Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Freak Show ❯ Slipping Away ( Chapter 5 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Freak Show
Part Five
By Maria Cline

Chetsu was mediating as usual while her computer scanned the various logs of the old Kold Empire database. The database was old and obsolete, still, her it should come up with something that could be of help.

"Ms. Chetsu, I have finished my search." Herbert said.

"Tell me what you found." Chetsu ordered as she got up.

"Well... the reports are contradictory." Herbert replied, "However, I will give you a summary of what I know. Over forty solar years ago, the Saiyan Homeworld was destroyed. The offical report is that a severe meteor storm demolished the planet. There are rumors that the Kold Empire killed off the Saiyans themselves due to their fear of the Saiyan power potential."

"Yes, I heard of that myself. Are there any Saiyans left after the destruction?"

"Yes, there were four Saiyans that survived the destruction. Prince Vegita, Nappa, Raddiz, and Kakarot." Herbert replied.

"So, there was a Saiyan named Kakarot. What happened to him?"

"Unknown. He was scheduled to renovate a small primitive planet after his birth, the inhabitants called it 'Earth'. There were rumors that Earth is cursed somehow." Herbert replied, "Nappa and Raddiz had went to Earth and died there. Prince Vegita had suffered massive injuries before escaping with his life. Kakarot was believed to have been adopted by this planet and renamed Goku. He betrayed the Kold Empire and Freeza and King Kold died on Earth. Reports on their deaths are classified. Now the planet is avoided by all space travel due to the deaths."

"I see... what about Prince Vegita?"

"His whereabouts are unknown. There are reports that he died on a planet called Namek. However, there is also rumors that he has been resurrected and is currently living on Earth." Herbert replied.

"I need to know all I can about this Kakarot and Ceta." Chetsu said as she sat in the pilot's chair. "Herbert, lay in a course to Planet Earth! Maximum speed!"

"That is not possible. The coodinates of the planet have been lost." Herbert replied.

Chetsu fell over in her chair. "How's that possible?"

"It is considered to be a hostile planet. It's coodinates have been classified."

"Then... break in!" Chetsu screamed as she went back into her chair. "I'm going to train. Find a way to Earth."

"I will do my best, Ms. Chetsu." Herbert said.

*****

"GOHAN! HELP!"

Gohan looked up to see his father held by a giant red ape. "Dad!" Gohan said in pure fear as he tried to move. He blasted at the ape but the blasts just went through.

The warrior went Super Saiyan and flew up to the ape and tried to pry the ape's hands off. "Hang on, Dad!" Gohan pleaded as he tried to attack the ape.

The ape swatted Gohan away and crushed Goku in his grip. "Gohan." Goku gasped out before going unconcious.

*****

Goten found himself at the lake where he loved to fish.

"GOTEN!"

Goten suddenly saw his mother in the middle of the lake waving her hands frantically.

"MOM!" Goten flew to the lake and grabbed his mother's hands.

Chi Chi clung on but then a monster flew up and scratched Goten's face. Goten screamed as he let go and felt his face. He looked down to see a sea woman with blue scales and long white hair. She hissed as she dragged Chi Chi down into the water.

Goten dove down into the water only to see nothing.

*****

Gohan gasped as he woke up in a cold sweat. "DAD!"

*****

Goten gasped as he woke up in a cold sweat. "MOM!"

*****

The sun rose as Gohan trudged to the kitchen and picked up a coffee cup. It had been the third nightmare this month. Ever since his parents left for their little trip in space, he had been nervous. He set his fears aside. His own experiences with Namek were different. He had been going off into space where no one from Earth had gone before in an untested spaceship to a distant planet while a group of space aliens were going to that planet as well. This was just a small trip for the two and they could return any time they wished.

The phone rang and Gohan curiously answered it. It was only four o'clock in the morning, who would call? "Hello? Son residence?"

"Gohan, it's Goten." Goten said sounding frantic. "I... I had another nightmare, about Mom drowning. I know this sounds crazy but... what if it's a sign? We haven't heard from them in over three months."

