Part II: Gatherings


Morning mist began to climb over the top of farmer's houses and barns. Slowly creeping and dissolving off into the air above. The fields were defrosting themselves. No grains, plants, flowers, or food were growing. Just simply dirt laid out there, very untidy from the previous year of all the removing of its harvest. A small farmer walks out with his boy, they stretch atop their porch, go down the 2 steps, and head for the barn.
"Son," The farmer started as they walked along. "Today i will teach you how to plow." The boy looked up at his father.
"You think, i'm up to that task already?" The small boy asked looking back towards the barn.
"Of course, yer are boy, now here, open up the barn and I'll go round up ol' barnebe from the back," The farmer handed the boy the key to the deadlock of the barn. The boy took it and watched his father go around the corner, out of sightand towards the back of the barn.
The boy approached the barn, he placed the key under the deadlock and twisted. The deadlock snapped open and the boy proceeded to take the chains wrapped around the handles off. After, a few moments, he had them all off. He placed them onto a wooden table to the left and turned back to open the barn door.
He, silently, creaked open the barn's right door. He peered inside seeing nothing but black in all directions, mere shadows and outlines of equipment were seen in few places. The only light was the barn's window and the door, that the boy was holding, slightly, open. The boy pushed the door open completely. He placed a huge rock in front of the barn's door so it wouldn't close. He than went to open the second door.
The boy pushed the left door open, as well, and rammed another rock in front of he barn's other door. He looked around at all the tools and equipment neatly placed throughout the barn. He approaced a work table in the very back-center of the barn. He started snooping around, looking at all the guns and tools sprawled out on the table and above on a wooden board that his father had built and nailed nails accordingly to place objects upon them.
The turned back around and started heading out again but something caught his eye. In the corner, near the front of the barn, was a huge machine.
"What in the sam-hell is that?" The boy said aloud and approached it, cautiously. He noticed how most of it was clouded in shadow, except a leg; well, he thought it looked like a leg for a machine to have. He reached it and, slowly, reached out and touched it. It felt velvety, like his mom's dress.
He than realized that a sheet was, so obviously, covering it. He pulled with great force and after a few more tugs the velvet sheet fell and wrapped itself on the boy.
" Damnit!" The boy said while struggling free of the sheet. He looked up at the machine, now. "Isn't that Cap..." The boy trailed off. He backed away looking up into the second floor where the hay was stored. The boy's eyes widened as he caught glimpse of the figure, standing on the edge of the second floor.
" D-da-daddy?!" The boy sqeaked out. The figure, swooped down. The boy rushed out of the barn's doors. He turned back to see where the figure was. The figure was standing in the middle of the barn, in the exact place the boy had been before. The boy started freaking out, shaking his head, not knowing what to do. His voice lost for a yell, or even, a word. He couldn't take his eyes off the figure.
The boy thought about running, but couldn't feel his legs. No blood was going to them, he was that scared. His brain was repeating "Just run" but the boy's legs weren't listening, it was like they were staring into the eyes of the creature in the barn. The figure's eyes flickered, just once, a bright crimson towards the boy.
The boy's eyes widened in fear, in shock; he didn't know what had happened. The boy fell over backwards, landing harshly on the dirt below. The figure moved to the machine.
"Time to move away from this location," It was that same voice of the figure that had stalked the Z Warriors. He pushed a button on the side of the machine and it collapsed down into a small object. It was still too dark to see what it was, the figure placed it in a container.
Thefigure came outside. The 'X' shone brightly in the rising sun. The figure approached the lying boy. He looked at his work.
"I'm getting rusty," the figure stated, looking at a huge gapping oval hole on the boy's body. "That should have blew him up!" The figure flew off....The farmer came back, holding onto the reigns of an old horse, patting its mane. He glanced inside the barn, his boy wasn't inside. He turned and looked out, he saw his boy, laying flat out in the dirt, blood everywhere and a huge oval hole running from the boy's neck to his pelvis. The father fell to the ground, in complete shock. He sobbed uncontrollably into his hands....



