Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Shades of Darkness ❯ Forgotten Truth ( Chapter 4 )

Shades of Darkness

Part 04

Forgotten Truth

Disclaimer: It's on the last chapter.

ENJOY!
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"We are summoning all slaves and ex-slaves to the nearest county center for a search. There has been rumor of a slave uprising and there are some suspicions to both slaves and ex-slaves. They will be held there for a while as background checks of any illegal checks are going on, slaves then ex-slaves unless the slaves are some how owned or related to ex-slaves…" Chichi screamed in fury and, crumpling the letter in a ball, threw it across the room.

"They can't DO this!" She howled in rage. "They CAN'T!"

"They can, Chi." Kakarotto said softly. "That's the problem. And if we don't go, we'll look very suspicious."

"I know. But what of Gohan? And Azai? And Mirai? They can't go there! With them!" Chichi sniffed.

"They are children. Surely they will not believe that children could…" Piccolo trailed off when Kakarotto looked at him.

"They will be under deep suspicion simply because of Vegita, Turlis, and I. It is nothing that can be changed now." Kakarotto sighed. "We need to get our things packed and go soon or we will never arrive on time and will have to wait even longer."

"I'll drive you, and see you when you get home, then?" Chichi sniffed.

Kakarotto nodded. "Of course, Kamista. Ai shiteru."

"I love you too, Kakarotto." She whispered, hugging him tightly. "And I'll see you when you get back. I swear."

It didn't take long for any of them to gather their things. They wouldn't need much. A spare change of clothes, a toothbrush and comb. Kakarotto lifted Gohan in his strong arms. The little boy had just turned four a few days before and the celebration had been wonderful. He and Marai were born just a day apart (Gohan was the older of the two) and so the best friends had a double birthday party. Piccolo had stalked off after Gohan had tackled him to greet him for the party. He was muttering things about sentimental nonsense after that for the rest of the day.

Gohan grinned up at his father. "Otousan? What are we doing? Why are you packing? Are you leaving me?"

"No, Gohan…we have to go down to the county center to get…checked out for something…" Kakarotto bit his lip.

"County center? Isn't that where…?" Gohan yelped. The county center was never spoken well of in the house, it was where all slave auctions and transactions took place. "You're going to sell me?!"

Kakarotto gaped at his young son. "I am not selling you!" He yelled in horror. "Who the hell told you that?"

"No one, Papa! Honest!" Gohan fell back. He'd never seen his father so angry before. "Gomen nasai, Papa, but you said that we had to go to the county center and I thought-."

"Who told you that you're a slave, anyway?"

"I heard you and Mama talking about it and I asked Piccolo-san later and he said yes cuz he didn't want to lie."

"I see. Well, no matter. We need to go down there. Are you ready to go?"

"I guess so, Papa. But I'm very scared."

"That's okay. Nothing bad will happen, I swear." Kakarotto lifted the small child in his arms and sighed. Curse them that made them slaves and forced him to tell his son that he wasn't free like any one else. Curse them.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

The rise there was uneventful, and they met up with the rest of Kakarotto's family as well as both Vegita and Mirai at the entrance. Bulma, Shannon, and Chichi wept to see all the slaves there. It was a well known fact that there were very few free slaves in the county besides Kakarotto's family.

Vegita, holding Mirai in his arms, exchanged a look with Kakarotto and Turlis. The trio were the best of friends and this only made them more wary and watch out for each other, especially when they had their children with them.

"We must be careful. I saw all of the guards carrying whips." Turlis whispered softly. The other two nodded in agreement.

"Otousama?" Kakarotto touched his father's shoulder. "What is going on?"

"I'm not sure." Bardock admitted. "I haven't heard much until I got that letter today. It makes no sense."

"Sure it does." Radditz interrupted. "They pen us up like this for a few days to remind everyone who's in charge. That way they can say, there's nothing you can do about it."

