Saiya City park was a park in only name. It was simply a large clearing with red grass rather than rocks and dust.
The occasional bench or tree was scattered around the area. Goku had no clue who among the saiyans would want to set aside land for a recreational park.
Of course, it was new. Built around the artwork of the ancient saiyans, it was set aside a few years ago after the festival following the coronation.
Goku could see Ruco sitting on the edge of the fountain, nervously fidgeting with her gloves.
"Hey." he waved, strolling up.
"Oh, Goku!" she exclaimed. "Are you okay? I mean… I heard about that. I was very worried."
"Yeah." he rubbed the back of his head, looking down. "It's not me you should be worrying about."
"I know." she breathed. "His eyes…"
"But you care about me more." he surmised.
She blushed, turning away. "Yeah."
Goku sighed. He really had no idea what to do about her.
"Are you having nightmares too?" he asked in a hushed tone.
She nodded, turning back. "They even caught him."
"What did they find out about him?"
The girl snarled. "His teeth were artificial. No dental records. And he was so burned they couldn't identify him."
"We'll find out." he assured her.
"So…" she trailed. "Have you thought about what I said..? At all?"
"When I'm not thinking about what happened, that's what I think about." he admitted.
She looked at him expectantly. "So..?"
Goku sighed, thinking hard. No matter what he said, Goku could see her getting hurt.
The boy was simply too unaware of what relationships were supposed to be like. But maybe she could teach him…
So he made his decision.
"Let's court." he suggested, smirking goofily.
Ruco looked as if a big weight had been lifted off of her. She smiled back ecstatically. "R-really?"
"Sure." he nodded. "I really like you too." he lied.
The girl tore forward, hugging him. "Goku, I'm so happy… and so relieved!"
Goku felt a little remorse at partially lying to her. But, he already liked her as a friend. So, it wasn't really lying. Right?
He was surprised when she wriggled her tail onto his, locking them and taking it from around his waist. "Woah!" he said, as he shuddered in slight pleasure.
"Sorry…" she apologized, blushing. "Uh, too forward? I want to hold tails. Is that fine?"
"Sure." he smiled. "If it makes you happy."
Ruco leaned onto his shoulder, holding his arm.
Goku was starting to like the contact.
He walked, and she followed his lead. "Where are we going?" she asked.
"I have to go see Niuno. He can't see, so I need to help him around." he sighed.
Ruco unraveled their tails, opting to simply hold his hand. Goku flew toward the decently far away hospital window.
He landed inside, tapping on the tile.
The boy in the bed blindly raised his hand. "Who's there?"
"It's me." Ruco giggled.
Goku walked to his bed. "And me."
Niuno put his hand out. "Do a handsome pal a favor and help me stand in the shower. I have to pee something fierce."
Ruco sat on the free bed next to Sargomel, looking at her peacefully sleeping.
"Okay, stand up." Goku helped his blind friend up, nearly tripping over him.
"Geez." he whispered, smirking. "Who's the blind one?"
Goku shook his head at the joke. His friend was taking this well.
oXo
oXo
Goku and Ruco sat across from each other at the empty cafeteria. However, there was a lone obese alien man serving the food.
Ruco smiled at the boy, expectantly looking at him. "So, how are you feeling?"
"I'm okay." he assured her, absentmindedly running his thumb over the scar on his jawline. "Like I said, I'm not the one we need to worry about."
"I know." she sighed. "I just don't like being around them, you know? Not anymore. They're so hurt… It makes me feel weak that they can just brush it off." Ruco admitted, frowning and looking at him expectantly.
He knew that his friends weren't over it. Sargomel had very clearly pushed everything away in denial. Goku was shocked that she felt that way. "Really?"
She blushed and spluttered. "I don't mean that I don't like being around them- I meant that I feel uncomfortable that they've gone through that, because I just can't relate."
The boy nodded. Now he could understand that she felt that way. Besides, not everyone thought the same way. He mindlessly chewed on a ration stick, looking at her.
"I have to tell you something." Goku said, frowning. "The treasures from my earth stories?"
"Yeah?" she nodded.
