Disclaimer: This story is in no way intended to infringe on any copyrights, It is a strictly a fan fiction. Dragon Ball, Dragonball Z, and Dragon Ball GT are owned/produced/merchandised by the following: TOEI Animation, Bird Studios, Akira Toriyama, Shonen Jump, Funimation, and others possibly not listed.
Warrior of Heart
By The Fan Fiction Nymph
xxxxChapter 7xxxx
Return of a Dead Man
The morning had been pleasant and Rei took the time to enjoy a quite moment with her friend. She expected to return to her training routine in the afternoon, perhaps after a nice lunch and momosa?
Bulma, Rei, and Yamcha were all sitting out on the lawn enjoying a peaceful lunch. Bulma sipped her drink while showing off her new hair style. Rei couldn't help but think Bulma's hair looked funny. 'These Earth fashions are outrageous' Rei thought to herself, sipping her drink.
Yamcha winked at Rei while Bulma picked at her salad. She wondered, not for the first time, what Bulma saw in Yamcha. Rei ignoring him, she watched Vegeta as he emerged from the Capsule building and stifled a laugh – he was wearing a pink shirt that said 'Bad Man' on the back.
Vegeta had hardly picked up his glass when "Damn him! Kakarrot…that coward! He didn't finish him off!" He swore looking up towards the sky.
"A-are you sure that chi is Freeze's?" A frightened Yamcha asked.
"No that's Freiza alright…" Rei confirmed solemnly.
"Huh? What?" Asked the confused Bulma.+-
"Come on Ri-ku!" Vegeta ordered as he took off into the sky. Rei followed him silent. Yamcha also followed them.
They flew as quickly as they could to the area where it seemed the chi would be landing.
"It's probably going to touch down around here…"Vegeta stated landing with Rei in tow.
"Oh!" said Yamcha looking behind him.
There was a bright yellow plane – flown by none other than Bulma. 'Should have known they couldn't leave her behind'.
"Its Bulma! That idiot!" he yelled. Bulma hopped out of her ship along with the small cat creature named Puar.
"Wh-what are you doing here!" Yamcha continued yelling.
"I came to see this Freeze. All that time on Namek and I never even saw him." She complained.
"You came to see him? You know how dangerous he is?" Yamcha whined.
"So why shouldn't I come? I bet he can just blow the whole planet up…it doesn't matter where I am! I may as well know what my doom looks like." The brave yet foolish girl said. Rei caught Vegeta looking at Bulma while she was talking. Rei wondered what that look was.
"Tenshinhan!" Called out Yamcha to another new comer. The three eyed man landed with a smaller, mime looking companion. The man landed and immediately called out to Vegeta.
"Vegeta…So you were still on Earth."
"Got something to say to me?" Vegeta asked cockily.
"Obviously I have a lot of things to say…to the one who killed me!" the three- eyed man yelled again. "You disgust me." He then shot a hard look at Rei seeming to suddenly recognize her.
The dumb womanizing one spoke up again.
"C-Come on now's not the time!" Yamcha stuttered.
"We're in a serious mess…is this Freiza?" - Three eyes.
"Y-Yeah apparently." – Yamcha.
"Suppress your power before you small talk you morons!" Vegeta barked, he jerked his head over at Piccolo. "The Namekien has done it already…now there's a warrior." Rei had to smile as she saw Piccolo had landed further up the ridge from them.
She got a little closer to where he stood. "I would have to agree with him…" Rei whispered. Piccolo turned as she spoke, she wondered if her words caught his ears.
She wasn't sure if he was waiting for her to make some kind of move since he kissed her…Surely she showed that she had welcomed his advance? The awkwardness that followed them now bothered her.
"Wh-When did he get here?" Yamcha stuttered again. Seems that Bulma was not the only one to be unsure of the Namek's allegiances. "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough – to hear all of your senseless bickering." The Namek replied coolly. Yamcha looked taken aback.
"Piccolo!" A voice called out, landing next to him was the small boy – Gohan and bald man – Krillen.
"Hey you guys!" Krillen called.
"Yoo-hoo!" Waved Bulma. "Gohan! Krillen! Ya made it!" She smiled widly obviously enjoying the little reunion regardless of circumstances.
