Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ.
Chapter 9: Savages
This wasn't good.
That was the first thing that came to his mind when he saved the young woman from the river. Even though he was a trained warrior, his people were ones of peace. They did not like to get involved with the dwellers from outside their lands. And judging by the jewelry the young woman wore on her ears and the amount of clothing she wore, she was not the average outsider.
"Piccolo?"
The tall man turned around to see his brother Nail approach. He looked at the surprised look on his brother's face and said, "We must take her to Guru."
Nail who looked just like his brother frowned. "She'll bring trouble if we take her back. I don't like this."
Piccolo scoffed at him. "And what am I to do? Leave her to die?"
It was Nail's turn to scoff. "It's not like you haven't done it before."
Piccolo had the sudden urge to drop the girl and fight his brother. For a time he abandoned his people and followed his own ambitions. He wanted to see what was beyond his land. But being a Namekian didn't exactly make it easy to fit in. They were people of the land and in tune with nature. From the time you are a child you are to keep yourself shaven and given green tribal tattoos all over your body to make yourself one with nature. So it was no wonder that he was not accepted by the outsiders. Everyone assumed that he was bad news and that's exactly what he attracted. He did some things that he would regret for the rest of his life. But he didn't need anyone shoving it in his face.
"What I did has nothing to do with this." He seethed.
Nail crossed his arms and sneered at him. "Why not take her to father?"
Piccolo cradled the young girl closer to his chest and started to walk away. "Kami will find out soon enough."
Nail jogged a little to catch up with his brother. "Still can't call him father huh?"
Piccolo winced at that. "There's too much bad blood between us. Things will never be the same."
Meanwhile...
Vegeta stood next to Kakarot as they both watched Chichi walk down the aisle in an all-white kimono dress. She must have been planning her wedding for years because they sure did throw everything together quickly. Flowers and candles littered the throne room. The place was filled with people who were all just about crying over their beloved princess. Vegeta who was standing next to Kakarot looked at him and frowned as he watched the soon to be married man fidget nervously like a fool.
"Stop it." He whispered harshly. "You look stupid."
"Huh? Oh right." Goku said as he commanded his body to stop moving so much. Goku was nervous...actually he was beyond nervous. He was still trying to replay the day's events over and over to understand how ended up at an altar. He thinks he was tricked somehow but on the other hand he knew he what he was doing. And then the thought of what was going to happen that night scared him almost to death. He thought about his earlier conversation with Vegeta and that didn't help him one bit...
Earlier...
Vegeta crossed his arms and sighed in annoyance. "Fine you can stay and get married if you want but I am going to Roshi's now."
"Please stay." Goku whined. "No one here knows me but you."
Vegeta finally gave in and growled out, "Fine. But I'm leaving right after the ceremony. I am not waiting around for you to be done with your husband duties."
Goku's face turned red with embarrassment. He wasn't totally oblivious to the concept of sex. He did overhear some things from the other palace guards, but he still had no experience in the matter. Chichi was the first woman he had been intimate with and all they had done was a few kisses...That she initiated!
"Um...about that." Goku scratched the back of his head and watched as Vegeta raised an eyebrow at him. "What should I do tonight?"
Vegeta's face turned just as red as Goku's and he yelled defensively at him, "How am I supposed to know?"
"I mean...well you and Bulma-"
"We never did anything like that!"
Goku blinked at him confused. "But you guys slept together and were always kissing and stuff-"
"What kind of guard do you think I am? We did no such thing. Bulma and I are still pure!"
"Oh...But she has been with Yamcha these past couple days-"
"She would never! She is mine and I will claim her when the time is right." Vegeta growled out as his embarrassment turned to anger.
Goku crossed his arms as he began to ponder. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"Just do what comes natural." Vegeta said as he turned and left away from him and the uncomfortable conversation.
Present...
As Chichi got closer all Kakarot could think was, 'Be natural, be natural...' Then everyone looked at him oddly as his stomach gave out the loudest growl anyone had ever heard a stomach growl. Goku just laughed and placed his hand behind his head as he said, "Sorry I get hungry when I'm nervous."
Vegeta shook his head at his adopted brother while everyone else in the room laughed. The ceremony was soon over and Vegeta got out of there as soon as he could. He didn't want to even admit it to himself but he couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous of Kakarot being married before he could. The whole thing only made him want to be with Bulma even more. But first things first, he had to take down the Northern Tyrant.