"Perfect." Kakarotto grumbled. "And I have to wear this stupid thing…" He fingered the ki collar about his neck and sighed, looking sadly at his son. "Oh my son," he sighed, "how I wish that this had never come to pass and put you in the midst of it."

The human women cried out as the guards came around to gather them up in one large group, trying to take Goha, Mirai, and Azai from their arms. The three Saiya-Jins grabbed their children and blew their mates a quick kiss before they were ushered out of sight.

"Come on you guys." Bulma said softly. "We'll stay over at my house."

"No." Chichi shook her head. "I can't. I told Bardock that I'd take care of Mrs. Williams."

"She can stay there too. Until they come back. Which they will." Bulma added fiercely. They will come back."
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"Slaves over there and ex-slaves that way!" One of the guards yelled out, pointing first to the left and then to the right.

Kakarotto managed to make his way to the front. "I wish to stay with my son." He said drawing in his breath. "I am free and my son is not."

"I don't care what you want. Ex-slaves to the right, slaves to the left." The guard snapped, reaching for his whip. Kakarotto bared his teeth and didn't move.

"I said to MOVE!" The guard snarled. He pulled the whip out and snapped it threateningly. Kakarotto sighed and turned to go.

"For parting!" The guard laughed, and brought the whip down across the unsuspecting Siaya-Jin's back.

Kakarotto gave a cry of pain and pulled Gohan closer to shield him from any more blows. The boy whimpered and clung to his father in fright. "Piccolo?" Kakarotto made his way to the small group.

"What is it, Kakarotto?" Piccolo didn't look shocked that someone would do that for no reason.

"Take care of Gohan for me?" He handed the little boy over. "It's not for long, my Chibi Hakari." Kakarotto smiled at the child. "Listen to Piccolo, okay?"

"Hai, Papa." Gohan agreed to terrified to object.

"I love you, my son."

"Love you too, Papa."

Vegita handed the Namek-Jin Mirai. "Watch out for my brat too. And, Chibi Kibou, you bee good, you understand?" Vegita asked, giving him a look.

"Of course, Papa. Love you."

"And I love you, brat." Vegita smiled and nodded to the boy.

"Jeisu? Take Azai, would you? Help Piccolo okay?" Radditz handed the short orange man his daughter.

"And Jeisu, take Zarbon." Bardock added, sending the eleven year old towards the man.

"I don't need a sitter, Bardock!" Zarbon protested.

"I beg to differ." His mother smiled. "Now be good. We'll see you when this is all over with." Alanya gave him a swift peck on the cheek and Riul ruffled the boy's hair.

"Let's do this." Kakarotto growled, eyes darkening.
~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~

In all honesty, Piccolo hadn't expected them to be divided up as they were. Woman and their children were placed into one room, married men in another, and single men in a third. The people hadn't been to sure where to put Piccolo or Jeisu then put them into the room with the single men. Probably not the wisest idea.

The room the group was placed in was the room with all the most likely suspects and they were not at all happy to see the three children. Zarbon had been placed with the other children since he was old enough to not need constant care and he'd taken Azai with him since they refused to let her stay in a men's dorm.

"Look guys, it's the kiddies!" One of the men, a filthy green skinned being, jeered at the group. Gohan looked up from his position where Piccolo had deposited him and Mirai to go get something to sleep on, meeting the man's blue eyes with his own coal colored ones.

"Hi! I'm Gohan!" He smiled. His look screamed of innocence.

"Ain't that cute!" The same man snorted.

"Shut up Fyland. I think so." Another being, this one with dark blue skin and bright blood colored eyes scowled.

"I'm Mirai." The lilac haired boy next to Gohan intoned. "Who are you?"

"I'm Taka." The second man laughed. "Why are you in here?"

"Cuz our Papa's be free and they would let us stay with them." Gohan frowned. "And my Papa got hurt for askin' if I could."

"That was who got whipped? Where were you?" Taka blinked.

"He was holding me." Gohan shivered. "He yelled cuz he was hurted. Papa NEVER yells. What did they do?"

"Don't worry about it, kid." Fyland recommended. "It won't matter in a bit any way."

