Questioning Destiny
I DO NOT own Dragonball/Z/GT. All rights go to Akira Toriyama.
a/n: Okay, I've noticed through some reviews that the last chapter was a bit puzzling. I may have wanted you all to be confused; however, there is a certain level of vagueness that I should allow. And it was a bit too vague last time. After Goku made that promise to Bardock, the story skipped a few years. I'm not saying how many though. And Goku is now a chief commander because he agreed to do anything Bardock said from the promise he made. After Goku was knocked out by Vegeta, he was dreaming. And those dreams were his real flashbacks. When he woke up, he then confronted Bardock about what he said during the fight that had made him lose his concentration for a brief second. Now after hearing what Bardock had to say, Goku has stormed out the building. And the story continues from there.
The Young Acquaintance
"Raditz lied about my friends being dead and you lied, too. Now I want to hear the truth! I've done everything you've asked of me," Goku claimed.
Bardock sighed. He spoke as nicely as possible, "Listen…." He paused for a moment before quietly saying, "I wasn't lying at all Kakkarot, and neither was Raditz."
'No! That's not true. It's a lie. It's all a lie!'
He paced back and forth with each step becoming heavier as he dwelled on his thoughts. The sun shined brightly among the crimson sky. The wind remained still and silent as if it was threatened by the rays of the bright sun. And the air remained unstained by vulgar words from any Saiyans. This small field next to the housing complex was relatively calm. If only such feeling could somehow seep into the frustrated mind of this Saiyan.
He deeply inhaled before admitting in one breath, "They're gone. They don't exist anymore."
'No, no, no, no!' Goku shook his head as he plopped down on the bench. 'I can't believe it. I won't believe it! Everything I did was for something. Master Roshi … Yamacha … Bulma … Krillin … Oolong… Launch…Tien…Chi-Chi…They can't be gone. They just can't.'
He wore a stoic expression when he bluntly stated, "But Chi-Chi's dead. All of your friends are dead. Absolutely, no one is alive. The Earth you knew is as good as gone."
But why were Bardock's words playing in his mind? Why did he sense this lump in his throat? Why did the pit of his stomach feel as if he would vomit, even though emptiness seemed to be the only thing filling his body? And why did he have this need to let his ki erupt throughout his very being; blasting his surroundings as if it would make everything better? All of these emotions were foreign to him. He had never felt so much pure rage or a certain pain that caused his chest to tighten. And then … there was this bizarre light pressure under his eye, before a mysterious liquid made way. Goku moved his hand to dab at it, his eyebrows scrunching in confusion as he saw this clear liquid at the tip of his finger.
'What's wrong with me? I-I…just…can't…' He placed his hands around his face as his body slouched over on the bench.
'Why does it feel like something's in my throat? Why does my heart hurt? Am I sick? I-I don't know.' His body quivered.
'what to'…water threatened to spill over his cheeks.
'think, anymore. I have never felt so…so…helpless.'
Familiar arms made their way around him. Goku, a bit startled since he didn't sense their ki; simply relaxed for a second before breaking out of their embrace. His eyes went up to stare at the woman's face, which barely resembled his own with the higher cheek bones and full pink lips as delicate as air. Her thick hair flowed down her to her mid back with small spikes at the end, yet it remained tamed as if it had been gelled.
She stared back at Goku, with eyes full of sympathy as she said, "So I'm guessing your father told you the truth."
"It's nothing but a lie." Goku immediately dismissed as his eyes diverted away from her. Silence stepped in, filling the small space between them as Goku began to fret with his fingers. There was no way she would understand. Something was wrong with him, not her.
His mother sighed and rubbed his back, "You know your father is a good Saiyan," she tenderly said. Goku flinched at the very word 'good', making Nectari move her hand away.
Despite that she stubbornly continued, "The leader had found out Earth was still intact. So it was then ordered by the leader to kill everything on Earth and maybe take some as servants. Your father, Bardock, realizing that you might still be on that planet, made a request to the king to lead that exhibition. Since Bardock was once the King's guard, he saw this as a simple favor."
Goku looked up to his mother, a bit puzzled as he asked, "What does that mean? How is he a good Saiyan because of that?"
