voidtreckerexpress | The Final Platform

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The Final Platform

THE FINAL PLATFORM

BEFORE ARRIVAL

Those who are remaining get their tethers sorted first, after all the stress and uncertainty it really is a simple procedure. There are many void technicians hovering around but they soon get into a rhythm and one by one those who wish to remain in void space are tethered to the void hub.

They are however looped to the train, for one final journey. The Voidtrecker Express is accompanied by a voidcraft full of scientists as it travels to one final platform. For one final time there are just the voidtreckers on board the Voidtrecker Express. The journey does not take too long but as they approach their final destination the train speaks.

"Voidtreckers. It has been so busy but before you leave I wished to speak.

This voidcraft understands that the circumstances around you being on board were not ideal and would like to truly apologise for the pain and inconvenience of the last few years. But also, more than that, would like thank you.

You have done what many would not have, what many could not have. You have brought back those dear to this voidcraft. Furthermore in their absence you stepped into their place and there are many worlds which owe you a debt of gratitude.

This voidcraft owes you a debt of gratitude and, if this voidcraft may be so bold, I have grown very fond of you all also. I hope you all fulfil the dreams you have and find your places in your world or in the void. I dare not ask it of any of you but for those who wish it, there is always a place for you on board this craft.

None of you will be forgotten by the Voidtrecker Express.

Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. There is unfortunately a slight drizzle. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."
A lurch and a jolt, and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform.

THE FINAL FAREWELL

The platform is a bustle of activity, void scientists direct those who are leaving the void to special pods where their tethers are detangled and from there they are led to the barriers, to go through back to their world. For those choosing to move through time they are accompanied by yet more scientists, but there will be time for goodbyes.

It is not like previous times, where people leave without a backward glance. This time people are themselves, able to say goodbye and walk through the barrier of their own accord.

The scientists try and give everyone space, they don't rush anyone but do keep tabs on where everyone is as those who are returning leave through the barriers one last time.

Soon the only people left on the platform are those who are choosing to remain. The train doors open and they can board once more. There is a whistle, to round up any stragglers and then the train begins to move along the platform. The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Their new home. The void itself.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I – Before Arrival
Vegeta doesn’t have much to arrange before their time to leave. He didn’t really collect anything important to him to take back with him, and even ends up leaving any sensu beans and armor sets he had left, for use by those who will stay behind. He had however spent the time making his choice. He had a first reaction to this all, a first choice, and after talking to Yondu about it… he knows it’s his best choice. A risk, but for him his best choice.

But he keeps it to himself, having only spoke his thoughts to his blue friend, but Vegeta’s final choice is something only he would know. Or more the fact, why he was choosing this choice. There’s a good chance his world is no longer there, to be taken from mid battle against an opponent he nor Goku could beat by themselves, needing fusion to change the balance of the battle. So for Vegeta to be taken from the middle of it… He’s not sure Earth is even there. But there was just as much risk of him ‘turning back time’, for him to have changed so much to be thrown back into a fused body… it may tear the fusion apart.

Despite knowing this was all a gamble he was making, that this could be the last thing he does and that Hell could be waiting for him when he returns… Vegeta shows no signs of his choice or struggling with it, just carrying on as normal as he helps others pack up and get ready to leave, until they find themselves heading out onto that platform for the last time.

II – The Final Farewell
Vegeta really isn’t one for goodbyes, even after spending so much time with a person. It was just a fact of life, and the fact many of those who had become important to him would be either sent off safely or will stay here, he’s fine with that. He missing their presence wasn’t as important as the fact they got to make a choice for themselves and able to pick their own path. Sure, some may had it forced upon them more than others, to not have bodies or planets to return to, but it was still a choice.

However Vegeta will linger as one of the last to head off with the scientists, almost as if wanting to see others off and make sure they made it to their choices safely. Some of course hit harder than others to see go… and he wants to see them for as long as he can, especially those of versions of his own world.

After Vegeta had made his choice, he still kept it quiet. Especially from Bulma. He knows what kind of reaction she would give him; to fight him over it, to try and find a way around it. And he didn’t want her to know. She was heading back to a time where she would be safe, where she would have he and Goku fighting to keep their planet safe, and back to their family she had been away from for so long. He wants her to focus on that, not what gamble he has to take with his own path.

Instead he tries to show no signs of anything being off, just getting ready to go, which mostly was trying to figure out what to do with all the junk she had accumulated over their time here, snarking at her for having collected so much and how much a mess it all was. Yet it’s as they come close to their final platform, their final stop, he will have taken her aside from others, to try and steal some time alone with her before they saw everyone off.

