Dragonball Z – Odyssey
-Chapter Two: "A Debt Owed"-
For the past 4 years, Planet Earth had been experiencing its first prolonged period of peace since the fall of King Piccolo. No violent oppressor descended from the heavens, no all-powerful, all-consuming monster rose from the ground to destroy them all. It was a time for all, including the Z Fighters, to relax with their friends and families, enjoying the simpler things. Some, like Tien Shinhan and Piccolo, found the peace and quiet unsettling, choosing to rather remain in self-imposed isolation, continuing their training far away from the hustle and bustle of the suburban world. And then, there were some who were completely different from their "old selves".
Vegeta was a changed man after his rebirth and return to life. In the fight against Buu, the proud Prince of Saiyans had finally put the lives of others, of the entire Earth, before his own. But his selfless sacrifice had been in vain, giving the Prince time to rethink his actions while living out the rest of eternity in Other World.
With the destruction of the maniacal Kid Buu and the wish to return the lives of "All the good people killed by Babidi and his minions" (a loophole in the wish meant that Vegeta's sacrifice was deemed suicide by the mighty Porunga), Vegeta rejected King Yemma's offer of training on the Grand Kai's planet, opting instead to train himself by constantly challenging the compendium of diabolical and powerful cretins residing in the bowels of the Afterlife. The Prince felt sure that the likes of Cell, Frieza, Babidi, Bojack, and countless other ne'er-do-wells would provide a more sporting challenge than the do-gooding heroes in the heavens. And, a short time later when the Saike Demon Janemba assaulted Other World, Vegeta and Goku threw down the powerful creature. Kibitoshin, the Supreme Kai himself, rewarded the two Saiyans by returning them both to life. Since his return, Vegeta had been different. He was still as moody and stoic as always, but he cared for his family, and even excepted the others as friends. Friends... a strange concept, for the eternally loner Prince.
One thing that would never change, though, was Vegeta's lust for strength. Even though he was no longer constantly punishing himself under the immense weight of artificial gravity, the Saiyan kept up a solid training regime nevertheless. There was a tournament looming just around the bend, and Goku still far eclipsed him in strength. The Prince felt sure that unlocking the third Super Saiyan transformation was the key, but try as he might, he could never find that well of untapped power. Years ago, Vegeta would have been driven to the point of insanity by this constant failure. Once upon a time, he had allowed himself to fall under the spell of a lunatic wizard hell bent on universal destruction to achieve the necessary power increase to defeat his long time rival. There would be no such behavioural repeat from Vegeta, though. Not this time. Even after hitting the wall. Vegeta would gain his strength the right way. The hard way.
A few weeks after his return, Bulma had brightly announced that there was another child on the way. And, with the birth of their daughter Bulla, Vegeta had all but cast aside his ruthless march towards insurmountable power. Bulla was, in his mind, his "little Princess", and she meant the world to him. The little blue-haired girl was her father's pride and joy, and (as long as no one else was watching – the Prince, of course, had to save face around his friends) he doted upon her endlessly.
In addition to his renewed role as caring father, the Saiyan Prince was now instructing three of the Z Warriors in the martial arts. Trunks, as always, trained with his father when he wasn't at school, and that meant Goten usually joined in as well. As if the terrible twosome wasn't enough of a handful, a third, scarcely believable pupil had begun training with the Prince. Around a year ago, Vegeta had been meditating alone in the sprawling Capsule Corp yards (Bulma had taken Bulla off his hands for the afternoon, and Trunks was with Goten, as usual) when an unlikely visitor approached him.
It was Gohan. According to the demi-saiyan, he'd grown restless over the past four years of peace. The Saiyan in him yearned for battle, and as he progressed into his twenties, that yearning had overcome any and all academic interests. He wanted to train again.
"You must be joking." The Prince had scoffed with a sneering smirk, knowing full well that Chi-Chi would never allow Gohan to give up his studious pursuits.