"You know Dad, he has this tendancy to wander off for months at a time without calling."

"Yeah, but Mom would've contacted us by now just to check on us and Dad would do what Mom says." Goten explained.

Gohan closed his eyes and slapped himself on the forehead. It had been so obvious, why didn't he see it before? He called himself a genius but how can he miss something like this? "Goten, go to Capsule Corps, I'll meet you there." Gohan ordered, "We have to check on the spaceship."

Gohan could swore that he heard Goten grin as he answered, "Okay!"

*****

"You know... it's five o'clock in the morning." Bulma yawned as she, Gohan, and Goten were at the lab.

"Please, Goten and I are worried... Mom and Dad haven't contacted us in over three months and... and we have a feeling that something is wrong." Gohan pleaded.

"Oh... okay..." Bulma said as she tapped on the computer. She was confident that the boys were just having nightmares and that they were worried over nothing. After all, Goku was the most powerful warrior in the Universe and he could return in a blink of an eye if something went wrong. "Computer, link up with Four Star Ship, communication line open." Bulma ordered.

"Scanning... scanning... Four Star Ship is out of service. Please try a different ship." The computer spoke.

"WHAT?!" Bulma screamed as she typed quickly. Her nimble fingers dashed on the board as she tried to run diagnostics only to come up with nothing. "Nothing... there is nothing..."

"Wait... the ship is gone?" Gohan asked shocked, "What happened?"

"I don't know... I don't know... but if something happened to them, why didn't Goku tell us telepathically?" Bulma wondered, "Okay, this is a major emergency!" She reached into her drawer and got out an emergency Dragon Ball radar. "Here! Take this and get the Dragon Balls! I'll stay here and try to find out more."

"Right." Gohan said as he and Goten flew up to get the balls.

*****

"Another day, another audience." Ceta sighed as she brushed her long white hair. "Honestly, these shows have been getting tedious... I hope Master gets me some new routines soon."

"Kaka guessed." Kakarot muttered as he lifted a pair of ton weights. "Kaka hoped that Master give Kaka new challenges... last ones too easy."

"You are too strong sometimes, my Saiyan." Ceta said as she came up and kissed him on the cheek. "But, I still love you."

"Kaka love Ceta too..." Kakarot frowned as he stared at the woman. He felt strange, it was like there was a part of him that was telling him that it was all wrong. A part of him felt that he shouldn't be here. The Master told him that it was just his Saiyan instinct to go around destroying worlds and that he had been controling it. Kakarot had taken special medicine to reduce the urge to kill and maim... the only time when he doesn't have to control himself that much was when he was helping the Master with anyone who wanted to sabotage the circus.

"Kakarot, are you okay?" Ceta whispered confused.

"Kaka, fine. Kaka just felt strange urges again."

"I know." Ceta sighed as she hugged him. She had been having the same urges herself. The Master gave her medicine as well to control herself but she still had nightmares and a fractured picture in her mind. She found herself dreaming of a small boy with a long monkey tail and a funny hat with an orange ball that have four red stars on it. He was laughing and running toward her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't let go of that image.

"Are you ready for another day at the Share Dome?" The Master asked as he came up.

"Of course, Master." Ceta said as she smiled, "We are greatful for this rare treat."

"I only wish to reward you two for such good behavior." The Master said as he smirked.

"Kaka been having funny urges again." Kakarot spoke up.

"I'll see if I can increase the potency of your medicine." The Master said, "I don't want you to go around killing people like you did before you joined us."

"No, Kakarot won't kill." Kakarot vowed as he shook his head.

"Good."

*****

"Okay... that's the last one." Gohan said as he flew up from the sea with the seven star ball in his hands. "*Whew* that one was deep."

"Now... we can summon the Dragon and get Mom and Dad back!" Goten said, excited, as he looked at his backpack filled with Dragon Balls. "Let's hurry! If Mom's dead, she would be mad at us for not checking sooner."

"Okay." Gohan nodded as they flew to a small deserted island and placed all seven balls down. "Oh Great Dragon Shenlong! Please come up and make our wishes come true!"

