I don't own Dragon Ball Z or any of its associated characters or intellectual properties.
Chapter 34
1 Week Later
Frieza Planet 638
A large round ship with large black words on the outside of it could be seen sitting idle in front of a large metal building. But it wasn't the ship that was of interest but the building it was in front of, as many hole's littered the building and bodies could be seen scattered throughout the facility unmoving.
When suddenly explosions suddenly occurred on the inside indicating the battle was not over. Inside the building, bodies could be seen littered throughout just like the outside, as screams could be heard throughout the facility.
"RUN" screamed voices in horror as hundreds of armored clad soldiers ran from a few beings when a yellow beam suddenly consumed them all.
"This is too easy," said Bardock with a sigh having just annihilated majority of the soldiers under Frieza's control.
Gohan sighed and nodded, having gotten used to the process, as this was over the hundredth planet they had visited under Frieza's control.
The group consisting of Bardock, Fasha, Gohan, Zangya and 18 looked around the now deserted halls before they locked onto the last group of soldiers they could sense within the building and quickly made their way there.
The group stopped in front of the door and Bardock smirked "Should I knock" asked Bardock as he punched in the door causing the door to suddenly be launched into the room, scaring the people who resided in it.
The group entered the room they realized was the control room and saw about 5 aliens in the room staring at them in fear "Alright I'm not wasting any time here. Answer the questions I have and live" said Bardock seriously as he glared at the 5 in the room.
"How dare you, do you realize who we work for? Once Lord Frieza hears about this you will all" was one alien said before he was suddenly blasted and incinerated by Bardock.
"Anyone else?" asked Bardock dangerously.
"Good, now you are going to tell me where the home planet of the Arcosians is" demanded Bardock shocking the group.
"Why… Why would you want to know that?" asked one of the last remaining aliens.
Bardock sighed as he was used to the question and raised his hand towards the alien threateningly, knowing it would speed up the process.
"Never mind" cried out the alien in fear before shaking his head "No, we…. We don't know where it is. We just colonized this planet, we haven't even finished purging it yet."
Bardock glared at the alien for a second before lowering his hand and turning to the others "Come on lets go" as he realized there was nothing left to do on this planet which the others nodded with, in agreement and began to exit the door when Bardock suddenly heard something.
"Stupid fucking hairless ape, you're all going to die" said one of the aliens under his breath.
Bardock turned around and powered up as he grabbed the alien who said it by his collar and held him up "What did you say?" asked Bardock.
"N…Nothing" said the alien in fear.
"I said what did you say?" asked Bardock again more threateningly.
"He said your all stupid fucking hairless apes and that your all going to die" yelled out an alien scientist to Bardock's right shocking the other Frieza soldiers around him.
The alien could feel the shocked eyes of his fellow scientists on him and ignored them "Ya. You heard me. Acting all high and mighty, you and your race have killed as many innocent people as we have, if not more. Why do you get to live after what you've done and we don't" yelled the scientists unknowingly hitting home to one person in the group who winced.
Bardock glared at the group uncaringly before responding "Because I'm ashamed of what I've done" said Bardock simply before he suddenly destroyed them all.
A little while later the group was gathered by the ship and was preparing to leave the planet when Bardock noticed something "Looks like we will be here for a little longer" confusing the group. "Ships getting low on fuel, better refuel it now just in case. As I don't know when we will stop next" explained Bardock which the group agreed with and split up to try and occupy themselves.
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Zangya walked calmly through the destroyed city as she took in the wreckage and destruction all around her. Buildings were toppled over and vehicles were ripped apart and blown up as pieces of the road were ripped from the ground and torn apart. The Hera women walked through the devastation with a calm look on her face even though her feelings were currently boiling underneath the surface.
"This is what I did," thought Zangya in sadness as she saw a destroyed house that was barely standing. Zangya continued her walk through the city taking in the desolation as she reflected on her days as a space pirate and where she was currently in her life, and how that had come about.
Zangya continued her walk until she saw something that made her freeze, an arm sticking out of a collapsed building that covered the rest of the beings body. She had killed millions, if not billions of people, but the dead person she currently was looking at was affecting her more than any other.
As she continued to stare at the arm one thought came to her mind "I… I don't deserve this life" she thought in sadness as she continued to look at the arm in distress completely blanking out the world around her.
Gohan flew through the air in boredom as he took in the planet before passing over a destroyed city and sensed out Zangya's life force below him. Gohan was confused as he felt her power just sit in one place and wondered what she was doing and made his way over to where she was. Gohan spotted her quickly and landed behind her silently to see her staring at a destroyed building in deep though and turned to it, before discovering what she was really looking at.
Gohan looked at Zangya in worry and slowly approached the Hera women "Zangya" called out Gohan carefully.