Inside the Son's family home, in the kitchen, sat Goten talking with his mom, who was cleaning some dishes for breakfast. "Mom, when will dad be up?" Goten asked his mother.
"Oh, he'll be up once he smells the food," she rolled her eyes and put some dishes on the table. Goten laughed at this. A knock came at the door.
"I'll get it, mom, you just start the food," Goten rushed off to the door. He opened it to find Chaotzu and Tienshinhan standing there with huge smiles.
"Goten, my how you've grown," Tien commented.
"Tien, Chaotzu, it's great to see you guys again," Goten said, very excited to see them again. "Please, come in, come in, mom's making some food. Hey mom! Tienshinhan and Chaotzu are here, better make some food for them." goten smiled at the two as he lead them to the table. Chi Chi was pleased to see them, she said hello to them both and continued with her cooking.
"My dad's asleep, right now, but he'll smell the food and be out here, soon," Goten said sitting next to Chaotzu, who was next to Tien. "So, what brings you two here?" Goten asked, smiling, and looking at Tien.
"Well, we thought that, we never get to see anyone anymore and," he paused. "Well, we think, we should get the old gang back together and have a sort of picnic and get together!" Tien looked at Goten with a hope in his eye.
"Of course, that's a great idea!" It wasn't Goten who said this, nor Chi Chi. Everyone turned to the door, there stood Goku, smiling, looking at his family and 2 friends. "It's great to see you Chaotzu, and Tien."
"It's great to see you again, Goku," Tien replied, Chaotzu smiled at Goku. Goku went and sat next to his boy and began to chat with Tien, his family, and Chaotzu. Chi Chi brought them all their food and sat with them in the conversation, she didn't say much but added input every now and than.
"Well," Chi Chi started as she cleaned up Goku's and Goten's mounds of dishes. "I guess, i should call Bulma and Roshi to tell them." She sighed looking at all the bowls she had to clean.
"That's ok, Chi Chi, i'll go gather everyone," Goku said.
"Really? That'd be great, Goku," Chi Chi said, relieved.
"I'll help you with the dishes, Chi Chi," Chaotzu spoke up.
"Thank you, Chaotzu, you can help me with the food preparations, too, if you wish?" Chi Chi hoped he'd help.
"I'd love to," Chaotzu said as he cleared a stack of Goten's plates with ease, using his powers. Chi Chi was shocked.
"Maybe, you should leave, Chaotzu here, forever with me, Tien," she joked. "He could help me do everything all in a matter of minutes."
Tien laughed and so did Chaotzu and everyone else. "Well, Chi Chi, we'll be off than," Goku said.
"Be sure to get Bulma, Videl, 18, and their daughters over here first, so they can help!" Ch Chi demanded.
Goku nodded and him, Tien and Goten left outside and took off.
Goku flew in the middle, Goten to his right, and Tien to his left.
"Goku, I can go get Piccolo," Tien suggested. "I know, he lives out close to where me and Chaotzu live, so it can save us some time."
"Good idea, Tien, go ahead than," Goku acknowleged "And, Goten, maybe you can go get your brother?!"
"Of course, dad," Goten and Tien flew off their respected ways.
"Well, I'm not going to fly by myself, i'll instant tranmission to everyone else," Goku stated. He placed his pointer and middle fingers to his forhead, he searched for a ki source, and with a 'AHA, found ya!' Goku, IT himself to Master Roshi.
Roshi was sitting on the toilet, reading penthouse. "AHHHHHHHH! GOKU!!!!!!" Goku shielded his eyes and rushed out of the door. "HEY! Shut the door!" Roshi continued to scream. Goku slammed the door, and sighed.
Krillin ran inside, 18 and Marron were tilting their heads out from behind a corner.
"Goku!" Krillin laughed out rushing to his old friend. Marron came running out and stood in front of Goku "Hi, Goku," she said.
