Disclaimer: Dragonball Z © Akira Toriyama, TOEI Animation, BIRD STUDIO, SHUEISHA INC., FUNinmation.
Disclaimer 2: New characters, The Unique Alliance © Eileen Setiawan, H-san, Hina-chan (i.e. the author of the story)
Disclaimer 3: This story is only for recreational purposes. I do not intend to sell this to anyone/anything.
PART 1 The Kindness of Strangers
"In the wake of our steadfast spirits,
The hearts of many men are rekindled.
As we charge on the boundaries of our existence,
New armies are mustered to our cause."
Slechtvalk - Desertion
CHAPTER NINE – A Kingdom of Hope
Gochi wore Bulma's old shirts, this one bearing the Capsule Corporation logo in the front. She wore her pyjama pants under, her legs swinging back and forth as she munched on honey-coated, buttery waffles made by Mrs. Briefs. Jinn sat next to her, also eating, but not so animatedly, and happily, as Gochi. He wore clothes that belonged to Vegeta, much to the Saiya-jin Prince's dismay, which consisted of black tracksuit pants, ("You never wear them anyway, Vegeta!" Bulma had yelled) and a plain, yellow button-up shirt. Tarrec sat next to his best friend, munching just as happily as Gochi, which caused some scepticism between both Vegeta and Bulma as they watched this newcomer mooching off them, despite Mrs. Briefs' willingness to cook a wholesome breakfast for all three.
For the whole trip from Mount Pauru to Capsule Corporation, Western Capital, the new Saiya-jin had remained silent, except for the occasional answer to Bulma's many questions, most of which Gochi answered. He held a thoughtful look on his face, as if trying to remember something, but not even sure what. As they had reached Western Capital the look had remained on his face, all the way to the breakfast table, when his expression went from earnest thought to ravenous hunger, pouncing into a seat and eating. In between his bites, he would often comment on the food, complimenting Mrs. Briefs on her cooking.
"He doesn't act like a Saiya-jin, does he?" questioned Bulma to no one in particular.
Vegeta grunted in acknowledgment. "He acts more like that third-rate, Kakarott."
Bulma fixed her hand on her chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Well, he doesn't seem… evil…"
"There's something in him though…" stated Vegeta.
"You mean… what you felt in the morning?"
Vegeta nodded.
"Well… we won't know until we question him, ne? After breakfast."
Vegeta grunted. "Whatever, I'm training."
Bulma turned to her husband, pouting.
"Fine… be like that. Honestly…" With that, they imparted their separate ways. Bulma towards the three, and Vegeta towards the training room.
"AH! That was DELICIOUS!" said Tarrec, holding his stomach. A stack of plates, almost as tall as Tarrec, stood before him.
"You want anymore?" asked Mrs. Briefs.
Tarrec shook his head.
"Nah, anymore and I'll bust."
"Well, at least have a drink."
"Cool! You have Blask?"
Mrs. Briefs looked at Tarrec in bewilderment.
"Oh my, I'm afraid not. What is it?"
"It's a great drink. Sweet and salty, hot and cold… a paradoxical drink you might say."
"Well, we don't have that drink, but we do have juice."
Tarrec grinned. "That's fine!" he answered, causing Mrs. Briefs to immediately fetch a glass and started drink. Meanwhile, Jinn smacked Tarrec upside the head, causing him to yell and hold his head.
"What was that for?"
"You know full well that they wouldn't have that on this planet, baka," replied Jinn, voice monotonous as usual.
"It was just a question, no need to get physical."
Jinn merely grunted, looking in another direction. Inwardly, he was mildly happy to see Tarrec. It had been a while since he had seen anybody remotely familiar to him. Sometimes he wondered how the other's were…
"Okay you three!" interrupted the familiar voice of the blue-haired human, as Bulma waltzed into the room. Gochi, Tarrec and Jinn turned towards her.
"We need to have a chat, ne?"
Bulma paced in front of the two Saiya-jins, sitting down on the lounge room couch. The Lounge Room was now an Interrogation Room as Bulma drilled Tarrec about where he had arrived from, his actions since he had been on Earth and his connections with Jinn. Every time a question was posed, Tarrec would reply with simply answers, sometimes not even answering the question correctly. By this time, Bulma felt the need to wring Tarrec's neck. He was getting mighty cryptic for her liking.
Gochi laughed nervously, noticing the visible signs of Bulma's frustration building. She had been sitting on one of the armchairs, watching the interrogation between Saiya-jin and human.
"Ano…" interrupted Gochi from her location.
All three turned to her.
"Maybe Bulma-san should have a break," she continued.
The three went silent for a little while, and then Bulma straightened up, nodded and walked to the kitchen, bidding Gochi to follow. Gochi did as she was told and walked away from the lounge room, turning to the other two just before she left and shrugging before disappearing behind the door.
"She's nice," said Tarrec simply, causing Jinn to smack a hand against his forehead.
"He's just as nerve-wracking as his friend –" began Bulma.
"Jinn-kun," interrupted Gochi.
"Whatever!"
Gochi laughed nervously, scratching her cheek.
"Maybe if you talk in a more light-hearted matter…"
"Light-hearted? What do you mean light-hearted?" asked Bulma, crossing her arms and glaring over at Gochi.
She shrugged.
"Friendlier…" she muttered after several moment of awkward silence.
"I am friendly!" barked Bulma, causing Gochi to once again laugh nervously. She was hoping that Bulma had not heard.
"Why does Vegeta sound so familiar?" asked Tarrec, the other two conversing in the other room while the other two were out.
"What do you mean?" asked Jinn flatly, looking ahead in an unwavering stare.
"I mean… Vegeta… just sounds like I've heard it before, you know?" said Tarrec, gazing at Jinn.
Jinn gazed at him with a sceptical look. After a while he replied:
"No… I don't know."
Tarrec sighed, grabbing Jinn by the shoulders.
"Help me here!" he said, shaking Jinn back and forth. Jinn slapped Tarrec's hands away.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" he said firmly.
Once again, Tarrec sighed, placing a hand on his chin and crossing one arm over the other.
But that name… it sounds so familiar… he thought. He closed his eyes, pondering over the name. It was then that something flashed in his mind, like a light bulb illuminating everything in the form of a sudden memory.
"King Vegeta …" said a blonde-haired young boy, turning to Tarrec with a smile. "He was the king of Planet Vegeta. He had a son who survived the destruction of the planet." The boy handed Tarrec a sheet of paper.
Tarrec looked at it, seeing the image of a young boy, with jet-black spiky hair and an intense look on his face.
"Prince Vegeta."
Tarrec's eyes snapped open, his face a look of shock and surprise. Jinn looked at Tarrec with concern. At that same moment, Bulma and Gochi walked in, Gochi being pushed in by a highly tempered Bulma.
"Okay… because I'm not that friendly Gochi will be the one –"
"You know Prince Vegeta!" yelled Tarrec, walking over to Bulma and grabbing her by the shoulders.
Bulma looked at Tarrec, shocked. Gochi looked equally as shocked as she turned to look at Jinn. Jinn's face looked intense.
"Y… yes… he's my husband…" replied Bulma listlessly.
"This… this is amazing! I can't believe it –"
"Tarrec…" interrupted Jinn, standing up.
"You know the Prince!"
"Tarrec!" Jinn stalked over to his best friend.
"You can help us! He can help us! He can help us all!"