Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Surviving Together: A New Legacy ❯ Transformation ( Chapter 20 )

Surviving Together: A New Legacy

Chapter 20 - Transformation

"Come on Dad, I'm exhausted! Can't we take a break?!" Trunks pleaded, sinking to the floor in exhaustion.

"Boy, get back up! High expectations are placed upon the Saiya-jin no ouji; how the hell do you expect to maintain them when you waste time on such idleness as a 'break.'" Vegeta crossed his arms over his chest in a rather exasperated manner.

"Your 'expectations' aren't the only ones 'placed' upon me. Mom expects me to live through each of our sparring matches, and if I don't take a break now, I might fail to live up to that vital one. And to be perfectly honest…" Trunks broke from his speech for a long breath as he pulled his arms out of his sleeves. Pushing the training suit down to his waist so his sweltering skin could have a chance to breathe, he continued. "I'm tired, and hungry… Pushing me anymore will be useless. I think we should just go see if we can catch up with Mom for dinner."

"Hmph." Vegeta huffed, shaking his head at his much too pampered son. He would have to work on toughening the boy's edges over the next few months. "Very well, but you had better have more energy come tomorrow morning. No more of this quitting after a measly seven hour training session."

"Measly my ass…" Trunks muttered under his breath as he rose from the ground with a battered groan. "I'm gonna get a quick shower." He announced before carefully walking towards the washroom.

Vegeta smirked as he watched the boy try and hide his soreness as he left the training area. Trunks had taken an impressive pounding in stride. 'Only my son could withstand such a beating.' Vegeta thought with pride. The boy's power at the scanty age of ten is actually stronger than Vegeta's was before he became a Super Saiya-jin. His mind couldn't help but wonder if the boy would ascend to the legendary as he had. "If he does, he could surpass even me."

"I don't suppose there is any chance of that happening within the next few minutes?" A bold voice interrupted the Emperor's private thoughts.

"Garock? What the hell do you want?" Vegeta's tone was that of suppressed anger. If there was one thing he hated, it was being snuck up on.

"My apologies, sir," Garock motioned a fast bow before completing his entrance into the training room. "But, I bring some… bizarre news."

"Do you?" Vegeta raised an irritated brow as he turned to face the man. "It had better be good."

"It's Cooler, sir." Garock decided to cut right to the chase. "He's… here."

Vegeta paused briefly before breaking out in hysterical laughter. "Don't be a fool man! Cooler may be a complete moron, but he is not suicidal! Attacking Frost head on is a like begging me to send him to the next dimension."

"Well then I hope you are willing to answer his plea, because there's no mistake. His ship de-cloaked just ten minutes ago. I had the intelligence checked twice, sir. He's here, and even more bizarrely, he only has a fourth of his fleet with him."

"Ridiculous. Cooler would never make a full attack against my elites with a meager twenty-five percent of his army. It's simply impossible," Vegeta spoke assuredly, "Cooler might be a weakling, but he is well known for his brilliance in strategy. It has been because of this fact that he has managed to remain alive so long." The thought of him suddenly committing tactical suicide made absolutely no sense. "He has something up his sleeve. This is too sloppy for Cooler."

"Do you think he is simply going to blow up the planet from space, sir?" Garock gulped nervously.

"No." Vegeta was quick to ignore the possibility. "This planet is his home, and more specifically it is a symbol of all that I have taken from him. He needs to reclaim this planet to feel true victory over me. No, Cooler has something else in mind. Something that has him arrogantly certain of victory. It's the only explanation for why he would waltz so deep into my territory with so little protection."

"Then… I suppose I should ready your ship--Alert the planet of the on coming attack." Garock suggested; the more the emperor spoke the more nervous Cooler's close proximity made him.

Vegeta paused, considering the situation before carefully making his choice. "Very well," he agreed with a confident smirk upon his face, "set all of my men on alert. I want them assembled on the training grounds ready for instruction in ten minutes! And, prepare my ship as well. After all, it would simply be rude not to greet my guest."

"As you order, sir." Garock nodded before turning to leave.

"Garock," Vegeta stopped him before he could depart. "I want you to personally pick a team of twenty men, send them to the underground barracks where our scientists are stationed. Have them ensure the weaklings protection."

"Yes, sir… Oh, and what about Miss Briefs? " Garock quickly questioned. "Do you wish her to take cover with her associates as well?"