She shrugged and sheepishly smiled. As her hand scratched at the back of her head she said, "I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me. I was just telling a story to take your mind off your father lying to you when you made that promise."
Goku stared at her with wide eyes, before they settled down to a blank expression. Nectari immediately noticed her flaw in words and exclaimed frantically, "Whoops! Sorry for that. Forget what I just said about your father lying." She smacked her forehead, "Oops, I did it again. Umm…quick…let's think of another subject besides your father lying…." She rubbed the base of her chin, deep in thought before joyfully saying with a grin, "Oh yeah. Congratulations Kakarrot!"
"For what?"
"Your mate, Oranga didn't tell you?" Nectari questioned, a bit irritated.
"Tell me what?" Goku replied looking up, still baffled.
"You're now the Prince's right hand man!" Nectari happily replied before adding, "You'll move into the housing complex closer to him. And you'll go on the next mission that the leader has specifically requested from the Prince. In fact, there's a meeting in a few minutes over in the South wing, where you'll have to attend along with the leader's associate to discuss the plans. Isn't that a great opportunity. We third-level Saiyans, are redefining our class!"
Even though his Saiyan body raced with exhilaration at the thought of another fighting mission, Goku betrayed it as he said, "I'm not going to the meeting. And I don't want to go on that mission."
"Do you want this treat?" Nectari quickly added as she randomly pulled out a big white cake from behind her back. Goku's eyes sparkled with excitement as saliva began to build up in his mouth. Nectari had him. She smugly smirked as she said, "Ah, I see you want it. It was supposed to be for your father." Goku sort of frowned until Nectari continued with a merry grin, "But if you go to this meeting and think about going on this mission, I'll give it to you."
"Sure, I'm starving!" Goku happily replied as he graciously, yet greedily took the cake out of her hands before thrusting all of it down his throat in one go.
As Goku banged at his chest to swallow it, Nectari pulled him off the bench and pushed him towards the building. "Now you forget about everything and focus on the meeting. Remember this." She stopped midway and Goku turned around to look at her face, awaiting her next words. And with her eyes fixated upon his she quietly said, "Before darkness there was light, before stone there was sand, before power came pain. This is our creed, never forget it." Goku could only nod in response, as he stood there and finally managed to gulp his food down.
"Now, hurry your ass off to the meeting before the Prince has your head and then I'll have to raise some Hell!" Nectari fiercely ordered, giving him one last push. Goku just about ran into the wall but he stopped himself. He turned his head back around to grin at her before racing off to the south wing.
Nectari returned a smirk but once he left, her face completely dropped. And she heavily sighed, "Pitiful child. He's so oblivious to what's in store for him."
XXXXXXX
"Aww, man which way is it?" Goku pouted as he aimlessly wandered around the halls. He had been walking for nearly an hour now. No matter how many times he went through this building, he always managed to get lost. He should have just give up on this meeting thing. He was already late! Suddenly, a furious Nectari cracking her knuckles briefly flashed in his mind.
On second thought, he might keep looking. Goku sighed as he dragged his feet through the vast hallways. She had tricked him. No, it wasn't her fault. She couldn't cook or tempt him. Thinking about that, where did she even get that cake from? And thinking about that cake, that's who should take the blame. It was its entire fault! He had been thinking about Bardock's words until he was tricked by that dessert. It had the ultimate power to take all his troubles away and make him absentminded as he consumed it. Its beautiful, mouth-watering creamy frosting and moist cakey goodness took his tongue on an eventual ride, as it battled with flavors that clashed perfectly together in his mouth….Wait a minute. Goku stopped momentarily. What was he supposed to be doing now? Another piece of cake didn't sound too bad right now. In fact, he was still hungry!
Without further hesitation, Goku eagerly turned around one corner and headed towards the kitchen. He may not know where the meeting room was, but he'd be damned if he didn't know where all the food was kept. With a big grin etched onto his face, Goku made his way to the kitchen.
However, he abruptly halted. He had felt a small thump against his abdomen. As his eyes scanned the area before him, he wondered, "What was that?"