"Then Goku is still not back…"- Yamcha sad sounding let down. He caused Gohan to frown too. Even Rei could see how plainly he missed his father. She was about to call him on being so insensitive when -
"-They're Here!" Piccolo called out suddenly.
The space ship suddenly came into view and loomed over head. GWOOON – the sound echoed over the area as it flew over. Rei felt her heart skip a beat.
"He's alive…" She said disbelieving.
"Th-theres no doubt about it – its Freiza. He survived…" Gohan confirmed.
"But who's that with him?" Krillen asked.
"His father." Rei whispered, a horrified look on face. The color drained from her face as memories of King Cold surfaced. Krillen looked at Rei questioningly for a moment.
"He's landing just over that ridge!" Krillen pointed to the other side of the desert valley.
"It's like I dreamed – Freiza – he's really here." Gohan muttered quietly as they watched the giant ship sprout forth its landing gear.
"Gohan…" Krillen said cautiously. "Try to focus." Gohan murmured in agreement.
"Now!" Vegeta growled getting everyone's attention. "There is no room for mistakes! We've all got to keep our power lvs suppressed or Freiza will pick us up on his scouters."
Gohan nodded his head bravely as the group grew closer together in preparation for the attack. Piccolo placed a hand on Gohan's shoulder "Ready?" He asked the youngest Sayian. Again Gohan nodded.
Suddenly Yamcha piped up. "This is crazy! I have never felt anything anywhere close to this kind of power before!"
Gohan shook his head "I hate to say it but is only the tip of the iceberg."
Yamcha recoiled. "There's no way! You can't seriously be planning to attack them?"
"There is no way we are going to last very long against a massive force like that." Tien argued.
"Hey you – you were kidding right? I mean you're not suggesting we attack him? Tien is right – we'd be wiped out! Freiza is a monster! This is suicide."
"-But we have to try Yamcha." Piccolo said in a steady tone. "Unless we stop Freiza right here and now you may as well kiss the entire planet goodbye."
"He is right you know." Vegeta said in a cruel tone. "You really don't have a choice. So lets put an end to this pathetic whimpering and find Freiza! – Before he finds us." He added darkly.
In the distance the landing platform was lowered and troops unloaded from the ship securing the perimeter. Rei took a few steps backwards involuntarily, this was all too familiar to her.
"Listen don't any of you fly! Were going to walk over so they don't see us on their scouters!" Vegeta ordered and they slowly began the march towards the enemy.
He shot Rei an odd look and added quietly. "Ri-ku if he calls you on that device – I want you to go to him. Do not stall or give him any reason to try and locate you or you will give us all away."
She nodded grimly and followed close behind him. Rei understood the idea and agreed but was not thrilled about her role.
It was slow going maneuvering over all the rocky crags. The ground was loose in some areas and Rei almost lost her balance a few times. The others were not doing too much better than her either. She wondered how long it would take them to reach Freiza.
Then they reached the cliffs. Sheer jagged and in the way best described them. Slow and time taking. Bulma swore out of frustration and honestly the building tension had Rei not far behind.
They were just getting over the worst of it when suddenly another power lv appeared! It was overwhelming.
"Wow…" Yamcha muttered
"Guys? Hey what's going on?" Bulma asked looking from one to the other and trying to decipher their expressions.
"I'm uh sensing another power lv and its –" Krillen faultered.
"-This one makes Freiza seem like nothing." Tien finished for his friend.
"Ya know guys – its uh not too late to go home still." Yamcha reminded them for the second time. Rei scoffed at his cowardice and continued forwards.
"Be strong Yamcha." Krillen said trying to bolster his spirits.
They kept on mostly quiet as they tried to hurry towards the three giant power lvs. For the most part things seemed calm – and then the battle started.
Rei could hear it before she could see it, but someone was powering up with a massive amount of power behind them. Too much power to be just anyone – it had to be! It must be a Super Sayian!
"Sounds like the fight is starting without us!" Yamcha said as the ground began to rumble faintly beneath them.
"It might be my Dad!" The youngest Sayian said picking up his pace. They all tried to rush ahead.