"They were Dragon Balls." he whispered.
She raised her eyebrows in confusion, parting her spiky bangs. "Really? They're real?"
He nodded, eyes fiercely serious. "I didn't even know they were saiyan stories until now."
"It's not just saiyan." she explained. "I'm pretty sure every planet in the galaxy has stories of wish granting spheres from a lost planet."
"Namek?" he asked.
Ruco nodded, taking a sip from her drink. "That's the story I heard as a pup. And to think the planet was really called earth the whole time? You're from that planet too? Crazy." she breathed, smiling slightly.
"You can't tell anyone." he sternly warned. "Earth could be in trouble."
The girl nodded seriously. "Of course."
"The reason I'm telling you? I think we could use them to heal Sargomel and Niuno." Goku revealed. He was certain he could trust her with this information.
"Unregistered interplanetary travel is really expensive…" she sighed. "But it might be worth it. Did you wish for anything on earth?"
"Well, we were in trouble, so Oolong wished for panties." he admitted, looking into her dark eyes.
She snorted, laughing quite loudly. "That's a waste! But funny!"
Goku sat back, looking to the ceiling in concentration. "I wonder how much it would cost to go to earth."
"Like I said, we certainly couldn't take attack balls there. But…" she frowned. "Your dad came to get you?"
"Yeah." he nodded. "What about it?"
"It's possible that the earth was… brokered." Ruco suggested, frowning expectantly.
He hadn't even considered that. Goku blanched, looking at the table. While it seemed that saiyans were moving toward a society that were simply rowdy and eager to fight, it was possible that the planet earth was destroyed before planet brokering fell out of style.
All he knew was that saiyans were sent to kill people by a person named Frieza. Then Cooler stepped up and took over control of the saiyan military, saving them only for reserves.
Goku didn't know much, but he knew planetary trade was very wrong. Even more so that earth might be destroyed.
"Hey…" he breathed. "Don't tell them about that. Even if no one's there, I'm going to earth."
"Well, to be honest, it'll be difficult. Spaceships aren't cheap, they're hard to fly, and hyperspace route maps are even harder to access." Ruco listed on her finger.
"I won't give up." he assured her.
She giggled. "Neither am I. I kind of want to fly around the galaxy anyway. Since Cooler took over, we have more freedom in career choice. If I get my pilot's license, my parents will buy me a used ship."
"Really?" he queried. "I just want to fight."
She shrugged. "My neighbor offered to sell me his RT-200 freighter."
"Which one is that?" He never could remember stuff like that.
Ruco sighed. "I could have sworn I told you all about them?" He didn't respond. "The one shaped like like a hand." she explained, holding her arm up to show.
"Oh," he nodded, chuckling in recognition. "Yeah I remember now. Couldn't put a picture to the name."
"Well, I'll be getting one." She beamed. "Hey, maybe we could travel around the universe! You could fight strong people across the stars." Ruco suggested, thinking ahead.
Goku was interested in that. However, he wasn't sure if he would still be courting her by then. Then he felt guilty about using her, which he was was essentially doing.
"Maybe." he said. "When's the soonest we can get a ship?"
"I can't get my license for a year." she defeatedly droned. "And even if we get money before then, we can't buy a ship ourselves until we turn twenty."
Goku shrugged. "We'll find a way when the day comes."
He was determined. His heart was set on it.
oXo
oXo
Sargomel gulped as the surgeon sat next to her. She was on the operating table, fully awake and a bit nervous. The angry purple of her leg stumps were exposed. She lied down.
The doctor fastened the cuffs to keep her still for the delicate procedure.
Panic and flashbacks crept upon her, but she stuffed it down.
Her friends were allowed to be there for support, and Goku and Ruco sat nearby anxiously. Niuno couldn't see, and Tarble was being groomed to be a king in the likely event of his brother being killed under Frieza.
"Alright." the doctor said. "Now, we're going to start attaching the ports. Are you ready?"
The girl laughed nervously, fidgeting slightly. "As I'll ever be."
He held a small capsule above her mouth, blue in color. "Swallow this."
