Chapter 3:  Second Chances

            Gohan looked around him. Everything was as it was when he first arrived after the incident on Namek. Toma and Bardock were even walking up behind him.

            He didn’t waste time. He jumped up and caught Bardock just as he fell. Toma looked at him in complete surprise.

            “I don’t have time to explain anything,” Gohan said quickly to the confused Saiyan. “Just take Bardock and make sure he doesn’t go through with the rebellion tomorrow.”

            “How—“

            “Don’t ask any questions! I need to speak with the King, NOW! WHERE IS HE?” Gohan screamed, hoping he scared Toma enough.

            He did. Toma was clearly startled and could not speak. He only lifted his hand and pointed toward a huge building in the distance.

            “Thanks!” Gohan yelled, and flew as fast as he could toward the Saiyan castle that stood on the horizon.

            Gohan didn’t take long to fly to the massive castle. It was a large, metal building that was a large cylinder. The only sharp part of the building was a cone-shaped thing in the middle. It reflected the light all around it, giving it a mysterious and foreboding glow. Gohan gulped and landed, running toward the castle.

            ::Hello, little Saiyan::

            Gohan gasped and stopped dead in his tracks as the voice broke through his mind.

            “Hello?” Gohan whispered.

            ::Gohan, if you go in that castle, the chances for failing are larger. If they know you are half-Saiyan, which is only slightly apparent, you will be killed and have to start over again. Although it is faint, the way you talk will give you away. Don’t be polite with these people. The only one I want you to show respect to is the King. He looks like Vegeta.::

            “Should I go in there?” Gohan hissed quietly.

            ::You can try. If you have to, kill someone. Don’t be afraid, little Saiyan, they will be brought back to life if you fail, but if you succeed this time, then they will remain dead. Don’t hesitate in anything. Your Saiyan senses will help you here. Don’t think—just act::

            And the voice was gone.

            Gohan blinked a couple times, waiting for the voice to instruct him further, and only did he move when he realized that he was on his own. He sprinted at a very fast speed toward the castle and slowed down as he approached a door. Two very large Saiyans were standing in front of the door. He took the voice’s advice and didn’t think of any plans—He shot a very strong ki blast at them and killed them instantly.

            The doors creaked open under his touch. He walked into a large hall, which split off in all directions. The metal turned to stone as the corridors opened up. He didn’t think for a second. He ran into a very light looking hall. He didn’t care where he was going—his body did everything, all he did was watch.

            As he reached the end of the hall, a glass door appeared. He looked through it and saw a long, blood red path of tiles run over a smooth granite surface. About ten guards stood along the walls—five on each side. At the head of the hall was a large throne. In it sat a very authoritative looking figure. He was exactly like Vegeta only he had a goatee and brown hair.

            Gohan didn’t try and be discreet—he kicked the door and it shattered at his feet. The guards jumped to action and made a ring around the King. Gohan smirked and held up a hand, blasting them all…except the King.

            “Nice work, brat. Not many children can take out my guards,” the King said coldly.

            “I’m not like anyone else,” Gohan said nonchalantly.

            “I see that,” the King sneered.

            “I need to speak with you,” Gohan said, completely ignoring that this was a king he was talking to.

            “Then speak. I don’t have all day.”

            “Frieza is going to blow up Vegetasei tomorrow if the rebellion against him takes place. The Prince will live, as well as one other, but everyone else will be killed…starting with you,” Gohan said quickly, hoping to spare some time.

            ::Little Saiyan::

            ::What?:: Gohan thought, hoping the message would get through.

            The King stood silently, looking Gohan up and down, as if assessing him.        ::Tell the King nothing else…but don’t order him around. Just suggest. If he attacks you, don’t use your full strength…but still give him a show. It’ll be worth it. Don’t worry about time, either. You have about 13 hours. Good luck::

            The voice once again disappeared and everything was silent until the King spoke.

            “How do you know this?” the King asked suspiciously.

            “I cannot tell you more. Only I know this. You must believe me and if you don’t, then you aren’t a very good king and your entire race, save two, will be annihilated,” Gohan cried forcefully.

            “And why should I believe a little brat like you? What would you know about anything?”

            “You’ve got to trust me! If you don’t, everyone will die!” Gohan cried.

            “I don’t want to hear anymore! You will be thrown in the dungeon!”

            Gohan was about to reply, but a guard was behind him, ready to strike him unconscious.

            Gohan woke up once again in the cold, dark cell that he had been thrown in during his last try. This time, though, he didn’t need any persuasion from the voice…he found the door all by himself.

            He started to bang on the door with all his strength. The door still didn’t budge.

            ::What kind of idiot are you? That won’t do anything! You have to make some noise, like you’re going mad or something::

            Gohan didn’t have to say anything to do what the voice said. He started screaming and throwing a fit and throwing out curses in as many languages as he knew.

            The door swung open and two burly guards came running in. They approached Gohan, who was now writhing on the floor, and tried to calm him. They didn’t get very far before Gohan decided to attack them. He threw up both hands and blasted them both to ashes. He didn’t wait for anything after that. He ran out of the cell and through so many corridors that he was now completely lost. He chose path after path and got nowhere. He stopped in his tracks, hung his head, and sighed.

            ::Don’t give up, little Saiyan. Take a left at the next set of corridors and you’re out::

            Gohan reacted instantly and sprinted ahead. At the next set of halls, he took the left path and ran as fast as he could go. As he was looking back, to make sure no guards were after him, he ran straight into a big metal door. He fell back, his nose bleeding slightly, but he ignored it and got up. He swung open the door and ran out into the desert that was Vegetasei.

            He jumped up in the air and flew for a moment before noticing that something was wrong. He flipped around and looked up at the sky. It was blood red. The castle was black against it…everything looked wrong.

            He then looked up and noticed why everything was wrong. The sky itself wasn’t red: the ki ball being hurled at it was.