A huge blast erupted ahead of them sending debris flying over the group. The energy being used was tremendous.
Gohan pointed up in the air suddenly ahead of them "They are right there! Look guys!" Rei squinted up near the sun and saw them. There were two of them fighting while the third (King Cold) looked on.
It was amazing seeing someone out pace Freiza. There was a bright flash of metal against metal the sound echoed across the valley. Rei winced hearing it but could not take her eyes off of the fight.
Then it happened the mysterious fighter put his sword away and Freiza just seemed to stand there for a moment – before splitting apart down the center. Then the man sliced Freiza's remains like they were nothing before using a final energy attack to vaporize him. BOOM.
King Cold is all that remained. Rei could just make out the mystery person approaching him.
"He beat Freiza effortlessly – but who is he?" Vegeta asked amazed at this turn of events.
Krillen chuckled "Lets just hope he's on our side!" There was a murmur of agreement around them.
"How can you see anything? They are just black specs in the sky. Besides it is probably Goku anyways – he has such a knack for showing up at the right time." Bulma sighed, "He's such a stud."
"No its not Goku – no way!" Yamcha said stubbornly, "but he is defiantly a Super Sayian!"
Enraged and determined to see whom this mystery person was – Vegeta erupted into the air flying towards the battle. Followed quickly by everyone rushing towards the fight. Rei struggled slightly to keep up with them while wearing her weighted clothing, but stubbornly forced herself forwards.
They arrived just in time to see the stranger blow king cold away with an energy blast.
"First Freiza – now him! Oh man!" Krillen moaned.
Rei could not believe her eyes – this strange Sayian who looked to be her age or near it possessed more strength than she thought possible. She had to know where he came from – were there others like him?
The battle was over now with two more blasts – one to finish off the King and another to blow up the space ship.
"Wow just like that BAM – they are gone!" Krillen shook his head. It was too much for all of them. How was it possible?
"And it looks like this guy is not even close to breaking a sweat!" Tien observed.
"Yeah! Lets just hope he doesn't decide to come after us next!" Krillen said jokingly.
The group stopped just within range of the stranger and watched him. Rei stared at his odd yellow hair, which seemed to be part of his Super Sayian transformation.
He powered down slowly returning to a normal power lv then looked at them smiled. "I'm heading off to a place near here to meet Goku. Would you guys like to come?" The stranger waved in a friendly manner, but no one recognized him.
"How weird! How does he know about my father?" Gohan asked.
"Its this way – Goku should arrive in a couple of hours." The young man insisted in the same friendly tone.
"Hu?"
"What?"
"Hey follow me! Don't worry I wont bite! – This way" He tried again before finally starting off in a Northern direction.
"We'll I'm going for it! He knows my dad!" He hurried after him.
"But how?" Krillen said with a sigh before following Gohan. There was no way he would miss this.
"Eh I'm in – he saved us from Freiza." Tien said with a shrug.
"I've got to find out who he is!" Vegeta growled.
They flew to the other end of the desert, quite a distance if they had had to walk. Rei was not familiar with Goku directly and was not sure exactly how he would react to her, but there were too many questions now about this new Sayian.
"This is it." The Sayian said landing slowly so as not to startle anyone.
They landed more or less in a group standing close together watching the stranger.
He pulls out a capsule box and decompressed one. It was a mini fridge. "How about a cold drink? Goku is not due to arrive for 2 more hours. Its pretty hot and dry out here."
Bulma and Gohan were the first to venture close. Skeptic described the rest of the bunch.
"I donno guys…" Krillen said cautiously.
"Chill out Krillen - its just soda." Blulma showed him the can she had received. "I'm starting to like this guy! Root beer!"
"Orange for me!" Gohan said before taking a deep drink "good stuff!"
"Is there grape?" Krillen asked in a small voice.
"Uh-hu!" Gohan said passing him one.
"Ya know you look kinda familiar – have we met?" Bulma asked the young man, sure she had seen him somewhere before.
"Uh no – sorry." He blushed. Rei came close to him and peered at his face.
"I think you're right Bulma – he does like sorta familiar…." Rei said before retreating to grab herself a cold soda.