The seven balls glowed and the sky grew dark. Lighting filled the air as a giant green dragon arose from the glowing spheres and hung. Gohan and Goten still couldn't believe how huge the dragon was, no matter how many times they had seen him.

"State your wishes, Mortals." Shenlong boomed.

"I wish for Mom and Dad are brought back to the Earth Check-In Station and then brought back to life." Goten wished praying that his parents were still alive and the wish could not be granted.

"Goku and Chi Chi are still alive and so I cannot bring them back to life." Shenlong growled.

Goten and Gohan sighed in relief and Goten said, "I wish for Mom and Dad to be brought back to Earth!"

Shenlong stared out and then said, "Goku and Chi Chi do not exist. They have been replaced by Kakarot and Ceta."

"Then, I wish for Kakarot and Ceta to be brought back to Earth!" Gohan wished getting frusterated. How did his parents cease to exist? Did they get amnesia and forgot who they were?

Shenlong stared out again and said, "Kakarot and Ceta refused to return."

"This is getting frustrating... WHAT KIND OF WISH GRANTING DRAGON ARE YOU?!" Goten screamed.

"OKAY! I WISH FOR SOMEONE, ANYONE WHO IS WILLING AND CAN HELP OUR PARENTS BE BROUGHT HERE RIGHT NOW!" Gohan boomed.

*****

Chetsu scanned the charts and said, "This planet Earth is so elusive."

"It is a forbidden planet, Chetsu, all aliens who attempt to conqure it failed and never come back." Herbert said.

For the past three months, Chetsu haD been scanning all the databanks she could and found nothing. Earth haD been one of her few leads to finding out more about Kakarot and Ceta. She did try to find Namek but it was destroyed by Freeza.

"There has to be a way." Chetsu muttered.

Suddenly, a deep booming voice entered her mind. **I am Shenlong the Eternal Dragon, do you wish to go to a planet called 'Earth'?**

"How do you know?" Chetsu asked as she stood up confused. "Where are you?"

Darkess surrounded her as she found herself in a black void and a giant green dragon appeared before her. He had a long snake body with four short legs and huge horns. "I know everything." Shenlong boomed, "I will take you to Earth if you allow me."

"Take me and my ship and it's a deal." Chetsu said excited and yet weary. How does she know it wasn't one of Lazarus' tricks? What if it was just a hallucination?

The dragon nodded and Chetsu felt her very body moving beyond the speed of light.

*****

"It is done." Shenlong said and then a huge ship that was shaped like a giant triangle appeared on the ground behind the Dragon Balls. A young woman literally fell out of nowhere and landed in front of Goten and Gohan.

"Is this Earth?" The woman asked.

"Yes... who are you?" Gohan said as he stared at the woman. Her power was great, not as powerful as a Super Saiyan's but still she could hold her own if she needed to.

"I am Chetsu Tienshinana, last of the Triclopses." Chetsu said as she went onto one knee and bowed her head. "Thank you for taking me to this planet, I am looking for information regarding the Saiyans."

"Hey! What is your next wish?" Shenlong asked.

"Wait, that creature grants wishes?" Chetsu asked.

"Yeah..." Gohan looked at Goten and said, "Got any ideas?"

"Hmmm... nah, we better save the rest of the wishes. Okay, you can rest, if we need you, we'll summon you." Goten said as he waved. "Thanks!"

Shenlong blinked at the friendly tone. The two mortals seemed greatful for the effort. "Farewell." Shenlong boomed as he vanished and the seven Dragon Balls glowed and shot out in seven different directions.

"Who are you?" Chetsu finally asked as she looked at the two. They looked like twins but one felt stronger than the other and the older one was wearing a primative form of optical enhancements.

"I'm Gohan and this is my younger brother Goten." Gohan introduced, "Look, I really need your help. Have you seen these people?" The warrior reached into his wallet and took out a picture of Goku and Chi Chi.

Chetsu frowned as she stared at the picture. "No... I've never seen them before."