Zangya was broken from her thoughts suddenly as she heard Gohan call her name and turned slightly to let him know she had heard him.
"Are… are you alright?" Gohan asked carefully in concern.
Zangya was quiet for a moment before responding "Why?" she asked suddenly confusing Gohan. "Why…why am I here Gohan…. Why am I here but these…. These innocent people who did nothing… aren't" finished Zangya.
Gohan's eyes suddenly rose as Zangya finished her question before sighing "I… I don't know Zangya"
"These people… These people did nothing wrong. While I… I have killed billions of innocent people" said Zangya in sadness. "I'm the one who shouldn't be here Gohan… Not them" finished Zangya.
Gohan was shocked to hear that and didn't know what to really say "Don't say that Zangya"
"Why… Why do I deserve to live any more than the people we are hunting down?" asked Zangya.
Gohan paused deep in thought before answering "I… I don't have all the answers for you Zangya. I don't. But you do deserve to live. You have changed, you're a good person now and deserve a second chance at life. Just like all people do."
Zangya sighed and nodded before turning to Gohan fully who gasped as he saw tears on the corner of her eyes barely suppressed "But how… how can get over what I've done?"
Gohan approached Zangya slowly and hugged her close letting her hold him in comfort before slowly pulling back and facing her "I don't know what you've experienced Zangya. But I do know what it is like to take a life. I've told you about my past, and since then I've changed… I remember a time when taking a life was an impossible task. I had never done it before… until Cell. Since then I have killed hundreds of people and let me say it has never gotten easier. But I don't think it is supposed to be, I think the fact that I find it so hard shows that I'm still doing the right thing. What I'm trying to say Zangya is that maybe you aren't supposed to get over it… maybe you just need to learn to live with it and learn from your mistakes" Finished Gohan deep in thought.
Zangya sighed and nodded "I know it's not the best answer but" said Gohan when he was interrupted by Zangya "No… It was fine, thank you" said the Hera women.
Gohan nodded as he backed up and realised that she had a lot to think about and decided to give her space as he took off in the air. Gohan flew through the air deep in thought, thinking about the conversation he had just had with Zangya. Gohan flew for a while before he suddenly saw 18 down below walking through a beautiful green meadow and flew down to see what she was up to "Hey 18" said Gohan getting her attention.
18 looked at Gohan nodded back to him "Gohan."
"Do you mind if I join you?" asked the Saiyan curiously which 18 shook her head at as the two walked through the meadow together quietly.
The two walked for a bit in silence before Gohan noticed a flock of birds flying above him when one suddenly fell from the sky awkwardly and watched as it struggled to keep up with its flock. Gohan walked up to it as he stopped beside the bird who struggled to try and fly once more to catch up with its family.
"Poor thing" thought Gohan as he looked down at the bird and carefully approached it before picking it up gently careful not to harm it as he viewed its injury and noticed that its wing seemed to be damaged.
18 followed Gohan and watched in interest as the Saiyan gently picked up the small bird and wonder what he was going to do.
Gohan concentrated for a second as he kept a gentle hold on the creature and ran his energy into it before releasing the bird who suddenly rose as it looked at its wing and moved it around showing that it was completely healed shocking the blonde.
"Don't worry little guy, it's all better" said Gohan with a smile which the bird chirped at him in response to and climbed up his arm before nuzzling his face gently causing Gohan to laugh. "Haha, that tickles stop it" laughed the Saiyan.
18 watched stunned as she viewed the deadly Saiyan laugh gently playing with the tiny bird, as Gohan pulled the little bird away from him and laughed "Alright little guy you better go or else you won't be able to catch up with your family" said Gohan with a grin as the bird flew off in agreement.
Gohan smiled as he watched it catch up with its flock before turning to 18 when he suddenly noticed the stunned look on her face causing him to blush and wonder what it was that he had done "What?" asked Gohan nervously.
"Nothing, it's just weird to see you like that after seeing you as an aggressive and deadly warrior" said 18 which Gohan nodded to in understanding.
"Ya I can get that" said Gohan.
The two were quiet for a moment before 18 spoke "16… He used to be like that… With animals, he loved spending time with them. I never understood it."
Gohan was silent for a moment before replying 'I… I never really got to know 16 well but the way he spoke to me… He loved life and all the small things, including the innocence of animals… of nature"
The two stayed quiet before Gohan continued "I've lost that" said the Saiyan suddenly confusing the android.