They had somewhat spoken about home. About what they last remembered before they'd been pulled to Verens, and then into the Void. Bulma hasn't really thought about that in quite a while, though. Between missions and all of this mess going into wrapping things up.. it's far from her mind. They move to pack up and go back to their respective times and worlds, Vegeta chiding her about all that she had collected with a future project in mind, and Bulma leaves most of it behind. There was no need for rudimentary materials when she was about to return to her lab with only the best in it.

... Once she'd spent a lot of time with Vegeta and the kids, of course.

She knows what Vegeta is up to when they are aside from others, which is why she's reaching out, a hand on his arm and turning to face him, a bit of a bodily block from anyone that might be looking.

"What's the matter, Vegeta? Not excited to go and see your version of me?"

As her hand comes to rest on his arm, Vegeta's own hand raises to rest a finger or two against her arm. A small and subtle sign, but still wanting that contact.

He's not quite sure what he wants to say, or even how he would, but he's not going to give up a chance like that when she offers it, "To tell her I've been with a younger version of herself?" Unable to help himself from that tease as he tries to sort his head out to even start all of this.

To be able to say goodbye to her.

She laughs at the wise crack. Of course she does. If there was anyone in the world who could manage to be maybe jealous of herself, but two years younger … Bulma is that person without a doubt.

Despite the fact that she’s going home to her own Vegeta, she can’t help but think that she’ll miss this Vegeta, too. They’ve been through so much together, how couldn’t she? Luckily this is still the same man she’s always known, just a little older, and she doubts her Vegeta will really care either way as long as she’s back safe and sound.

“I’m sure she’ll forgive you provided you make sure to tell her she doesn’t look any different from me.” Which… is probably true, considering all of her cosmetic treatment and dragonball gathering.

“As long and it’s still me, she’ll be fine.”

"I know." It didn't matter what time or universe it was for them, right? Even into a rather distant future. It was still each other.

Well, maybe not when she had reverted back to her older self and laughed at them being married... ok, maybe even then, even if she didn't believe him.

Vegeta stroked his gloved thumb against her arm, silent as he did so, brows dropping in a bit in a way she would know he wanted to say something, but didn't know how to. Struggled to put what he was feeling into words, or even trying to process it enough so he could even recognize what emotions he was feeling. That it was just beyond his ability to express with any ease at all. Part of him wants to be selfish and be able to say goodbye to her knowing what he was risking... but the far bigger part didn't want her to worry. That he would handle it one way or another. She was going back to a world waiting for her, with people waiting for her, and who would be fighting to make sure the world was safe for her to return to.

Bulma smiles as he confirms. Of course she knows it, knows his feelings for her after all this time, two kids and so many damn life or death trials, many more than she ever wanted to deal with..

But it never hurts to hear it again.

Still, she'd have to be blind to not notice his mood, the subtle signs that there's more that Vegeta wants to say. She's spent so long now having to figure out his little hints and tells that it's as clear as day to her when his brows drop in that he has something more to say. Vegeta isn't incredibly expressive verbally, but his face would give him away by far in any situation. Bulma's hands rub up and down Vegeta's biceps, comfort and encouragement all in one, coaxing him to come out with it.

"Vegeta... what do you want to say?"

...what did he want to say about this all? What could he?

Hmm...

Finally, "Take good care of the kids." He knows she would, that it didn't need to be said, but... still wanting to. Kind of like what he thought his last words to Trunks had been, to look after Bulma. He had known the boy would, as much of a brat he was. And he knows if anything threatened their kids that Bulma would move worlds to make the threat suffer for even considering it.

Cassie is rather more formally dressed than Vegeta's used to seeing her - she'd decided to see everyone off in the dress she'd bought for the formal dance she'd thrown almost nine months ago. No sense in holding back when she's just going to revert to what she was wearing before.

"Going to take some getting used to, sparring against regular humans again."

Vegeta may raise a brow at her choice of dress, but that really isn't saying much for a man who preferred to live his life in armor, or whatever casual wear Bulma buys for him. It's not his fault humans don't get the multi use of armor.

However, he does get what she means, "You'll manage. Being able to pull a punch is just as much a skill as throwing one at full strength." As he's certainly had learned over the years despite it sounding like the opposite of what he wanted. "That or you'll just have to become the teacher." Train up someone to be able to match you, Cassie.

Then, "I assume you're taking the offer to go back now and keep Void travel possible." Considering she was going home instead of staying here with Trunks.