"Hey watch where you're going, idiot!" a voice scolded him. Goku's eyes immediately went down to a see a mean faced boy who rubbed at his throbbing forehead.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there," Goku laughed off.
"I bet you didn't," the boy sarcastically replied. His eyes narrowed as he looked up to this cheerful man who began to look him over. To Goku, this boy looked quite young. He could be about 9 or 10 years old. Also, this boy didn't wear the normal Saiyan attire. His tights were black and the tough armor pads were an off-white color. This boy didn't have spiky hair. He had a buzz cut. Yet, something looked awfully familiar about him. With the tail wrapped around his waist, it was obvious that this boy was a Saiyan, but still there was something there.
"Didn't you hear me?" the boy scolded, snapping Goku out of his thoughts.
"Hehehe…Oh, no. Sorry. What did you say?" Goku said with another grin.
"I know I'm speaking your native language. I requested your name," the boy replied in an aggravated manner.
"Oh, my name's Go…" Goku paused. He was about to say Goku in spite of Bardock. But since it wasn't entirely proven that Bardock was lying, Goku still had a promise to uphold. Therefore, he continued by saying, "My name is Kakkarot. What's yours?"
Thinking of the proper way he had been taught by Bardock, Goku then extended his hand. But because he felt like it, he kept his "unacceptable" grin locked in position.
The boy's eyebrows wrinkled as he made a face. This man was a bit baffling. He hesitantly stuck out his hand to shake Goku's. Then the boy said, "My name is Frostbite."
"Frosty!" Goku happily said.
"No, it's Frostbite," he instantly dismissed.
"I like Frosty better. Those are good. Krillin had given me one before. And we raced and I got a umm… Freeze head.. I think. Frosty, can I call you frosty?"
"Can I call you dummy?"
"Pfft. You're not the first. Raditz calls me that. Can I still call you frosty?"
"Oh my Iceitian." Frostbite sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, using his god's name in vain.
"So Frosty you want a frosty? I'm on the way to the kitchen. They may not have any frosties but I think if we take a lot of ice and blast it, then we can make it," an overexcited Goku said.
"As much as I would love to, and oh, nothing would make me happier than eating plain ice; I'll have to decline your offer. I am one of the master's associates. I have to attend this meeting to make sure that these Saiyans don't mess up anything," Frostbite stated as he placed much contempt on the word Saiyan.
"That's funny. I have a meeting to attend too. Well I guess now we have to go our separate ways," Goku replied.
Frostbite just stared at him, "Is this meeting in the South wing?"
"Yeah."
"And the Prince will be there?"
"Yeah."
"What time did the meeting start?"
"Over an hour ago," Goku said.
Frostbite then exclaimed, "We're late to the same meeting!"
"Oh, really!" Goku asked, equally surprised.
"Yes. I can barely find my way around this building. Since we're going to the same place, why don't you show me the way?" Frostbite asked with grateful eyes. He had been roaming the halls for too damn long.
"Oh, okay." Goku happily agreed.
The two walked the hallways in silence as they went down various halls and passed many paintings. Within time, they came before a sturdy wooden door. They were instantly greeted by a waft of enchanting smells, causing saliva to build up in one greedy Saiyan's mouth as he anticipated the delicious food. Goku simply stood there with his eyes closed, basking in the overwhelming aroma. Meanwhile, Frostbite sighed to calm his nerves. "Alright here we go. To this dreaded meeting," Frostbite said as he busted the door open.
His eyes shot open.
"Get your greedy asses out this kitchen! The food will be ready soon. I don't know how many times I gotta tell you this, but if you want a snack go over to the Northeast wing!" a Saiyan cook yelled.
Frostbite cut his eye at Goku. He tried with all his might to calmly ask, "Umm, Kakkarot why are we in the kitchen?"
"We'll I'm hungry. And didn't you say that we were going to the same place. Well I was on my way to the kitchen, so here we are. Now dig in!" Goku cheerfully exclaimed.
"The hell you are Kakkarot. You'll eat everything up! Get your ass out before I kick it!" the Saiyan cook yelled as he continued to stir the stew within the pot.