"Well, hello to you, Marron, my how you've matured over these years. You still like Trunks?" Goku asked, she frooze, Krillin looked at his daughter. "Oh-uh, i'm sorry, uhhh..." Goku scratched his head; he could read her thoughts and blurted that out, not on purpose, of course. "So, hi, Krillin and 18," 18 said a simple hello.
Krillin dissguarded Goku's previous question and asked. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, i came to see if you all wanted to come to a little get together at my palce?" Goku smiled.
"Of course, we will Goku," Krillin spoke up for everyone. 18 and Marron went to go get some things and returned.
"Master Roshi, hurry it up in there!" Krillin yelled out. Roshi came out 5 minutes later. "Yeah...." he let out, relieved.
"O, Master Roshi, that smells horrible!" Goku held his nose, and so did everyone else. "Krillin, you don't have a nose remember?" Goku told his friend. Krillin took his hand off his nose, and laughed. "That's right."
They all put a hand on someone's solder and IT back to Goku's house. "I'll be back, all, i need to go get the others," Goku waved at them and, put his hands to his forhead and IT again.
Goku arrived atop the lookout. It looked as beautiful as it always had. Mr. Popo was watering the many flowers and trees. Dende was walking along side him, talking. Goku started sneaking, hunched-over, behind Dende.
"Ah, Goku, so u have come to invite us to the party, than?" Dende spoke as Goku approached them.
"Awww, how'd you know it was me?" Goku asked, stupidely, as he stood back up.
"We weren't sure if you were goin to invite us to the party," Dende said as he turned around looking at Goku.
"Of course, i wouldn't leave you two out of this get together!" Goku assured them "Well, shall we go than?" Goku asked. "Let's," Dende said, as he and Popo grabbed each of Goku's shoulders. Goku IT them back to his home.
Krillin, Tien, and Piccolo were chatting outside the door. They saw Goku. "A little slow, nowadays, huh Goku?" Tien mocked at how Goku had only received a few of the people he was suppose to get and he had the IT technique.
"Well, maybe you're stronger, Tien," Goku stated, everyone laughed at this, even Piccolo. Tien looked down. "I'm just kidding with you, Tienshinhan," Goku reassured. "Well, I have a few more to get so, I'll be back." Goku IT himself, just as Dende and Piccolo started to converse, along with Popo.
Goku arrived at Satan's house. Buu was eating one of the truck loads of chocolate. "Ah, Goku, good to see you," Satan walked out of his mansion. Buu turned around, as soon as he heard Satan say Goku. "Goku?!" Buu said.
"Hi, Buu, and Mr. Satan," Goku said. "You two want to come to a get together party?
"Sure, Goku, let's go," Satan said placing a hand on Goku's shoulder. Buu grabbed ahold of the truck and grasped Goku's arm. Buu smiled, "Let's go!"
Goku didn't protest and IT them back to his house. Goten, Gohan, Videl, and Pan were now there.
"Awww, even Goten beat me here," Goku sighed.
"Good to see you too, dad," Gohan joked. Videl said hi to Goku and hugged her father.
"Grandpas!" Pan said excitely, hugging Satan first, than Goku.
"Hi, to you all too," Goku said. "I have to get Uub and Vegeta's family, correct?" Goku said.
"Nope, Uub's already here," Gohan stated. Goku looked dumbfounded and turned around to see Uub landing.
"How'd you know, we were here, and having a get together?" Goku asked.
"I read your mind, Goku," Uub told him.
"Oh, well, yea, i guess i should have known," Goku said, scratching his head. "Well, i have to get Vegeta and his family, still than, right?" Everyone nodded. Goku IT to Capsule Corp.
Goku feel to is knees, instantly. "Vegeta, how high to you put this stuff to, nowadays!?" Goku groaned out.
"Ah, stop your belly achin', Bulma's made it so it has unlimited limits!" Vegeta said turning off the gravity machine. Goku stood up and looked at the white tiled room, in the center, was Vegeta and the control panel. "What do u you want, Kakorotto?" Vegeta demanded.