"How do you know my Dad?" Gohan asked settling down on a rock.
"Actually we have never met before, I've only been told about him." The Mystery Man continued.
"Then how do you know he is going to land here?" Krillen said looking confused.
"Sorry I – I cant answer that."
"And you know why? – Because your up to something!" Vegeta growled. "Tell us now tough guy – who are you!"
"I wish I could. Sorry."
"When you defeated Freiza and the big guy – you were a Super Sayian weren't you?" Gohan said
"…Yes. I was."
"That is a lie! Look my friend. Kakkorot, Rei, Me and Kakkorots son there are the only Sayians there are! There is no way that you could have Sayian blood."
"Yeah but we saw him" Gohan pressed.
"I'm calling him a liar – not a weakling." Vegeta grumbled stubbornly scowling across at the young man.
Bulma scrutinized the youth again. "Hey – That logo! That's my dad's company. Are you one of our employees?"
"Uh no…just uh a fan."
"Well tell me your name and I'll recommend you to dad."
"I uh cant do that."
"Is his shoe size a secret too?" Tien mocked.
"Yeah! Why can't I have a secret name? That's not fair." Yamcha whined. "I bet you have a secret spy decoder ring too."
"Knock it off guys your just jealous! This guy defeated Freiza single handedly." Bulma said blowing them off and making them feel childish.
The young man blushed at Bulma's statement.
Time passed slowly – it promised to be a long 2 hour wait. Most of them sat down on the rocks scattered around the area. They seemed to fall into small mini groups. One of these mini groups was the Strange Sayian and Vegeta.
The mystery man just could not seem to stop staring at Vegeta.
"What are you looking at!" Vegeta yelled at the youth.
"Oh uh nothing – its just that I like your shirt." He muttered.
"You would." Scoff.
Rei had to hide a chuckle – she was starting to like the stranger herself. Vegeta shot her a sharp glance.
"What are you laughing at Ri-ku?" He glowered.
"Nothing, I just like your shirt too." She said trying to hide a grin.
"Aren't you concerned about this imposter Sayian?"
"Not at the moment. I mean I'm curious – I'd like to know if there are others…"
"You are naïve Ri, there are no others and no amount of wishful thinking will change that!"
"I am open to possibilities! If Goku escaped then-"
"-Kakkorot was a fluke."
"Humph. Just my luck that you are to be the last of our race." She scoffed.
Vegeta smiled a cruel smiled and looked her in the eye. "And you expect me to be happy being stuck with you?"
Rei's jaw nearly dropped to hear him say it like that. She suddenly felt the heat of several pairs of eyes upon her – including the rather attractive young man. She flushed a deep shade of red.
"Veggeta you are an ass." Rei said before walking away. Bulma tried to give her a high five, but Rei was not in the mood suddenly.
She moved to the outer ring of the group and sat down on a warm rock. Rei hoped she was not being too obvious but she chose this particular spot because it was closer to Piccolo.
She caught a look at him out of the corner of her eye to see he was talking to Gohan. She looked back down at her feet but could not help over hearing their conversation.
"Hey Piccolo – do you mind if I ask you about something?" Gohan asked.
"Whats that?"
"Well uh when Dende and the other Nameks went to resettle that new planet – you could have gone with them. I mean they are your people. I was wondering why you stayed."
"Well I might join them someday but for now I feel like my mission is here on earth sometimes connections between people run deeper than the color of skin they have." Piccolo and the child shared a knowing smile.
Rei longed to be able to share a smile like that with them. She wanted to reach out to him, but the timing was not right. Not here and not now.
Suddenly she heard Vegeta yelling again.
"Why do you keep looking over here? Haven't you ever seen a pink shirt before?" Vegeta shouted. "If you like it that much you can have it."
"No no thank you." The man replied looking embarrassed.
"Then knock it off kid."
Time for another drink Rei went to the fridge, when she reached into grab a cold drink she brushed hands with Tien.
"Uh sorry." She muttered handing him the drink he had been reaching for.
"It's alright, but I didn't catch your name?" The three-eyed man replied sporting a slight blush.
"Oh – I am Rei."