"Aww... my parents have gone off into space for a vacation as a second honeymoon and we haven't heard from them in three months." Goten explained, almost downtrodden. "I know this sounds crazy but Dad's a Saiyan, one of the last two Saiyans in the Universe."

Chetsu's jaw dropped as she looked up at the two. "Wait... you two have Saiyan blood?"

"Yeah..." Gohan nodded reluctantly not sure how this alien would react to the news. After all, she may be some enemy of the Saiyans, but Shenlong did bring her and she may help.

"I see... you two... just don't look... that bastard." Chetsu growled as she clenched her fists. "I should've known... are there more like you? I mean, more Saiyans or warriors as powerful as you?"

"Yes, there are warriors like us but do you know what's wrong?" Gohan asked, "Do you know what happened to my parents? Are they alive?"

"Yes... and they are alive but when I'm done telling you what happened, you will almost wish they are dead." Chetsu whispered as she looked down. "I only wish to say it once so it's best if you get your fellow warriors together."

*****

Chetsu sat at the table sipping some Cotan Juice she brought along. She gazed at the various warriors who had come. Most of the older ones were weaker but still could hold their own against some of the warriors she had seen. She noticed a few of the warriors gathering together and whisper about her. She wondered how can such a strange group of warriors whisper about her.

"Is everyone here?" Chetsu asked.

"Everyone except for Tien and Choutsu." Bulma replied, "But they will be here shortly. Can you tell us what happened to them?"

Chetsu nodded as she stood up and stared at the group. "What I am about to tell you will make your skin crawl. The ones you called Goku and Chi Chi are gone, maybe forever." She reached into her pouch and got out a small metal disk. She clicked on the disk and revealed a tall lavendar-colored man wearing a black jumpsuit. "This is Master Bardumn but everyone just calls him 'Master'. He owns a space circus spaceship and he goes around collecting recruits. The ones once known as Goku and Chi Chi have been caputred by that man."

"A circus ringmaster captured Goku and Chi Chi? I don't buy it." Krillian said, "Goku's way too powerful to be held by some ringmaster."

Chetsu glared at him and then the former monk was suspended in the air. "You doubt me?! This 'ringmaster' is far more manipulative and powerful than you can imagine!"

"Let Krillian go!" Gohan demanded as he grabbed Chetsu by the shoulder. "We believe you."

Chetsu sighed as she released her grip. "I'm sorry, it's just that bastard has done so much pain to so many people just for entertainment."

"She's right. I've heard of this 'Master'." Vegita said as he came up. "I recall meeting him once while I was working for Freeza. He helped Freeza by manipulating his DNA for his transformations. He even did research on my body for Saiyan experiments but he never had a chance to manipulate my DNA, Freeza insisted on it."

"So, that explains it." Chetsu muttered as she crossed her arms. "Vegita, those experiments may have helped that 'Master' capture Goku and Chi Chi."

"Wait, how did the Master make it impossible for the Dragon to reach Mom and Dad?" Goten asked.

Chetsu sighed as she looked down. "The Master has great powers and he is a master at manipulating the very mind. He uses drugs to mutate both the body and mind. He changes his victims from the outside in."

At once there was silence as the group absorbed what Chetsu said. It was horrifying, almost as horrifying as Buu's rampage on Earth. "How much did they change?" Gohan finally asksed.

Chetsu looked down and said, "You wouldn't recognize them. By now, they wouldn't even recognize you." She stopped and then looked up as her eyes widened. "By the Triden... they're here?!"

"Who's here?" Tien asked as he and Choutsu came into the room and then stared at Chetsu. "Who are you?"

"I'm... Chetsu... don't you remember me? Either of you? No, of course you don't." Chetsu replied as she hugged the two. "I thought you were dead, I felt you two die."

"What are you talking about?" Tien asked as he pushed the woman away. "Who are you? And why do you look so much like me and Choutsu?"