"Do you and your family want to get together for a picnic at my palce?" Asked Goku.
"I've got better things to do," Vegeta turned away.
"Like train?" Goku laughed. Vegeta grumbled "Oh, alright fine, we'll come," Vegeta ended as he left through the door. Goku followed him. Vegeta turned into the locker room. "Where do you think you're going, fool?" Vegeta turned as Goku was still following him.
"O, whoops, sorry, Vegeta," Goku appologized and left the room. Goku walked down the hall and came to the living room. He sat down on one of the many, leather, love seats.
Vegeta soon came out, in towels. "Towel-day?" Goku asked.
"Shut up, clown! That woman just hasn't washed my clothes, yet," Vegeta retorted. Vegeta left the living room, into the kitchen. He came back out after a few minutes with his clothes in hand.
"How long you gonna take?" Goku messed with Vegeta. Vegeta ignored him and continued walking, he turned the corner. "Hurry it up!" Goku yelled after him, laughing.
Vegeta's middle finger appeared in view from the corner. "I said, shutup, damnit!" Vegeta yelled back. Goku just continued to laugh at him.
Vegeta came back in his blue spandex outfit. "Finally," Goku said, sarcastically.
"Do I need to flip you off, again, clown?" Vegeta flipped him off again, anyways. "Well, Bulma and Bra should be returning soon from the mall."
"What about Trunks?" Goku asked, standing up and walking into the kitchen with Vegeta.
"He's working," Vegeta said.
"He can't take some time off to come hang out?" Goku asked.
"He's working on something big, and working, just leave it alone Kakarotto," Vegeta said slamming the refriderator's door, surprisingly not breaking it. He threw Goku a soda, and popped his open and left the room. Goku watched him go, than soon, followed.
Vegeta sat down and turned on the 48" tv, and started flipping threw the channels trying to find something to watch.
Goku sat two seats down, to his right. Vegeta just stared at the tv, with an angered look upon him, but this wasn't the usual anger-drived face that Vegeta usually had on.
"You ok, Vegeta?" Goku asked. Vegeta just continued to stare at the tv, flipping threw the channels. "Vegeta?" Goku persisted.
The door opened and Bulma and Bra walked in. "Hey, Goku!" Bulma said, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?" She said as Bra went and placed their many bags on the kitchen table.
"Hey, would you like to come to a get together?" Goku asked. "Vegeta's already said yes, and we kinda need to hurry."
"Of course," she and Bra went over to Goku as he was standing up. They placed there hands on his shoulder. Bulma turned around and reached for Vegeta's hand. Vegeta wass still watching the tv.
"Vegeta?" Bulma began.
"I'll be there, later," Vegeta said, flatly. "I'd rather fly than have Goku instant transmission me out of here!" Vegeta said cold and harshly.
Bulma just turned back to Goku. "Just go than," She stated. Goku gave one last look to Vegeta, than IT them to his home.
Bulma and Bra went inside to help with the food. Piccolo, sat, levitating in the air, meditating next to the tables. Dende and Popo were gazing at Chi Chi's many flowers she had planted. Goku looked in the direction of his house, inside the window he saw all the girls preping everything with Chaotzu. Pan and Marron would come out and set stuff up every now and again.
"Where's Vegeta and...uhh....Trunks?" Marron had asked Goku on her way back to the house.
"Vegeta will be here sortly, and Trunks, is at work; he may not come," Goku said. Marron, frowned but headed back inside.
Gohan, Tien, Roshi, Krillin, Uub, Satan. Buu, and Yamcha all sat chatting together.
"Thanks for remembering to get me Goku!" Yamcha said sarcastically, everyone laughed with him.
Goku scratched his head. "Oh yea, sorry about that," Goku had just realized that he had indeed forgot him. Goku went and sat with his friends and joined in on the conversation.
Goku's mind wasn't totally on the conversation though. He was worried about Vegeta. He seemed so different than before. What was wrong with him? Goku thought. And, what about Trunks? What's so important that he can't miss?


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