She complied, looking up at him. "What was that for?"
"It's so you don't piss yourself while I'm messing with your nerve endings. Also, a stimulant, so you don't pass out." he bluntly said. "It will be very slow, and very painful. Do not. Pass out." the surgeon warned. "Or else we'll have to start all over."
He stuffed thick pieces of cloth in her mouth so she didn't shatter her teeth through the procedure.
Sargomel closed her eyes expectantly as he neared her leg with the scalpel. Goku almost couldn't bear to watch, but he held her hand for support.
"They're uneven." Ruco noted, referring to the cut of her legs.
The surgeon looked up, glaring. "I know. I'm making them even. Be quiet, or I'll kick you out and she'll have no company."
He plunged his blade into the longer thigh, carefully cutting around it.
Sargomel whimpered and squeezed their hands hard.
This would be a difficult ordeal for her.
oXo
oXo
Goku sat on his bed with Ruco, talking to their blind friend in a hushed tone.
"That sounds good." Niuno shrugged. "I'm down for anything, unless it requires seeing."
Ruco laughed nervously. "Yep, you sure can't see!" she awkwardly joked.
Even Goku, as oblivious as he was, recognized how uncomfortable she was. Luckily, before he could address it, their friend stirred in her bed.
"Nnnn." she moaned, rolling about.
Ruco went over to her, Goku close behind. "Sargomel? Hey, you alright?"
She nodded tiredly "Mhmm."
Goku smiled at her, relieved. "You did a good job."
Sargomel opened her eyes. "I've never been more happy to sleep in my entire life."
"Yeah." Ruco swallowed. "My hand still hurts."
The girl threw the sheets off of her body tiredly, eager to observe her new legs. When she only saw her thighs with metal caps at the end, she was slightly disappointed.
"Oh yeah." she said. "I forgot that they still had to make them. I had a dream that they made my legs out of some pink metal, and I was really upset."
"Pink isn't that bad." Ruco scoffed. "It's the best color."
"Orange." the boy smiled.
"Purple." Sargomel scoffed.
Niuno merely grumbled. "How about anything but brown? I can't see shit."
"We get it, asshole." the girl on the bed barked in a playful tone. "You don't have eyes."
"You can't walk!" he shot back, equally joking. "Leggy."
Ruco only became even more uncomfortable. Goku was glad that they were able to joke. A sign that they would recover, for sure.
However, he was worried about Old Jinjer. She couldn't bear to see her granddaughter like this, so she only locked herself in the family wing. Only for important things did she come out.
It was one of reasons they stayed.
Goku knocked on the metal port. Sargomel flinched and seethed, holding the stump. "Don't do that!" she hissed.
"Sorry!" he spluttered. "I just wanted to see how hard it was."
Niuno opened his mouth in disgust. "Phrasing." he chuckled.
Goku looked at her unsurely. "We have to go to earth."
oXo
oXo
Bardock stood opposite his son, arms crossed. They were in the small gymnasium within their home.
"Who was he?" the boy asked. Curiosity pricked at him. Goku had moved on, but he was curious as to how someone had been able to get away with thing. "Was what he did normal?"
Bardock sighed. "It's common. But, not for the reason he wanted. You believe in not wasting anything, correct?"
"I'm against needless killing." Goku asserted, unsurely standing tall.
He frowned, avoiding eye contact. "On missions, there are most often a lot of dead people. Saiyans in particular, weren't given enough to eat."
Goku was disgusted. "Not anymore?"
"No. I don't like useless slaughter. I like getting stronger and fighting strong people. Back then, fighting for Frieza was the only way. That's something we have in common." the father said, looking away.
Goku was conflicted. "But now, people fight here."
"Yes. Our bloody history is just history now." Bardock assured. "There are three kinds of saiyans. The ones who can't handle killing, those who are fine with it, and those who relish it."
The boy's sense of justice was tingling. Knowing he couldn't do much by getting angry, he decided to change the subject. "I want to go back to earth."
The man scowled in annoyance, raising an eyebrow. "Why the hell would you want to do that? Sentiment?"
Lying, Goku nodded. "Just to visit, and not now."