Vegeta shook his head at the man's absurd suggestion. "No. Find her, explain the situation, and then escort her to my chambers on my private ship. I don't trust her safety in anyone's hands but my own."

"Of course sir. I will see to all that you order." Garock bowed, as he thought of what dastardly things Cooler might have planned. His only comfort was the composure in Vegeta's attitude. He seemed prepared to take on anything that was about to be thrust at him, and even more so he seemed assured of victory. Garock took one last glance at his king before departing from the room.

"What did Rock want?" Trunks voice suddenly echoed through the room.

"Go put another combat suit on." Vegeta ordered, not taking the time to look at his son as he walked over to a side cabinet.

"Aw… Come on Dad, you said we could have dinner!" Trunks whined, stomping his feet angrily.

"There's no time for that now." Vegeta opened the cabinet, pulling out a pair of gold tipped boats, white gloves, and white and gold matching armor, Vegeta carried the items over to his son. "Put these on."

"Wow!" Trunks smiled excitedly as he accepted the items and began to examine them more closely. "This stuff matches your armor. Is it like formal Saiya-jin wear or something?"

"Yes," Vegeta nodded with pride, "but you are not putting it on for sport; we are going into battle."

"This color is so royal looking, too-WHAT? Battle!? Who the hell are we fighting?!" Trunks' mind raced, stunned to hear the frightening and yet strangely exciting news.

"Cooler's fleet is closing in on the planet. It seems he wants a fight, and a Saiya-jin is never one to disappoint." Vegeta spoke with confidence. "I assume you wish to join in the action." The words came out more as a statement than a question.

"Are you kidding??" Trunks eyes lit up. "I owe that bastard for what he did to me and Mom before. He's totally dead meat!!" Trunks proclaimed in a powerful declaration that only went to further his father's acknowledgment of the Saiya-jin blood flowing through the boy's veins.

"So what are you waiting for?" Vegeta asked as he pointed to the boy to ready himself. Trunks followed the silent request as he ran back into the washroom and quickly threw on a black combat suit, returning to complete his ensemble with the additions his father had given him.

"How do I look? Saiya-jin right?"

Vegeta only responded with his classic smirk as he beckoned his son to follow him to the docking bay. "I shall warn you well in advance boy; I expect you to make me proud. No opponent should best you, no challenge should make a fool of you, and no injury should be bestowed upon you that cannot be returned ten fold. Do you understand me?"

Trunks nodded slowly. "I'll make you proud Dad." He said with conviction. "Hey, wait, what about Mom! Maybe I should stay behind to protect her-I mean she's not helpless, but look at what happened last time." Trunks spoke with growing anger; he would not fail his mother a second time.

"I already sent Garock to collect her. She will be on board ship with us. And I shall ensure her protection. She is my mate, my responsibility."

"Good." Trunks said with a smile, that was exactly what he always wanted to hear from his father. "But in case you have any problems, I'll be there to back you up. She may be your mate, but she is still my mother, and I have a responsibility to her as well."

"I will not have any problems." Vegeta growled at the boy's suggestion. Though his son's devotion to his mother was admirable, Vegeta was more than capable of protecting what is his.

"Hey, where are we going? Isn't the docking bay down this way?" Trunks pointed to the right, after Vegeta turned down the left passageway.

"It is, but we are heading to the training grounds first. I must speak to my men before battle. It's custom."

"Oh, I get it. Get them all riled up and wanting to beat the shit out of Cooler's men. Definitely a good idea!" Trunks exclaimed, very much excited to see his father in action.

It wasn't more than a few more turns before father and son walked out to the training grounds to be greeted by thousands of soldiers; who, in a wave of unity, took a knee as Vegeta presented himself to them. Trunks held back as he couldn't help but watch in awe at the respect the men showed his father. They cheered every time he spoke of their inevitable victory, and maintained dead silence as Vegeta noted his pride in those who would fall that day. With every word he spoke the soldiers before him seemed to further prove their respect and honor for the Emperor. 'I wonder if that could be me someday.' The young boy's mind began to imagine the possibility as he looked at all of the warriors before him. It was just dusk, and under the light of the moon the view was impressive.

'The moon…' Trunks' mind suddenly snapped as his eyes wandered to the sky, looking almost bewitched up at the sphere. 'Wow, I've never seen one before. It's so pretty,' he thought with a smile before his eyes inadvertently began twitching rampantly. "What the hell?" Trunks groaned as his hands began shaking, his teeth clenched together almost violently. Trunks screamed before a raging pain took over his body. Hair began covering his arms as a stabbing pain in his lower back produced a thrashing tail. The next thing anyone knew, a wild roar was unleashed and the once small boy had suddenly morphed into a giant ape, who announced his presence to the entire planet by shaking it's foundation as he shot a beam of ki from his mouth that burned right through the entire east wing of the castle.