Goku ignored this Saiyan as he took a step forward; however, Frostbite grabbed the little end of his sleeve. Goku stopped and turned around as Frostbite released it.
"Kakkarot. You know, I meant to go to the meeting. Now would you be so kind as to direct me to the south wing." Frostbite asked through clenched teeth. He had to use all his strength to talk to him in a nice manner when he truly was on the verge of losing it.
"Oh… Hehehe. I don't know where it is either. That's why I'm late too," Goku sheepishly replied as he rubbed the back of his head.
Frostbite gave him a blank expression. His hands began to tremble. A vein throbbed at the side of his forehead. And just when he was about to open his mouth to give Goku a few choice words, Goku stuffed a small pastry into Frostbite's mouth.
"It's good, huh?" Goku surely said.
"What the f… Did you just take a piece of food?" the cook screamed. Frostbite began to chew. His eyes lightening up as he savored the luscious flavors. Goku smiled as he observed Frostbite's expression.
"See it is. Let's get some more," Goku joyfully responded as he began gathering food from the counter in his arm while stuffing some in his mouth. And Frostbite couldn't help but to gladly join in.
"Don't you ignore me! Put it down! Damn it where are the others! I guess I'm going to have to kick your ass Kakkarot and that little one by myself!" the furious cook yelled as he placed his utensil down and began to chase after the savages.
XXXXXXX
Eerie silence floated within the room, caressing and bothering those with a scowl and scrunched eyebrows etched into their solemn expression. The only tiny thing that dared to interrupt the flow of this silence, was the incessant tapping of his fingertips as it met the harden surface of the table each time forming a larger crater than the previous.
The door had finally creaked open and relief swept the room.
"Hey am I late?" the random Saiyan said. The relief that had washed over the others was now replaced with anger once again. The random Saiyan glanced around the room and naturally assumed, "Oh, I guess I'm not. That's gre.."
BOOOOM
In the blink of an eye he, who had been tapping upon the table, had blasted the random Saiyan.
"Arriving when you please, not on my time," Vegeta stated.
No one moved to assist the Saiyan or see if he was alright, yet another Saiyan dared to ask, "Was that necessary Prince?"
"If he has died, then he's too weak to go on this mission with us. He's wasting our time with his incompetence," Vegeta spat venomously.
"But what if that was the leader's associate?" another Saiyan piqued in.
"You really are an imbecile. The leader's associate would be wearing black with the F sigma embedded on his armor." Vegeta replied. His obsidian eyes settled upon the one who questioned him, slightly narrowing. And with his tone shifting into a pernicious one he said, "And who in the hell are you to question me? You must desire the same fate."
"…" The words were caught within his throat as Vegeta stared him down. There was no way he would be able to defend himself against the Prince. And even if he did…This Saiyan gulped, swallowing down the cursed words and any other objections that would cost him his life.
Vegeta smirked as he studied that Saiyan's expression. As he rose from the table he said, "As I thought. Now, I'm leaving."
"Bu…" another Saiyan tried to say.
"Me, the prince, has wasted his time sitting around here for nothing! The leader's associate has the audacity to arrive late to this damn meeting. And where in the hell is Kakkarot?" Vegeta furiously asked as he began to walk towards the door. No one could answer him. Therefore, he proceeded to exit the room, slamming the door shut. Once he left, the room exploded with mumbles and side conversations.
"Hey I know I'm not mistaken, but didn't the prince arrive twenty minutes late too," one Saiyan asked.
"Does it matter? If the prince isn't here does that mean that we have to stay?" His companion, replied.
"No. Let's," he began to say. However, the door opened again, the small breeze from it carrying laughter and shutting everyone else up.
"No, did you see his face! I have never seen anything funnier."
"I know it was like."
"Hahaha! It was! Do it again! Do it again!"
"Like this!"
"Hahaha! Oh, let's not keep this door open for too long. We should hurry into the bathroom so we can hurry off to the meeting."
"Do we have to?"
"Yes, we're already…" Frostbite stopped mid-phrase as he stepped into the room full of ten or so Saiyans. He forced a serious expression in that instant as he mumbled to Goku standing next to him, "Kakkarot, this isn't the bathroom."