"Not at all." Gohan replied stoutly. "I know what you're thinking, and yeah, my mom wasn't too happy about the decision. But I told her that I'm not a kid any more. It's my life, and I'll live it as I please. Besides, Videl and me have been entering minor tournaments for the last few years. The prize money we've won is enough to last us long into retirement. I don't need to study any more."
"Why do you want to train, Gohan? Tell me the truth." The Prince demanded, folding his brawny arms across his chest. "There's nothing left out there to threaten your loved ones. The Earth doesn't need a defender."
Gohan uttered a humorless chuckle at the statement. "Like that's ever stopped you. Or my dad. Or Piccolo."
Any rebuttal rising from the Prince's mouth died on his lips at the stark truth Gohan had spoken. Vegeta, Goku and Piccolo all continued their relentless regimes not to gain strength in order to defend the weak, but because their warrior spirits wouldn't allow them to live any other life. Apparently, Gohan's own dormant drive for strength was awakening again.
"Why me, and not your father or the Namek?" he asked shrewdly, arching a brow. "Kakarot has been stronger than I since he stepped out of that Hyperbolic Time Chamber to face Cell."
"My dad won't push me hard enough. He's too soft on me to help me reach new heights. And Piccolo isn't as strong as you any more. You're the only one strong enough, and hard enough, to make me stronger."
The youth made a good point. But there was something Vegeta couldn't quite put his finger on. "You're already stronger than me. That old buffoon released your hidden potential and gave you power beyond a Super Saiyan Three. So why do you want my help in becoming stronger?"
At this, Gohan had flushed a deep shade of red, and he dropped his gaze, awkwardly ruffling his hair. "Ah, about that... I guess that my hidden power is like any muscle... If you don't use it... It ah... Weakens... Fades..." he muttered in embarrassment. "I haven't needed to use it in so long, and I just... Can't."
"Idiot..." Vegeta hissed, pressing his palm to his face in sheer disbelief. The brat's foolish laziness had cost him power greater than Vegeta himself knew existed. Dragging his fingers down his face, letting out a slow breath through his nostrils, the Prince digested the information with considerable chagrin. "Very well. I'll train you. But." He raised three fingers. "Three rules. One, you do as I say without question. I want you to be serious and dedicated. I won't be training with layabouts or idiots. Secondly, you tell no one of this arrangement. And finally, I want 110% effort from you. No half measures, no short cuts. Do we have a deal?"
It took less than a second for Gohan to accept the terms. A small grin forming on his face, he gave a stout nod of agreement. "We have a deal, Vegeta. You won't regret this."
"I had better not regret it, or you just might..." Vegeta had threatened darkly.
Gohan, however, had been true to his word. Twice a week, he arrived at Capsule Corp, and spent hours at a time cooped up with the brutal Prince in the gravity chamber, training harder than he ever had in his life. Vegeta was as relentless and remorseless as ever, throwing Gohan into the deep end by cranking up the gravity generator to three hundred g's on their very first attempt. He pushed the youth to his very limits, just as Gohan had asked, and made Piccolo's boot camp look like a walk in the park; If it wasn't for the miraculous senzu beans, Gohan would have needed a month to recover after every session.
Having such an enthusiastic partner meant that Vegeta was also becoming stronger and stronger. Once the youth had grown accustomed to the intense gravity, he gave the Prince a real run for his money every time they clashed. He felt that old hunger, rising up inside him, urging him to become even more powerful. In his mind's eye, he could see himself climbing the metaphorical mountain of strength, slowly gaining on an orange-clad figure up above.
For Vegeta, life was good.
On this particular evening, Vegeta was running late for his solo evening training. A trip to the Zoo with Bulla had ran a few hours over long (Vegeta simply hadn't had the heart to tell his daughter that she couldn't stay to watch the 2 o'clock sea world show) and severely cut into his fitness regimen. After a quick supper, the Prince tucked his little princess into bed, promising he'd take her for a flying lesson early in the morning. "Tell me a story, Daddy! Just one more!" the little girl demanded, pouting heavily; an indication that she wouldn't comply and sleep before he had fulfilled the order.