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"There's a full moon tonight."

A long, all too shocked silence ensued before Bulma managed to allow the words to sink in. "Wha---What the fuck do you mean there is a full moon tonight!?"

"Well… Which part was unclear?" Durka crossed his arms in an almost disappointed manner.

"Which part was-Durka, this isn't a time to joke! Did you not listen when I told you what happens if my son looks up at the moon! Your vision is going to come true! We have to stop it before it's too late!" Bulma almost screamed her plan before turning to leave. She failed to make it very far however before a strong hand snaked around her arm, halting her movements.

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that Bulma." Durka's voice suddenly turned as cold as his palm.

"Durka, what are you talking about?" Bulma snapped her head back to see an almost darkened expression upon her friend's face. "Durka what the hell is-Ouch-Durka let go of my arm-You-You're hurting me." She moaned as she struggled to free herself from his grasp. "Durka, what are you doing?"

"What I have wanted to do since the moment I learned who you were." He growled, grabbing her free arm and roughly pulling her little body against his. "Master Cooler wanted me to wait until the moon was high before I 'took care' of you, but it seems your annoyingly inquisitive mind has forced me to move up my plans… No matter though; I can't say that I mind."

"You-Your plans? " Bulma swallowed hard. "Master Cooler--- Durka I don't understand…"

"Of course you don't kitten." He smirked as he rather savagely forced his lips upon his captive. "Mmmm…" He moaned, rolling his tongue across his lips before pulling away. "You know I have wanted to do that since our last little interlude. I mean slow and soft just isn't me, but I had to make the adjustment to keep up my 'close confidant' appearance." He paused for a harsh chuckle. "Ridiculous isn't it? You just don't know how hard it was for me to play the loyal softhearted captain."

"Appearance?" Bulma stuttered the word, her mind racing to clarify her utter mystification. "Durka, you aren't making any sense… You-You are my friend, we share things with one another, you helped me sort out my feelings, hell you even saved my life, my son's life… You're Zarra's son; your mother was my best friend, why are you doing this?"

"Why?!" Durka's fury began to escalate as his fingers agonizingly tightened around Bulma's arms. "Why!?! It's called revenge my dear, sweet and simple."

"Revenge?!" Bulma screamed in utter bewilderment. One moment she is expressing her concern for her son to a close friend, and the next she is fighting against the death grip of an enemy. To say the sudden change was too much grasp all at once would have been an understatement. "What revenge! I have never done anything to you!"

"Oh but you have." Durka disagreed, his chilling eyes locking with Bulma's as he delivered the truth behind his motives. "You took my father from me, and for that, I will see to the destruction of everything that is dear to you if it is the last thing I ever do."

"Your father!?" Bulma shook her head as though the situation couldn't possibly have become even more ludicrous. "I barely knew you're father, Kerno was only an acquaintance of mine through your mother--"

"No, you stupid bitch! You still don't get it!!" Durka practically screamed. "That whorish friend of yours is not my fucking mother! I only told you so I could gain your trust!"

"What? But how can that be, I can see the resemblance, you have--" Almost as though she was struck by a sudden jolt of sagacity, Bulma could all too painfully see the truth. Her entire body froze as her eyes looked upon the monstrosity she had been too naive to see through. "Oh gods no…" Bulma's voice choked as she finally made the eerie connection that had been evading her.

"That's right, my sweet." Durka flashed the most mind numbingly cruel smirk. Without a chance for argument or dissuasion, a stabbing pain shot through Bulma's head, enveloping blackness about her consciousness; but not before the agonizing articulation of a most horrifying reality ravaged her ears.

"I am Zarbon's son."

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Author's Note: AAAAhhhhhhhh Yessssssssss! I am back to evil cliffhangers! You have got to love them! So, can it be true? Is Durka really Zarbon's son?!!??! It seems so! What kind of danger does this put Bulma in? What cruel plans does the vengeful man have for our favorite blue haired scientist? And what about poor Trunks? What kind of damage will he cause in his Oozaru form? Will Vegeta be able to stop him? Oh, I can't wait to find out how this battle will turn out! Next chapter soon…