"Tien." He offered his hand forth for her to shake and she took it after a moments hesitation. "That's right – I remember now. You came here with that Jerk and Nappa." he said his voice suddenly turning venomous.
"Yes, I am afraid so." She said her mood sinking in remembrance.
"You sound like you mean that – I'm sorry I had thought you were…" Tien's voice faltered slightly as he tried to find the polite word for it. "You know – uh – 'together'?"
It took Rei several moments to figure out what he was trying to say.
"Oh no. NO. I'm actually very pleased that someone managed to kill that meathead." She smiled trying to not be rude. "By the way – who did kill Nappa?"
"I did." Vegeta said suddenly from behind them.
"Now wonder no one ever wanted to be partners with you." Rei said in a dry tone but then she lightened again. "Took you long enough to get around to that. I would have appreciated it if you killed him sooner."
Tien and Yamcha now both exchanged odd looks obviously surprised at this reaction.
"So uh… Rei, it sounds like you like your men to have more of a personality." Yamcha said with a sly grin as he walked closer to the pair.
Tien scowled at his friend.
"Drop it both of you!" Vegeta growled sounding protective. "Ri-ku is off limits."
The pair suddenly looked sheepish.
At this point Rei had grown irritated with the being talked about like she was not there and she turned and walked away before they try and address her again.
Bulma fumed over to Vegeta "And who are you to say that? Rei can make her own decisions!"
"Of course, Ri is free to make her own choices. In which case I am also free to choose to destroy anyone that happens to be." He said with smug satisfaction.
"UGH. You men are all alike!" Bulma fumed and stomped over to sit by Rei. "Why do you let him talk like that?" she asked Rei as she sat down.
"…Well I do have a duty to fulfill to our family I suppose."
"Wait – you're family?" Bulma whispered back to her in the manner that women trade secrets or gossip while the subject is still in the room.
"He is akin to what you Earth people call uh 'cousin', but we were raised as siblings. Vegeta is like an elder brother to me. A cranky, hard to be around, bossy big brother." Rei confided in her.
They continued there quite side conversations while a wave of restlessness seemed to pass over the group. The waiting seemed to be getting to everyone at this point. It was a long time to be out in the hot desert sun sipping soda.
"Maybe he is wrong – maybe Goku is not coming." Yamcha said standing up suddenly finished with waiting. He paced back and forth.
"Well the only way to find out is to wait and see what happens. So Just chill out!" Bulma said trying to keep him from getting further wound up.
Rei shook her head listening to the two of them she secretly hoped that he would cross a line and Bulma would go Super Sayian and kill him. But Yamcha cooled down and Bulma did not go on a killing rampage.
At least she gotten to see Freiza destroyed this time. Knowing that might help her sleep better at night. Free she reminded herself. Free.
She began to wonder what Goku was like since she had never really gotten the chance to know him before. Surely he was not as abrasive as Vegeta. Rei decided that he must be closer to Gohan in temperament. The idea made her smile as she was growing very fond of Gohan.
"Hey Two hours have passed Goku should be here any time now." The young man said standing up and looking at the sky.
There was a noticeable energy entering range Rei noted.
"Oh my gosh! It is him!" – Chouzu said in a small voice.
"Its him!"
"No its true! My dad is finally home!"
"I guess he was right." Yamcha admitted with a smile.
The small space pod rushed towards the earth and slammed into the ground not far from them creating a huge crater.
"Last one there is a rotten egg!" Krillen said racing over to the still smoking crater.
Laughing, running, flying they all rushed over to see their friend.
"Boom what a crater! I hope he has some air bags in that baby." Krillen said with a laugh.
"Why? To protect the ship from Goku's head?" Yamcha joked back causing a few people to chuckle.
Keeeeooo. The Door opened and the hero emerged, "Hu? Hey guys!" Goku said with a goofy grin.
"Whoooo!"
"Yeah!"
"Goku!"
"Welcome back to Earth Goku!"
"Hey how did you guys know I was coming?" Goku asked looking a little confused.
"This guy told us!" Bulma pointed at the mystery Sayian.
"He knows all about you Daddy!"
"But how? – We've never even met." Goku asked.