"I've told you three today already, Princess." he replied in mild amusement and exasperation. "Besides, we're going flying in the morning. You need a good night's sleep."
"I don't need to rest, Daddy." she whined, folding her arms across her chest in a very Vegeta-like expression. "I'm a mighty Saiyan, like you! Saiyans can do anything!"
"Hmm..." Vegeta tapped his chin in mock-serious thought. "I guess there's one way to find out..." He rummaged in his pockets a few moments, pulling a small coin from its depths, and, holding his hand flat, palm facing down, placed the coin on the back of his scarred knuckles. "A true, well-rested Saiyan could snatch this from me without even breaking a sweat. If you can take it, you can stay up as long as you like. If you can't, you have to go to sleep and get your strength back. Agreed?"
The little bluenette sat up straight, nodding once in determination, raising her hand, poking out her tongue in concentration. She inched closer, staring intently at the shiny coin, then lunged. Vegeta's hand moved faster than the eye could see, slipping out from under the coin and his fingers clamped around it. Bulla let out a huff, falling back onto her bed, staring moodily up at the ceiling.
A rare smile flitted across Vegeta's face as he reached out and ruffled her hair. "Don't worry. I'm sure if you tried that again in the morning, you'd succeed easily. You're going to be faster than your father one day." he said kindly.
"R... Really? You really think so?" She asked timidly, glancing at her hero.
Uttering a chuckle, the Prince tucked in her sheets and planted a kiss on her cheek. "I know so." he replied seriously. "But only if you get a good night's sleep every night. Okay?"
"Okay, Daddy. I'll sleep real good, I promise! Better than Trunks!"
Vegeta rose from the bed, another smile alighting his face, he moved towards the door. "Good night, Princess."
"Good night, Daddy." the little bluenette replied with a yawn.
After flicking off the light and closing the door, the Prince moved down the corridor and out through the dining room. He could hear the sounds of the now teenage Trunks and Goten squabbling over a video game in the lounge room, the clatter of pots and plates as Bulma moved about the kitchen. Then, his eyes narrowed, his steps coming to a halt, and he glanced over his shoulder towards the back door, a presence zapping at his senses. Slowly, he turned on his heel, moving with deliberated paces towards the door at the end of the hall, rolling up the sleeves of his white, button up shirt. "Everything okay, Vegeta?" Bulma's voice called to him from the kitchen.
"Just fine." he muttered in reply, continuing his walk.
When he made it outside, nothing stirred. Only the sounds of a few late-night commuters in their cars zipping along the motorway in the near distance broke the still, night silence. He furrowed his brow, dark eyes sweeping the well manicured lawns under the light of the stars, his knuckles cracking audibly as he clenched a fist. Suddenly, a lamp post glared into life, bathing the yard in a bright yellow glow, and his gaze snapped to the source. A tall, shadowy figure stood beneath the glow of the light. "Greetings, Vegeta. It is good to see you again. You're looking well."
Vegeta's fists slowly unfurled, his shoulders relaxing. "Supreme Kai..." he muttered, as the figure stepped into the light. "Would it have killed you to announce your arrival before appearing in my yard?" he asked, arching a brow.
"You'll have to forgive me. My "people skills" are a little rusty." the smiling Kai produced a light, apologising bow.
"I trust you have a reason for being here?" There was no trace of welcome in the Prince's voice as he folded his arms. "I'm not particularly well known for being a gracious host, or enjoying surprise company."
"As a matter of fact, I do." Kibitoshin replied with a nod of the head. "I'm here because I need your help, Vegeta. A situation has arisen, and I need someone with your experience to handle it."
"You mean, another powerful enemy has revealed itself and you can't eradicate it on your lonesome." Odd, he thought. Vegeta was never known to be a hero. It was usually Goku or Gohan that people went to for help with issues beyond their capabilities. Hell, even Piccolo would have been a better choice, in Vegeta's eyes. "What do you want me to do?" he asked. "Better yet, why should I? I have quite enough on my plate without cleaning up the messes of the Gods."
