleven year old not good enough for ya!” She rushed at him, catching him off guard on how quick she was and before he noticed it, he moved just enough so her blade raked across his shoulder, instead of stabbing the heart were she had intended. She bounced back in a fighting position with her knife before her. “I’m not as defenseless anymore.”

“I am not going to fight you.”

“Oh, that’s fine. Just stand there it will make it a lot easier.” Her speed was so quick she was vanishing from sight but he felt her every movement, trying to think of ways to end this. And as he watched he noticed an opportunity to stop this and with a quick reach out he grabbed the arm that held the knifed and twisted her around so where the knife was now pressed against her own throat and she was pressed against him. She struggled with such force that Vegeta had to power up a bit.

“I do not want to hurt you again.”

“Kill me. Do it.”

“No.”

“You have done everything else, but take my life. Why? Why did you let me live?”

“You were young. You could have gotten over it.”

“No, see that, was where you were wrong.” And as she spoke, red tears began to form “Kill me.” She tightened the grip on the knife pointed to her own throat and even tried to force it in her neck

“I do not kill anymore.”

“Then why did you come out of hiding?”

“To get freedom. Just like you.” He broke the knife with a flick of the fingers and released her from his grasp, watching as she lost all strength in her body and crumbled to his feet.

Vegeta stepped back, not even giving the other four that wished their turns to second look and quickly caught sight of his son who stood with furrowed brows and sorrow filled eyes as he stared down at the woman. “Boy. Come.” Vegeta passed him and went to his ship.

“Vegeta!” The female screamed, but he continued to walk. “This isn’t over! It will never be! Not until one of us dies!”

Trunks stalled as he stared up after his father that entered the ship without even a look back to the female that was sobbing without any control. He glanced back and caught her eyes. Her pain was so strong it caused tears in his own eyes.

How could his father do that? She was eleven. How could he rape an eleven year old?

Anger burst forth and he stomped his way up and went straight to his father’s closed bedroom door, nearly breaking it off the hindges. “You raped her!”

Vegeta stood from his spot on the bed and faced his son’s anger without emotion. “I did many things.”

“You raped a child! A child, dad!”

Vegeta gripped his teeth, “I have paid my debt to my regrets. You will not stand here and judge what you do not understand.”

“Then make me understand? You raped her. What else is there?”

“I am not that person now.”

“And she will never be the person she once was. Because of you.”

“The only reason I let you come, is for you to see what you’ve wanted. Do not complain to me that you’re too weak, and too ignorant to understand.”

“Understand what?”

“That some things are incapable of stopping.”

“So I are you saying you were forced to rape her?”

“I am saying there were circumstances.” Vegeta sat down, hoping to dismiss this conversation but Trunks wasn’t pleased yet.

“Just because you were raped doesn’t mean--”

“Get out.” Vegeta couldn’t believe the boy just said that. He was outraged and actually hurt that the boy would even bring that up. He understood what Trunks was trying to say, but he need not say it. Just because he was rapped didn’t mean he had to rape others. But that wasn’t it at all. Trunks didn’t understand. And right now, he didn’t want his son to understand. Let it be. Just for right now. Let it be.

Trunks stood outside his father’s door, trying to make sense of everything that he had heard and seen. His father raped a child. How could he just forget that? How could he forgive him. His whole life, he thought of his father as an honorable man, and now...what was he? Just a normal rapist and murderer? Vegeta cannot tell him that he was forced to do it. Vegeta was the strongest in the universe. No one could make another person rape somebody. No matter what, right?

This encounter scared him. He got a glimpse of what the past held in Vegeta’s life. The secrets that his father had tried so hard to keep away from him. Because he was timid of what his son would think of him. And Trunks had gone and done exactly what his father was afraid of. Trunks shook his head. He felt guilt but at the same time, he was so mad at his father. He left, needing to be alone.