He had to have been riding nonstop for hours as tried to get to Roshi's as fast as he could. It was now very dark and he didn't slow his stride until he spotted a light up ahead. He placed his right arm closer to his sword as he continued to get closer. Now he could definitely tell that there was a camp fire up ahead but he didn't know if the people around it would be friendly or not. But the only thing was that he couldn't see anyone near it. All he saw was the fire…
"Stop right there!"
Vegeta held the reigns of his horse as he listened to the demand coming from behind him. He started to turn his head but then the same voice yelled out,
"I said don't move or my arrow is going straight into your head. Get his sword!"
Vegeta narrowed his eyes as a tall man with wild hair emerged from his side and took his blade.
"Get off the horse and raise your hands!"
Vegeta was fuming. He couldn't wait to see who this idiot was so that he could kill him. He got off the horse and turned around slowly to see an even taller man but he was older and bald and had a goatee. "Who are you?" Vegeta demanded.
The bald man blinked at him multiple times then lowered his weapon. "God of the known world it is you!" He whispered in disbelief.
The other man who had a blade pointed at Vegeta fidgeted a little. "Who is he?"
Vegeta realized that the bald one figured out he was and decided to confirm what he was thinking. "I am Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans!" He said proudly.
The bald man dropped to his knees and the other one only hesitated for a second and then did the same.
"Forgive me Sire, but I did not recognize you until I saw your face. You are truly your father's son. The resemblance is astounding. I am Nappa. I was a proud warrior in the Saiyan army and I live to serve you."
Vegeta cocked an eyebrow at him. The man called Nappa was possibly old enough to be his father, which meant that he was indeed old enough to be around when the Saiyan Empire fell.
"You say you are a proud warrior, but tell me, did you run from the last great battle while your people died with honor?"
Nappa gritted his teeth at that. "No Sire, I and a few others were away on a mission while the battle ensued. By the time we had heard of what happened it was too late." He looked up and starred at Vegeta. "I have been searching for you my whole life."
Vegeta took in his words then turned to other man. "And what is your story?"
"My name is Raditz sire. I was a child when the battle took place. My father Bardock was-"
"Bardock?" Vegeta asked. That name sounded familiar.
"Yes sire. He was the head general and-
"Colleen is your mother." It was a statement. Vegeta now knew where he heard the name. This was Kakarot's real brother and Colleen's long lost son.
Raditz was a bit shocked that the lost prince knew of his mother. He was only a boy when the empire fell. He had thought his mother had died. He had tried to find her but he had given up. This was the first time that hope had been sparked in him since he was a child. He stood up quickly filled with concern and asked, "Do you know of her? She was pregnant-"
"With your younger brother; Kakarot." Vegeta bit out. He didn't really know why he was angry. Perhaps it was because Raditz being there shoved the lie he lived back into his face. He really didn't know and didn't care to dwell on it.
"How do you know-?"
"Because I was with her. In Brief Kingdom." Vegeta snapped.
Nappa chimed in and said, "Yes we had heard that there was a connection with you and the Princess. We were heading to Prince Yamcha's to find her now."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes dangerously. "What do you mean by a connection with me and the Princess?"
Nappa fidgeted like a school boy that was about to be scolded by the headmaster. He hadn't felt that way since the King had lived. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "We intercepted an assassin from the Red Ribbon Clan. He told us that the Northern Tyrant was having her kidnapped to get to you. So we figured if we found her then she would lead us to you."
Vegeta shook his head in disbelief then growled. "Bulma's in danger." He then turned and went to get back onto his horse.
"Sire where are you going?" Nappa asked worried and curious at the same time.
"I have to find her. Give me my sword." He demanded as he reached out his hand.
Raditz did so and then Nappa said, "Sire we have an opportunity to unite our people. Why is she so important?"
Vegeta glared at the two men and placed his sword back in its sheath. "Because she is your future Queen. Now you can join me or stay here. Do what you like, I really don't care, but I'm leaving."
And with that Vegeta turned around to find his woman. Nappa hit Raditz on the shoulder and ran to where their horses were tied up. "Come on let's go."
Raditz hurriedly followed him. "You don't have to tell me twice. I still have some questions for our prince."