"Firstly, we aren't gods. We are overseers. We watch. We guide. We protect. And when we can't protect, we enlist those who can. Secondly, Goku and Gohan lack one vital piece to solving this puzzle; Your past. The threat I speak of comes in the form of a powerful War Lord with an army at his disposal, terrorising the Southern Galaxies. South King Kai has already sent his best men into the fold, but they failed. The rest of your companions are also ill-suited to handle such a force, whereas your history in the Cold Empire leaves you with a marked advantage in the arts of war. You have both fought with and against armies in the past. And lastly... I would have believed you felt as though you could do this one, small favour for me, considering I was the one who returned you to life." The Kai's smile this time wasn't a pleasant or humorous one, as it usually was. "You owe me, Vegeta, so stop being a stiff-necked jerk for once in your life" that smile said.
It was then that Vegeta realised he'd been backed into a corner. Turning his back on the Kai with a silent snarl, he unfolded his arms, clenching his fists by his side. He hated being cornered, even by an ally. The Prince was settling into his new role as Father, Husband and Friend, all the while continuing his quest to becoming stronger than even Goku. Embarking on a journey into the far-flung reaches of space could take weeks, months, years even. He would be abandoning his family again; Only this time, it would be a conscious decision. Bulma would doubtless despise the idea, and argue with him. Trunks would want to travel with his father and fight the bad guys. And Bulla... telling his Princess that her father was leaving would be the worst of all.
But the Kai had cornered him, practically forced his hand. Vegeta was indebted, and he felt honour bound to clear it. Besides, the warrior who still lived in him screamed it's approval at the thought of facing down impossible odds and an indescribably powerful monster yet again. A test of his undeniable might during this time of peace. Such a battle would doubtlessly give him the upper hand over Goku, who had spent the time since his revival half-heartedly training. "Fine, I'll do your dirty work." he sneered over his shoulder. "Where must I go?"
"The Black Sea Nebula, in the Southern Galaxies." the Kai replied, clasping his hands behind his back. "Planet Marl. The Marlish are under siege by the warriors of Seyoria. Liberating them would surely gain their allegiance in your fight against Warlord Onaka."
"I don't need anybody's help." he growled warningly, as though the Kai had implied he was a defenceless kitten cowering before a wolf. His pride still ran strong; Old habits were the hardest of all to kick. "I'll take the fight directly to this Onaka, and cast him aside. Cut off the head, the body will flounder."
"That may have been the case with Frieza and his father, but not with Onaka." Kibitoshin interjected. "The Icejins had no line of succession past their own blood, because they believed themselves invulnerable. With the deaths of Frieza, Cooler and King Cold, the Planet Trade Empire collapsed. The Seyorians hold no such arrogant beliefs. Destroy one, another will take his place. Doubtless weaker than the first, but they will still fight as a singular, many-headed entity. You're powerful beyond measure, but even you can't destroy millions of fighters, who are far stronger and more cunning than Frieza's worthless henchmen."
The Prince grit his teeth. Even though he hated to admit it, the Kai spoke true. He pictured masses upon masses of soldiers who made Frieza's grunts look like children playing at warriors. And, while he could take down a thousand of them without breaking a sweat, a million fighters with strength rivalling the now dead Ginyu Force would prove an almost impossible task, even for him. Seething just below the surface, Vegeta grudgingly admitted defeat. "Fine." he snapped. "But I won't be answering to anyone save myself. Is that clear?"
"That will be something to discuss with the Marlish." The Supreme Kai was smiling from ear to ear, as though the millennia old being was watching his very favourite play. "I'm glad we could reach an agreement with such little difficulty, Vegeta. As always, you are pleasure to work with. Good luck on your quest."
"Just get out of my sight." Vegeta waved a dismissive hand, not even turning around, and marched back towards the building.