"Back off, Fyland." A new being broke in. This one looked quite a bit like Piccolo except he was lacking antenna and had long reddish brown hair. "I'm Linar." He added for the children.

"Hi." Gohan and Mirai said at the same moment. Both children laughed. The men smiled. They were just too cute!

The others weren't anything like Taka or Linar. They were all closer in attitude to Fyland. Mostly complaining that they wanted to make the humans pay for what they did and what was happening. They would be in there for days.

"What's going on Piccolo-san?" Mirai asked, two days after they'd first been stuck in the prison.

"I'm not sure. But some are going to be freed, I think." Piccolo said softly, taking both boys' hands. "Act submissive, like to a king. And don't mock them." He added, eyeing the whips the guards held.

"What are you looking at, slave?" The man snapped, seeing Piccolo watching him.

"Nothing, milord." Piccolo bowed his head. Gohan and Mirai watched in shock. Piccolo was nothing like this. What had these people done to him?

"And what are you brats looking at?" He snapped at the children.

"N-nothing, sir." Mirai stuttered, trying not to look afraid. Gohan didn't trust himself to say anything but he did look to the ground.

"Aren't the little kiddes so cute?" The guard snorted. He pulled his whip from his belt. Piccolo's eyes widened. He wasn't going to hurt the two children, was he?

He was. The whip flashed through the air, whistling during their quick decent. Before either of the boys could blink, the whip had wrapped itself about Gohan's waist leaving a long bloody gash that wrapped around his middle. The little boy cried out and was pulled violently to his knees by the whip.

Mirai screamed and rushed towards Gohan only to get the same treatment by a different guard. "Hey, Hurcule!" The second, a tall blond with cold brown eyes, shouted to the first, a man with a large black afro and ice blue eyes.

"What, Sharpner?" The guard called Hurcule smirked.

"That one you got looks like an old classmate. Let's see if he's here! Then, we can hurt the kid to get back at him." Sharpner laughed.

"They can fire us for that, dummy." Hurcule made a face. "And what fun is it to hurt some kid that doesn't even pretend it doesn't hurt?"

"Well…" Sharpner shrugged. "Then let's get the grown one!"

"That idea I like!"

The two slammed the door and ran off.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

When they had left, Gohan and Marai slowly got to their feet, clinging to one another for support and trying to stop the bleeding caused by the whip. Piccolo and Jeisu raced toward them, and carefully picked them both up.

"Those humans will pay." One man, an old withered alien that looked almost human but for his cal ears and orange eyes, vowed in the back of the cell. "I, Dr. Gero will see to that!"
~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~ ~~*~~

Kakarotto paced around his cell angrily and debated over whether of not to try to beat the walls in. Bardock glanced at his son in concern and sighed. All of them were worried about the small children and there was nothing that could be done about it.

"We'll get through this, you know?" Riul asked softly, rubbing his temples.

"I want my son." Vegita growled. "They have no right to take him from me…"

"They have every right in this world." Kakarotto whispered, eyes haunted. "Maybe in some other world, we would have been other people."

"Who knows. Kakarotto and I could have been enimies! Maybe He'd have killed me." Turlis gave an ironic laugh.

"Yeah, and I hated him for being a stupid third class." Vegita snorted.

"Or there were only two of our entire race left." Kakarotto gave a derisive snort.

"Who knows?" Bardock said softly. "In some other place, I may never had seen you grow, and died when you were but a baby. But it is not here."

"And in some other world, I may have been free." Kakarotto closed his eyes, blinking back tears.

"In some other world, we may have all been free." Turlis put a hand on his twin's shoulder. "But it is not here."

"The what-if's do us no good." Vegita sighed, his voice brooding.

"I want my son!" Kakarotto snarled, yanking at the bars, which, thanks to the collar about his neck, didn't even give a little.