Chetsu sighed as she looked at the group and then at Tien and Choutsu. "Because I'm your sister, somewhat. You two were the handywork of Master Bardumn." She ran her hand over her face to wipe away her tears. "Bardumn took you away as a child and split you into two people, Tien and Choutsu. I could never get you two back into my brother again without killing you. After I managed to rescue you two from him, I sent you away to a distant planet, I had the computer randomly choose a frontier planet that has sentient life on it and hoped it was right. I had a link with you so I would know that you were alive until one day when I felt the connections snap. Choutsu died and then I felt Tien die, I was heartbroken. I never thought that you would be alive." The woman said as she hugged Tien and Choutsu. "How is that possible?"

"It's... a long story." Tien repied as he stared at her. He knew that he was different from other humans but he had no idea that he and Choutsu were from outer space or that they were once one person. Some part of him believed her story, after all, she did have his eyes and Choutsu's skin.

*****

"These Dragon Balls are impressive." Chetsu confessed as she sat in the chair after Tien gave her a quick story about the Dragon Balls and how he and Choutsu died several times and yet came back.

"Yeah, they are." Tien agreed, "I'm glad they brought you to me."

"Yes, but right now's not the time for family reunions. We have to get Goku and Chi Chi back before they have fully changed, if they haven't already." Chetsu said as she stared down at the floor.

"What do you mean?" Gohan asked, "You told us before about how this 'Master' changes from the outside in. How can he manipulate Mom and Dad mentally?"

"He telepathically inserts information into their brains and slowly peel away their identities. He controls them with special collars and restraints with no privacy whatsoever. He puts special chemicals into their food and weaken their will. They obviously would be fighting this but it's a matter of time. The dragon can only transport a person if he or she allows him and Bardumn had manipulated your friends enough to make them want to stay. I'm afraid that the process is now permanent." Chetsu explained as she clenched her fists.

"What if we had wished Goku and Chi Chi back earlier like when they stopped communicating with us?" Bulma asked as she felt guilty for not checking on Goku and Chi Chi before Goten and Gohan pleaded with her to check on them.

"Then their mental and physical transformation wouldn't be so advanced." Chetsu answered, "It would be much easier to bring them back to normal. I don't know if it's possible to even bring them back period at such an advanced stage."

"Stupid stupid stupid!" Bulma chided herself as she slapped herself on the head. "Why didn't I try sooner to find them?! Now, they are beyond the help of the Dragon Balls and they haven't just died, they have ceased to exist! That is way worst than death!!!"

"Bulma!" Vegita screamed as he took his hands and gently held her head. "Damn it, woman, don't get hysterical. Kakarot... *Goku*" Vegita added to make sure he is talking about her Goku, "and Chi Chi are two of the most stubborn warriors in the Universe. They should be fighting this as we speak, as long as their bodies are still alive, there must still be some trace of them left that we can save and bring back. We will save them, woman. I will not let a fellow Saiyan be used in a... freak show."

Bulma shook in his arms and then nodded. "You're right. Goku has been in worse situations, he and Chi Chi can get out of this. I'm so sorry... I'm just so sorry."

"Vegita's right about one thing, they can still be saved." Gohan said, "Goten and I have dreams about Mom and Dad, the last dream showed that they are still alive but I don't know for how long. Right now, we must focus on rescuing them and bringing them back, even if we must render them unconscious. We must save them. Who's with me?"

The group nodded at each other and then rose their hands. "Let's save Goku and Chi Chi!" Krillian exclaimed.

"YEAH!!!" The group cheered as they rose their hands in unison.

*****

"So, what happened to you back there, Ceta?" Neko asked as she brushed Ceta's long hair.

"I don't know... Kakarot and I had the strangest dream that a huge dragon came and asked us to take us away. I don't know why. It just scared me." Ceta sighed as she rubbed her forehead.

"Kakarot confused about big lizard creature in Kakarot's head." Kakarot said as he brushed his fur.

"I'm sure that what ever it was, it was just a crazy dream." Master said as he chuckled and gave the two small pills and water. "Here, take these pills and those dreams will stop." The couple agreed and took the medicine.

Master scowled as he walked away. **Those two have been very hard to keep under a tight rein. That dragon dream must mean that they are still fighting. I must keep the pressure on and then they will be mine forever. Not even Chetsu can save them now.**

To Be Continued...