…...
"You're WHAT?!"
"Keep it down, will you!"
To say that Bulma hadn't taken the news well was a severe understatement. When Vegeta returned, glumly, from his venture into the night, he had broken the facts to her as gently as possible. "Not gently enough..." he thought to himself.
"Why does it have to be you, huh?" the bluenette asked scathingly, but thankfully keeping her voice to a low hiss. "It's not even your home. Why should you have to leave your friends and family to fight some big ugly monster on the other side of the universe?"
"I told you..." the Prince growled through clenched teeth. "I didn't volunteer for this. I'm the only one strong enough to fight this fight, and no one else understands the logistics of war like I do. It has to be me. Besides, I owe the Supreme Kai my life. He practically-"
"What, twisted your arm? Forced you into this? Threatened you? Ha!" she scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. You're forgetting I know you, Vegeta. You can't be forced to do anything you don't want to. Hell, if I've tried once, I've tried a thousand times to get you to mow the damn lawn every once in a while, but I'm still paying the gardener. You can't be bribed, you can't be coerced, you can't be tricked. So don't sit there and try and fool me into believing that not even a single cell in that Neanderthal brain of yours doesn't like the idea of fighting another war. I wasn't born yesterday."
"It's not like that at all." he replied, hands balling into fists. "You think I want to leave my family again?"
"Of course not." Bulma snapped. "But don't try and convince me you didn't take on the challenge willingly."
"Bulma..."
"Don't 'Bulma' me." The bluenette crossed her arms across her chest and stalked away, leaving Vegeta again with his thoughts.
He found himself a short time later, sitting alone on the Capsule Corp rooftop, his arms wrapped about his knees, staring pensively into the heavens. He gazed up at the stars, reflecting that soon, he'd be far beyond them, on distant worlds, fighting powerful warriors yet again. Although this time, unlike his stint as a grunt in Frieza's armies, he'd be liberating, not destroying. It was a strange concept for him to wrap his mind around.
Bulma's fury was the hardest thing for the Prince to swallow. He'd expected anger, yes, but he felt sure that he could have made her see reason before the sun came up. He figured though that now, she was cooped up in their bedroom, doing that annoying thing that human women often do when faced with sadness or anger (or any other damnable thing that sets them off) and crying herself to sleep. There was no sleep in Vegeta tonight, though. The morning would bring about more troubles, in explaining the situation to his son and daughter. The Prince didn't think he could stand watching his Princess cry.
The sound of creaking hinges split the silence, as a rooftop hatch was pushed open nearby, but Vegeta paid it no heed. No doubt Bulma was finished crying, and felt the need to come out and give him a further piece of her mind. And hell, he knew he deserved it. He was abandoning them again. Her footsteps pattered lightly across the sloping roof, and the bluenette sat herself beside him, gazing at his starlit profile. Slowly but surely, she inched closer, laying her head on his shoulder. Without dropping his gaze from the starry skies, Vegeta threw an arm around her shoulders and held her to him. Her fingers gently traced across his chest, and she gradually wrapped her arms around his torso, softly pressing her forehead against his jawline.
They sat there together for the longest of times, gazing up at the stars. The constellations danced overhead, the wind whistled through the trees, and after what seemed an eternity, Bulma pulled slightly away, her eyes falling on her Prince. "Promise me you'll come back." she whispered.
Finally, Vegeta glanced away from the heavens, and shifting his position, gently caressed Bulma's face between both hands. "I promise I'll come home." he replied. For a few moments, his eyes searched her face. To the Prince, she'd never looked more beautiful. He leaned down towards her, eyes gradually closing, and pressed his lips to hers.
The tender kiss lasted a few brief moments, before the bluenette reached up, tracing her fingers through his shock of raven black hair, deepening the passionate meeting of lips, pushing him back onto the tiled surface. They forgot their troubles then and there, and sank into blissful oblivion together.
This could very well be their last night together on earth.