::That is enough, brother.:: Turlis commanded. ::We all miss our children. Stop making a scene.::

::You're right. But Gohan…::

::I know. It'll be all right.:: Turlis and Kakarotto exchanged looks and both sat down, the others leaving them to their thoughts.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"Hey, I found him!" Sharpner yelled to Hurcule, standing by the cell Kakarotto had been placed in. "Let's have some fun!"

"Sounds good to me!" Hurcule laughed. "Get them!" Several guards standing near by went over to see what the commotion was about.

"We want to teach them that they will always be slaves." Sharpner explained, cracking his knuckles.

"Sounds good to me!" One snickered. "Which one?"

"The one with the spiky hair. Oh, wait, they all have spiky hair because their all dirty Saiya-Jin monkaeys!" Sharpner laughed. Then, he pointed out Kakarotto. "That's the one. Get him out of there. He made a fool of me and now he'll pay!"

"Sounds good to me!" The first guard opened the cell waiting while Sharpner and Hurcule grabbed Kakarotto.

"Let me go!" Kakarotto yelped, trying to break free. "I didn't do anything."

"Not right now. But you made a fool of me…" Sharpner hissed into his ear. "And no one makes a fool of me."

"Sharpner!" Kakarotto growled. "Let me go!"

"I think not." Sharpner laughed. "Not until you pay."

"What are you going to do to me?" Kakarotto refused to beg for his freedom.

"We aren't entirely positive yet. But I do know it will be painful." Sharpner smirked.

Kakarotto sighed. He thought he'd been done with that when he'd been freed the second time. He was obviously wrong. His only hope was that his son was safe.

The group drug the helpless Saiya-Jin over to the whipping post and chained him on, tuning his collar up to the highest point possible, surpressing his energy down to almost less than five. A dangerous point for any Saiya-Jin.

He would not let the barbarians see his pain. He vowed that before they even began. Kakarotto rested his head against the post and closed his eyes, waiting for the pain to began. Sharpner cracked the whip once off to his side before bringing it full force on his back. Kakarotto grunted in pain. Again and again the whip flashed through the air. Kakarotto smelled the tangy copper of his blood and felt it soaking his gi pants. The men had remove his shirt at the beginning. Sharpner continued to hit him and reopened a half-clotted wound. Kakarotto bit his lip to keep from crying out. Salty copper painted itself across his tongue and he knew he'd bitten through his lip.

He held his barriers in place so Chichi couldn't feel his pain. It took all his concentration to do that and not cry out. Over and over the whip bit into his back, reopening long healed scars and ripping through skin and muscle.

"He's toast." One of them said, stepping forward. Kakarotto, barely conscience, moaned in pain as they roughly unchained him and let him fall unceremoniously to the floor. The first guard threw him over his shoulder, ripping the wounds open even wider. Kakarotto let out an animalistic shriek of pain and passed out.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Bardock only just managed to catch his son as he was thrown into the cell by the guards, blood covering his back. It had also dripped down onto his head and trickled about his face. It look like they had given him a royal beating. He'd been gone nearly two hours. The Saiya-Jin moaned in agony, and tried to wake up, only to fall back into painless, dark oblivion. Bardock cried out and sat his son down.

"Bring me water! And the sheets! Rip them to make bandages! Use your teeth if you have to damn it!" He yelled, turning Kakarotto over onto his unharmed stomach.

Radditz eyed the sheet. "It's not going to be enough, otousan." He warned.

"Find something else then! If we don't stop this bleeding, he'll die!"

"He's not going to die." Turlis whispered furiously. "He's holding on to me with all he's got. I'm anchoring him in the living realm."

"Good. Make sure he stays there." Bardock approved. "Now get me those sheets!"

The cell was a blur of activity, the men working desperately to save Kakarotto, son, brother, or friend to them all. Vegita lifted him easily and checked the collar. "It's all the way. We need to do something."

"Someone call for help. The guard changed. Maybe they'll fix it!" Radditz hissed, ripping into the sheets with his teeth.

"Help…me…" Kakarotto rattled out, breathing with hissing noises, his word enunciated with pain. "I…cannot…die…not…like…this…"