"I was telling Zangya how there was once a time that the thought of killing someone was an impossible task… But 16…. 16 showed me that fighting for what's right is not a sin…. Since I was sent back I've been trying so hard to remove my aversion to fighting and after getting that surgery on Yardrat that turned me more Saiyan, my emotions and personality have changed. Along with spending time with Bardock, Fasha and Tora, who I love mind you… I got swept up in it, let myself get out of control… I didn't realise it until Bojack, but I woke up one morning and realised that while I've looked up to my father all my life that I wasn't him… I was Vegeta" said Gohan shocking 18 to hear that.
"You weren't that bad Gohan," said 18 shocked to hear him say that.
Gohan laughed at hearing that "Maybe not that bad, but I was overconfident, arrogant. Everything I was taught to never be. I've been working on it since then… to find a balance… to be a person that my father could be proud of" finished Gohan deep in thought.
18 looked at Gohan intently listening to the Saiyan talk before replying "Gohan" said the android getting his attention "Trust me when I say, you father would be extremely proud of you."
Gohan smiled as he heard that "Thanks 18, that means a lot."
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Zangya had continued her walk through the destroyed city deep in thought about the many unanswered questions that plagued her before an idea came to her, one she hoped would help give her answers to the questions she sought. The Hera warrior looked around in thought before locking onto her target and took off into the sky and blasting off "I hope she doesn't mind" thought Zangya in nervousness as she approached her target quickly and looked down to see the space ship 'Saiyan Pride' hooked up to a building that she could tell was currently refuelling their ship, while both Bardock and Fasha talked amongst themselves. Zangya calmly set herself down behind the two Saiyan's who turned to her questioningly.
Zangya approached them and was the first to speak "Hi Fasha… Do you mind if I could ask you something?"
Fasha looked at her questioningly before turning to Bardock who shrugged his shoulders "Ya sure" responded the Saiyan women curiously as she approached Zangya.
The Hera women nodded "Thanks" as they began to walk away from the ship, getting a good distance away before speaking again. "I… I have recently been bothered by some things and I was hoping you could help me?" asked Zangya slightly nervous.
Fasha nodded curiously "Ya no problem" answered the female Saiyan.
Zangya took a time to collect her thoughts before responding "As you know when I was with Bojack we hunted and killed millions of people" she stopped for a second as she saw Fasha nod for her to continue "How… How… After all the pain I have caused am I supposed to move past it and continue living this life, when I clearly don't deserve it. I see these broken cities and dead people and I think why am I still here and why aren't they?" finished Zangya.
Zangya noticed Fasha's calculating gaze and waited for her to respond but got nothing and decided to ask "Well… how do you continue going on?"
Fasha sighed before responding "My question to you is, this couldn't be the first time you have thought this?"
"No. I've had this thought for a while it was just what that scientist said recently that brought it to the surface" answered the Hera honestly.
Fasha was quite for a while in thought before responding "I know what you are feeling right now, as I have felt the exact same thing and the answer I'm going to give you isn't going to be what you want to hear" finished Fasha waiting for Zangya to react who nodded in response telling her to go on.
"The fact of the matter is you don't deserve this life… I don't either. The horrible things we have done is beyond redemption" said Fasha as she saw Zangya nod sullenly "But that doesn't mean we just give up. I don't know who decides at the end of the day who lives and who dies, but I'm going to work hard to prove that I wasn't a mistake they made. So I will work hard to try and right every wrong I have made and while I'm at it I'm going to enjoy this life to the fullest, with my friends and family. And…. When the end eventually comes and I have to pay for all the crimes I've committed I will hold me head high proud of what I had done" said Fasha without a hint of doubt in her voice shocking Zangya.
"How can you be so confident?" asked Zangya in confusion.
Fasha smiled "What other choice do I have" leaving Zangya stunned.
Fasha realised she needed time to think and started to walk away but decided to leave one final thought "I know this is hard to accept but if I could give you one piece of advice that I advise you to take from this whole thing, take this. Don't live with regret… we know what's waiting on the other side for us, so be yourself enjoy everything around you. So when it's all said and done, know that you left everything all on the table" said Fasha which Zangya nodded to.
Zangya smiled at Fasha "Thank You"
"Anytime" responded Fasha with a smile of her own as she headed back to the ship leaving Zangya with something to think about.
AN:
Just a quick comment, that if this chapter feels a little off it's because this chapter was not written continuously like the other chapters and I kinda of just found a place for it in between. It was actually some reviewers and people who pm'd me who helped create and give me the idea for this chapter, as they felt I needed to address some things and they were right. So thank you and I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks: Batthan the Dark Knight, IIALASTORII, F-ckthesystem125, ArthurShade, RKF22, NinjaFang1331, doomsta27, Shigure Toshiro, SPECIALGUY, achchi, Gogetaandgotenks, Guest, Guest, LoganAlexander, darrius212, Guest
Chapter 35: 703 Reviews or Nov 10, 2015