Morning…
Bulma opened her eyes and saw several bald men covered in green tattoos painted all over their heads and chest leaning over her. She screamed and backed away from them. She then looked down and saw that she was no longer in her kimono...actually she was no longer in anything. She was completely naked and only had fur blankets on top of her to cover herself. She screamed once more and backed up against the wall of a stone hut. "Get away from me! What have you done to me?"
"Calm down!" One man said. "We had the women change you out of your clothing and lay you under these blankets. We have done you no harm."
Bulma looked at all of them cautiously and then looked at her body once more. She had a bandage around her arm and her head was pounding. She remembered falling into the river and going over the cliff. Then she recalled someone carrying her but the whole thing was still kind of fuzzy. It took her a moment to breathe normally to calm down. "You guys...rescued me?"
"Yes. I did actually." One man said as he crossed his arms and looked at her offended.
"Thank you." She said and he nodded to her in reply. "Where am I?"
"You are in Namek." Another said. "My name is Kami and these are my son's Nail and Piccolo. Piccolo is the one that saved you."
Bulma looked at him confused. "Namek?"
"Yes that is what we call our land. We are Namekians. We try to keep to ourselves but every once in a while an outsider finds their way here. We usually try to keep them away but you were a different case. What is your name?"
"Bulma. My name is Bulma." Then she blushed with slight embarrassment. "Um...would it be possible to get some type of clothing?"
The men all blushed and Kami smiled and said, "Of course." The three of them left out rather quickly then a moment later a woman came in and laid down some clothing. Bulma was surprised when she saw her. She too was bald and had green tattoos. And to make her even odder, she wore pants like the men. So Bulma wasn't that surprised to see that she had given her pants as well.
"What would mother say about this?"
She held up the odd dark colored pants and shook her head. The top was made of similar material and they had also given her a small fur over coat. She didn't understand how Piccolo could walk around without a shirt on. It was cold outside. She got dressed quickly and stopped to examine herself. The pants felt odd and the shirt was quite snug. She blinked in surprise as it made her breasts seem even larger. The pants as well showed her rounded hips and bottom and even though she was wearing what would be deemed as manly attire in her own kingdom, she had never felt more...womanly. But then again it would make some sense seeing that she wore so many layers all the time.
She left out the hut and saw all the men in the village facing a different direction. One of them turned to her and said, "Get back inside."
Bulma looked worried. "What's going-"
"Ah there she is."
Bulma looked and saw what the men in the village were looking at. It was a young man with long dark hair and icy blue eyes staring back at her as if she belonged to him.
"Just give me the Princess and you all can go about your merry way. I know that you Namekians don't like to get involved with outsider business so give me the girl and you won't be involved."
The men looked to each other and Kami turned to Piccolo. "Guru said the girl is your responsibility. We don't know her-"
"We don't know him either." Piccolo said without taking his eyes off the new stranger.
"Tick-tock." 17 said. "I don't have all day."
Piccolo turned to Bulma, "Do you know him?"
"No." Bulma shook her head.
"Yamcha sent me to come get you." He replied with a smile that no one trusted.
Bulma cleared her throat and lifted her head high. "Well I am sorry to inform you that your service is no longer needed. I have no desire to go back there."
17 dropped his smile. "I didn't ask you for you to come with me. I said I was sent to get you. And that is what I am going to do."
Nail didn't like outsiders in his village and he just wanted the girl and the boy to go. "Just let him have her and be done with this whole thing."
"No." Piccolo said. "Bulma was shot with an arrow. And I have no doubt that he was the one that did it."
Nail looked at the boy and saw the bow that he carried. "Brother a lot of people carry-"
"Leave." Piccolo seethed to the stranger.
17 shook his head. "I said I'm not leaving without her."
"Fine, Then let's fight for her. If you win you can take her, if not she stays here."
17 chuckled. "Alright, but keep in mind that I tried to do this the peaceful way."
Piccolo cracked his neck and smirked at the young man. "So did I."
Author's note: Ok so I know some wanted Vegeta to fight 17 but one of my favorite fights on DBZ was when Piccolo fought 17. I couldn't take that away. And I gave the Namekians green tats because I'm not doing any aliens in my story so having green skin would be weird. Ok so what's going to happen next? How will Goku react to meeting his actual brother? What other characters will I bring in? What about Roshi? Review please!