"Oh, it looks like we found the meeting place instead. What are the odds?" Goku laughed offhandedly.
The Saiyans couldn't help but check Frostbite out. After all, who in the hell was this kid prancing in there? Certainly enough there was a F sigma on his armor. Their eyes slightly widen upon realizing this boy was the leader's associate. Without any further words, Frostbite went to sit down at the head of the table. With a frown, Goku followed him.
Frostbite observed the crowd before him. Their expressions may have held little to no emotion, but their eyes said it all. Their cold, dark eyes threatening to devour his very being, definitely said it. They were pissed off. Yet, Frostbite attempted to shrug it off. He cleared his throat before saying, "Well now that I'm here, we can progress with this brief meeting on the plan the leader has proposed. It seems as if my master has found a new planet whose inhabitants and land will prove beneficial in the long run. And since this was deemed as an essential mission, you all have been employed by my master." Frostbite eyes scanned before him once again. "It would seem that Prince Vegeta was negligent and had forgotten that a meeting would take place. I guess I can't really go into the little specifics of the mission now. I'll be sure to tell my master of his absence. Are there any…"
"You've got to be fucking with us," A Saiyan with his spiky hair pulled back into an up-do interrupted.
"I beg your pardon," Frostbite replied as his eyes settled into slits at this Saiyan.
"Potate, don't.." his companion warned.
"Don't tell me shit!" Potate yelled as he banged his fists on the table and stood up from his chair. "The wonderful leader has sent us a damn kid. What in the fuck was he thinking? It's like he's looking down on us Saiyans by sending this pathetic brat! I know I'm not the only one thinking this!" Potate furiously stated, his hand pointing at the kid to display his frustration. Frostbite closed his eyes as he rubbed the temples of his forehead. This only angered Potate, even more.
"Don't you ignore me you piece of newborn shit! What can you possibly do for us? I bet you would get your tiny ass kicked on this mission, as well as any other we Saiyans go on! I checked your power level with this scouter here." Potate said as he pointed at the side of his face. "It looks like that great master of yours has spoiled you rotten, walking in here as if you own shit," Potate spat.
His words now were starting to irritate Goku. Frostbite was a nice kid. Potate didn't know anything especially since he only based Frostbite's ki level on the scouter. Just when, Goku was about to open his mouth and stand up for Frostbite, a blue blast came across the table sending Potate crashing into the nearby wall. Frostbite, flew across the table, barely visible to most Saiyans. Before Potate could even recover and remove himself from the cracks in the wall, Frostbite's fist connected to his abdomen. His ki enveloped his fist before it transferred into force which caused Potate to buckle over, spewing up a trickle of blood.
While he gasped for air and pain swelled all over his body, Frostbite lifted Potate's chin up. He said in a low voice laced with an ominous tone, "You shall not disrespect my Lord Cooler." Frostbite released his chin, just to give one last fist across Potate's jaw. Potate's body crashed against the floor; blood filling his mouth and the spacing between his teeth, from the tongue he bit onto which now carpeted the ground.
And then Frostbite, with a blank and yet cold expression, turned around to face the other Saiyans. His dark orbs whirled with a malicious and frightening intent as he said for everyone, "No one shall speak badly about my Lord or you'll pay dearly by my hands or probably the Lord himself."
Frostbite walked across the room towards the exit; his feet loud and as wicked as his presence. He then stated over his shoulder, "We'll do business for the next 2 months before departing to a place designated the name, Namek."
"Is there any more information than that? What makes Namek so special out of all the other planets?" one Saiyan questioned.
Frostbite stopped and looked back to say with a smirk, "I'll let you know whenever Lord Cooler feels it's necessary. As the Saiyan race is under his control, they shouldn't be the ones asking questions. They should just do as they're told." Frostbite walked out the room, as if nothing had happened. And a bewildered Goku could only stare at the young boy's back.
To Be continued…
XXXXXXXXXXXX
a/n: Yeah, I know it was kind of a filler, but it was necessary. By the way, this was the last time that it takes me a month to update. I'm getting back on my game with this story.