"Most likely that will be possible." Bardock turned around, smirking at his son. "However, you should fund it yourself. Did you know there's a competition coming up?"
He beamed, easily distracted. "Really? What kind?!"
"A baking tournament." he sarcastically drawled. "A fighting one, obviously."
"Tell me about it." Goku smiled, taking a confident face.
"Well, there's two. A junior and senior competition." he revealed. Bardock was one of the people involved in the creation of it. The story of an earth tournament intrigued him. "I'm organizing it for you, so you had better win."
The boy kept himself from exploding in excitement. "I will!" he beamed. But then his face fell. "But I can't get strong enough to win."
"I don't catch your meaning." Bardock said, cocking his head back.
"It seems like I've hit a wall, and I just can't break through it!" Goku explained, knitting his brows. He was sure that the saiyan's ability to gain strength after injury hadn't done much after the basement.&
He smirked, proud of his son. "That means you reached your limit."
"What?!" the boy exclaimed.
"...Your juvenile limit." he clarified. "I'm shocked, most pups don't even come close to it. As soon as you hit your growth spurt, you'll keep getting stronger. Just means your tiny body can't hold much more power. Don't try to force it either, or you'll hurt yourself."
"That's a relief." the boy sighed. "When do you think that'll be?"
"Could start tomorrow. Could be four years, I don't know." Bardock shrugged. "But there are signs. If you find it hard to control yourself in front of girls, make sure you tell me or- well, just tell your mother."
"Okay."
"Or aching joints, burning in your tail, stuff like that. When you do start your maturing, you're going to shoot up like a Shar tree. Regardless, it's going to hurt like hell." the man said, chuckling.
"Well, I look forward to it." he beamed. "So, when is this tournament?"
Bardock shrugged. "Committee started meeting about a week ago. It's coming up, so you should know."
"Any rules?" Goku quizzed. He was a very inquisitive boy now, and he desired to know everything he could.
...If it was about fighting, that is.
"We're working on them. I can't enter, that's the first rule." he said casually, shrugging again.
Now the boy had a lot to look forward to.
oXo
oXo
Goku ducked and weaved, expertly dodging his friend's attacks. Tarble careened over him while his girlfriend was completely surprised at his dodge, pausing in midair.
He charged forward, giving a swift kick to the girl's midsection. She hit the wall, slumping down and not getting up.
The prince aimed a kick at his head, but Goku turned around, slugging the other boy in the face.
Tarble impacted on the ceiling, falling down.
Goku was impressed they had gotten this far, but without their other squadmates, training just wasn't a very good workout anymore.
It wasn't as if he could get much stronger, according to his dad. Fighting was just something he needed to do. Like someone needs water or food in order to live.
"Ugh." Ruco moaned, clutching her stomach. "This is much easier with Sargomel to help."
Tarble panted, nodding. "I like fighting with you more than against you, Goku."
"I'm really not getting any stronger." he said, flexing his palm.
"Is that why you dragged us here on a Seventhday?" he huffed. "To see if you've peaked?"
Goku nodded, rubbing the back of his head. "I have."
"Congratulations!" the girl beamed, affectionately embracing him.
The boy just took it in embarrassment. He didn't understand why this was an instance she decided to be affectionate. Frankly, it was confusing to him.
Tarble sighed. "I have to go back and study in half an hour. I owe you a hangout."
So the new couple watched as he jogged away.
"Would you like to do something?" the girl asked, looking to him expectantly.
Goku sighed, pondering. Normally he would train until he could barely stand up. However, he couldn't increase. Maybe having some fun would be… well, fun.
"Did you have something in mind?" he asked, shrugging.
Ruco shrugged her shoulders in return. "Not really."
Goku considered their options. Then, he wondered if there was much to do that he used to go on earth. He decided on something, voicing his discussion.
"Fishing?" The boy was shocked that he hadn't asked about something like this before.
"You mean like the Tuffle used to do?" she queried. "That could be fun. Where could we go? Closest lake is pretty far…"
"Yeah, I think the river goes to it." he said, smiling. "Let's go."