"Trunks and I still have work to do back home," Cassie says. "But it sure as shit isn't gonna be goodbye for good. Maybe not even for long."

She smirks. She'd like to see if Jacqui might not be able to make a race of it with Bulma. If anyone on her world could...

"But becoming the teacher's the plan. The work Mom put in has shown that your universe's qi techniques can work in mine, too. I aim to whip up a fighting force that could ruin the shit of the Elder Gods themselves it came down to it."

Then, her expression turning a little more serious: "It'll make it easier to leave when the time comes."

How long had Trunks been away? More than long enough for the whole thing with Cell to be cleaned up, and for him to had not been killed as result of it. But Vegeta is also well aware what Trunks needs to do once he returns; to head back to his time and stop the androids and Cell there. And to have to tolerate Vegeta's younger self too...

He hopes Trunks can put up with it again, considering how they had rebuilt their time here. "Right, he does." Vegeta not adding more than that, still working to Trunks' wishes not to learn about what would happen, even via Cassie.

He does however let out a huff of an exhale of a laugh at Cassie's determination and plans. It's certainly something Vegeta can encourage. "Make it so your planet is not to be messed with ever again." Or get stronger beings showing up because of it... either way, good training for her when it happens.

Then, "To know there are people there able to protect it after you." Vegeta understands that all too well.

"I've got some mixed unit concepts I've been working on in my head," Cassie says. "Some ideas of what can be done with charged qi and guns. But that's gonna have to wait until I've drilled the basics into the core members of the unit."

Much as she's not dressed for it now, she still very much has a soldier's mindset for combat. Individual mastery is a fine thing, but to wield it en masse to ensure dominance over a battlefield is an even better thing.

"But yeah. Setting up a stronger force that won't need me, plus a line of communication."

That... hmmm, "I hadn't considered combining them with firearms before, due to the fact it's pointless in contrast to ki blasts, however have found the use of it as blades have it's moments of functionality." Also, "And I'm pretty sure Bulma could make a gun equal to a ki blast." She has come pretty close to it in the past... as a child... with those laser guns she had made. "So it's certainly something capable of happening, even if just a manner to channel the direction of ki in a way that is familiar to it's user."

However, on the the topic of what the final goal was, "Are you going to attempt to find a way to travel from your side?" He really has little clue on the technology levels of her world. Mostly cause Vegeta hasn't cared enough to ask before. It wasn't important previously.

"Charging a bullet with even a little bit of qi unlocks more of its latent potential energy," Cassie says. "Excites the explosives inside, too. It can add a lot of kick to it. It's what I did before Piccolo helped me learn to throw my own blasts."

She smiles, even more pride flooding into her expression than usual.

"I also made some use of it in one of our last missions. Put some extra charge into an artillery piece and took out a whole brigade in one shot."

The smirk stays on her face after that. She may be almost as glad about getting the chance to do that as she is about meeting Trunks.

"As for traveling from our side, we've got some experience in sending messages and opening portals between realms. They're dimensions within our own universe rather than separate universes in the void, but I think it'll be a good jumping off point."

Vegeta really doesn't get or care to know about the technology behind bullets, but the words 'explosives' are more than enough for him to question it, "That will take a lot of control to put in enough ki but not enough to set it off before you want it to. It would be worth working towards a time delayed attack." Before adding on, "Hopefully Piccolo also taught you that, he's skilled in that area." Stuff Vegeta wouldn't say to Piccolo's face, but will recognize about the Namekian to others.

"Good." Vegeta answers, then a pause. "Take care of him when you find him. His timeline will be different to Bulma's and my own." The fact all three of them were splitting between different realms. No, four of them, Bulla had been here for a time too, and Vegeta hopes she would be heading home too now things were sorted out, even if she never appeared again during the time others returned.

"Like I said, it's a technique I already knew before," Cassie says.

Her expression softens.

"And I will. And he'll probably feel the need to take care of me, too. I won't mind."

Hm, good. Good. Since he can't be there for... well, any of them. Though, as long as Goku was around, they should be fine. As much as Vegeta hates to admit it... Goku could handle anything thrown at him. Eventually. When he actually finally uses that empty head of his.

But Vegeta is no good talking about that kind of thing, instead just letting out another huff as he crossed his arms. Though, maybe this was a chance for something else, "...if you get to his time, his world, take the Bulma from his world out with him." After all, they have never been cautious about changing timelines in the past, and maybe Cassie can prevent Bulma's death for this Trunks.