"He said that, well maybe he was tracking your ship?" Bulma suggested.
"Nah I don't think so, Freiza tried that. But my gosh – what happened here – who defeated Freiza? Was it you Piccolo? Or was it Vegeta?"
"No. This guy did." Piccolo said nodding at young man. "He did it with ease. He turned into a Super Sayian and picked him apart."
"Wow! That's amazing!" Goku said looking impressed. "Imagine a super Sayian at his age!"
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Vegeta interrupted "Ri-ku, Me, You and your son are the only Sayians still alive!"
Goku just smiled not looking the least bit concerned about it.
"Oh honestly Goku you take things way too lightly sometimes!" Bulma interjected beginning that they ought to figure out this young mans secret.
"Uh…Excuse me Goku – can I have a word with you alone?" The young man asked trying to get away from the large group.
"With me?"
"Yeah just the two of us."
Goku replied with a nod and the pair of them flew over to the far side of the crater where they were still within sight but could not be over heard.
Rei watched them curiously; sure that there was more to what was going on. How did he know when Goku would arrive when they had never met?
They spoke for a time but then suddenly Goku powered up as a Super Sayian. Everyone watched in awe trying to get a good view and see what was going on.
"How could he generate that much power?" Tien asked sounding impressed.
"I know it is mind boggling! Goku is on fire" Yamcha agreed.
"What is going on?" Bulma asked, but no one seemed to pay her any mind.
Then the mystery guy transformed into Super Sayian too.
"Wow hardcore!" Yamcha said watching the pair.
"What is that guy up too?" Tien asked aloud. They were all wondering the same thing.
Suddenly the stranger raised his sword against Goku. Goku deflected him each time using only his finger against his steel. It was an impressive match to watch.
"Man. Its spectacular."
"Geez Goku"
"Damn you Kakkorot."
After a few moments it ended with no apparent winner and the pair powered down. They talked for a long while. At one point Rei could just make out the sound of laughter. If only they were just a little closer…
It was then that Rei realized – someone might know what was going on. She turned her attention from the Super Sayians to watch Piccolo for a moment. His expression was grave, his eyes dark. It was not a good sign for things to come.
Suddenly he noticed her watching him and looked right at Rei. She blushed a little when their eyes met, but he shook his head and returned to watch Goku.
Finally Goku returned to the group while the young man walked off further into the desert.
"Daddy!" Gohan Cheered as he returned.
"So what did that guy say?" everyone seemed to ask simultaneously in different ways.
"Uh well… nothing really important." Goku stumbled a little with the words.
"That's funny. It all sounded pretty important to me." Piccolo said in a dangerous tone as he turned to face the group.
"Really? You heard it all?"
"My ears do more than frame my face Goku."
"Oh come on – what is the big deal?" No one seemed to understand why Goku would ever need to keep a secret from any of them.
"Well I can't really say…" Goku admitted.
"That's fine but if you don't then I will. We all deserve a chance to change our destinies."
He explained that the young man was from part of their future – a future that none of them survived to.
Piccolo went on to describe a pair of androids that would appear in 3 years time on May 12th. The androids would be cold killing machines that terrorize the Earth.
"And that is the whole story in three years we are all - except Gohan -supposed to die in a battle against these androids. Maybe we can change that."
"Sounds like the guy is a Kook." Yamcha muttered.
"Believe what you want to but I want to live. You can risk it but I am going to be prepared." Piccolo said with a note of finality.
"Do you really believe that he is from the future dad?"
"I do. I do Gohan."
A moment later in the air they saw an odd yellow ship hovering with the young man inside of it. He smiled and waved to them before disappearing.
The group continued to talk about weather or not he was from the future and where Goku had been all this time – but Rei watched the sky. After a few moments she saw a small flash in the distance and black yellow spec appeared to descend low in the desert. When she turned back to the group she noticed that Vegeta had also been watching. Their eyes met and he nodded at her with a knowing expression.
Rei did not pay much attention to anything for the rest of the day. Her stomach was a knot of tension. So much had happened in such a short space of time, she wasn't sure what to think anymore.
xxxxxEnd Chapterxxxxx