Here Cassie's expression changes, her face twisting.

"...Take her out? Like, to dinner?"

Now it's a straightforward frown.

"Or do you mean something else?"

...no Cassie. Sigh, ok, that's on him, he hadn't been that clear, just hoped it would be...

Vegeta had promised Trunks he wouldn't talk about what he was going to face in the future, but he hadn't with Cassie. And if it saved Bulma... "Away from her world, her time." Another huff, but almost as a sarcastic 'ha', because he knows his wife, even if this Bulma wasn't his wife. That they never got that chance. "I'm sure she will fight it. But she has to leave while she can." Ideally if they could move all the remaining humans out of Trunks' time that would be the best, but that would take room and resources to do, and a place to relocate them.

If Cassie can at least save Bulma...

Cassie's fist tightens. She now has the face of a woman who is determined to smash face-first through a brick wall, and is about to do it.

"You're from his future. What is it that's coming?"

Trunks might not want to know, but she does.

A moment to consider how much to tell... before entrusting Cassie to deal with it. It's better for one of them to know what is about to come, to prepare for it. Who knows, maybe they could change it before it happened. It would mean they from Trunks' world may never see them again, for him to not have to go back to find them to bring help to his time, but if it saved people...

"A previous Supreme Kai apprentice will show up who wants to wipe out all mortal life across the universe," Vegeta is simplifying it, cause really, it's not fully needed right now. "Including Earth. While we managed to stop him, it was at the cost of all life on Earth and the planet itself. Trunks was able to survive," He's also going to leave out Mai from this, not wanting to even consider that drama right now with telling that to Cassie. After all, they being on the train would change that, so why even mention her? "He returned to another time while Bulma was..." Hmm... "While she was still alive."

Then adding, "You won't be able to fight Zamasu. Not in the form he takes. Even Kakarot and I couldn't finish him off with fusion. It took the King of All to do so." And they barely got out of that themselves.

It was all such a mess.

Oh, "If you find Kakarot in Trunks' timeline when you get there, that's not him, that is Zamasu already in his body, which means you're too late." Also, "Make sure you inform us from that timeline too, as he will have to be destroyed in our timeline to prevent it from happening again." They would need Beerus to step in and deal with him before things got out of hand.

Cassie, if anything, seems more determined to slam through the aforementioned proverbial brick wall than before. By the time Vegeta's finished, it looks like she intends to set the record for most masonry broken with a single skull.

"But right now there's still time," she says. "In your timeline you didn't have forewarning. Or me. If there's anyone who knows how to fuck with immortals' plans to destroy all life, it's me."

She looks Vegeta square in the eyes.

"As long as we can bridge the gap between universes before it happens, Bulma won't die. And I'll try to make it so no one gets killed by this asshole."

There's a long pause.

"So if there are any specific preventative measures you can think of, I'm listening."

A pause towards how serious this all is, before a smirk, "Exactly." Human or not, Cassie had the attitude of a Saiyan. His son had picked a good mate. Then adding, "I trust you won't bother to give him a chance." Unlike Goku would.

Oh, also, "Bring snacks. To bribe Beerus with." Just in case. Better to get the God of Destruction on her side with this all. Other than that, "You will need Beerus to destroy Zamasu before he's too powerful to stop, the issue is getting him to do so. He and Whis claim to not interfere," Though... have to a degree a few times, but say they don't. "So prepare for having to do it yourself if that's the case." That smirk slipping away to annoyance again, Vegeta more muttering to himself than her, "I should had pushed Trunks harder when I had the chance, get him to God form." They had spoke about it but... hadn't planned to work towards it just yet.

Then this all happened. And there wasn't even enough Saiyans left on Trunks' time on Earth to do the path Goku had taken. Oh. "Trunks needs to reach out to the kais to train under." If he could get there earlier than he did in Vegeta's timeline, maybe, just maybe, he would have enough power to take on Zamasu if things went poorly. Or both he and Cassie together.

"Well, I know how to get in touch with the gods of my own universe," Cassie says. "Hopefully they're at least as reachable in his timeline."

In the meantime, she's reaching into her bag to fetch a paper and pen. Writing things down is always helpful for memorization, even if you don't get to read them again.

"Just out of curiosity, how well does decapitation work on these immortals? Assuming they can't be killed, like the ones in mine can't. But Shinnok's head still came off. He just didn't die, which, y'know...sucks to suck."

The Final Platform

Vegeta | DBS

Closed to Bulma

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Platform

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almost forgot about this from canon

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