Chapter 35
"Why are we doing this again?" Goku asked his wife from his seat next to her in the waiting room of a hospital.
"Because Goku, a really big flu epidemic has been going through the city and I don't want you or our sons catching it. Besides, I needed to find a good excuse to get Pan out of her room," she replied, casting a worried glance at her granddaughter. The quarter-breed was seated between her dad and Marron, who were ready to support her should another crying bout start.
"She looks pretty bad," Goku commented.
Chichi nodded. "I'm really worried Goku. She might become suicidal."
"Don't worry Chichi, I won't let that happen."
She cast him a grateful smile.
The Briefs along with Falcon walked up to them, Vegeta rubbing the band-aid on his arm.
"Why do we need to get those damn shots again? As a Saiyan prince I'm far to superior to get anything as mediocre as the flu," Vegeta said proudly.
Bulma frowned. "If I remember correctly, last time there was a flu epidemic you caught it and was bed-ridden for a week."
"I was not," he growled back.
"Yes you were. In fact I distinctly remember Bra giving you her favorite teddy bear to sleep with."
"Yeah, you remember Veggie don't you daddy?" Bra asked referring to her teddy bear that had a spiked up hairstyle just like Vegeta.
"I thought we agreed to never speak of that again!!!" Vegeta yelled.
"Veggie," Goten said, trying to hold back his laughter.
"Yep, and he snuggled with it like a little kid," Bulma replied, enjoying this humiliate her husband moment. Needless to say, everyone burst out laughing, even Pan managed a giggle, but two people didn't join in.
One was of coarse Falcon who was being his usual silent emotionless self. He was more worried about finding a way to stop the nurses from staring at him and giving him pathetic pickup lines like, 'I believe you need a special checkup in the back. Would you follow me?' He was starting to think maybe he should find the right woman soon or at least get one of those human wedding bands. He'd noticed how guys who wore them got hit on the least since it showed they were taken. Now his main goal was to find a way out of here.
The second person that didn't join in was Goku. He was staring intently at the band-aids on everyone's arms. They were the very small ones doctors usual give you after a shot. The Saiyan could plainly see little spots of blood through them. Wait, don't shots mean needles?
"The Son family, the doctor's ready to see you," a nurse announced.
"Come on Goku," Chichi said, grabbing his arm and leading him toward the room, their sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter not to far behind.
Upon entering the room, they found the doctor rummaging through a drawer. "Would you please take a seat over there?" he asked, pointing to the seats on the other side of the room. Everyone did as they were told and waited for further instruction.
"Alright then, whose going first?" the doctor asked turning to them, a syringe in hand.
"NEEDLE!!!!" Goku screamed, causing the entire hospital to vibrate.
"I knew this would happen," Bulma said with a sigh.
"Idiot," Vegeta mumbled.
Everyone else sweatdropped.
Goku quickly bolted for the door, wanting to get as far away from the evil thing as possible. But he quickly skidded to a halt upon finding an impenetrable barrier in the doorway.
"Where do you think you're going Goku?" Chichi asked, stroking her frying pan of doom.
"Um…to the bathroom."
"You're a terrible liar Goku. Now sit back down and let the nice doctor do his job. Or else"
Goku had come to an important crossroads in life, each path leading to a metallic object that caused him much pain. He could choose to sit down and have a small metal tube get stabbed into his arm or he could continue to the door and get a good bashing. Both options led to pain for the universe's greatest hero. Then again, he could use Instant Transmission to get out. Of coarse that meant no food from Chichi and a few close encounters with the frying pan of doom. For Goku, when deciding between a needle, the frying pan of doom, or escape, which do you think he would choose?
He placed his index and middle finger on his forehead and disappeared to the first safe place that came to mind.
"GOKU!!!" Chichi screamed at the spot her husband once stood in. "I should have known he'd pull something like this. When I get my hands on him I swear he'll need ten Senzu beans just to think straight," she added hitting the frying pan of doom against the doctors desk, sending splinters out in all directions with each hit while she thought of ways to hit her husband. Poor desk.
The doctor had fainted at seeing Goku's disappearing act so that left Gohan and Pan starring nervously at the frying pan while Videl rubbed her head, feeling a new headache develop. Goten had managed to sneak off and was now on the hunt for some new nurse friends.
(((Other World)))
Supreme and Old Kai were enjoying their lunch on a picnic table while their bodyguards watched on.
"So what have we gotten out of Fang?" Old Kai asked after swallowing.
"The location of just about every major demon portal into Earth. I'm really surprised at how willing he is to cooperate," Supreme Kai replied.
Old Kai nodded and was about to take another scoop of his food when something appeared out of nowhere and landed on the table with a thud, sending food flying in all directions.
"Goku what are you doing here?" Supreme Kai asked.
"Hehe…you mind if I crash here for a few days?" Goku said, flashing the Son grin.
"Why?"
"Chichi problems."
"Oh, okay. I don't see why not. What about you ancestor?" Supreme Kai asked Old Kai.
"Very well Goku. But first we have to take care of something," Old Kai replied, pulling a remote with one red button from his outfit.
"What's that?" Goku asked.
"Something necessary," Old Kai replied before pressing the button. A set of six straps flew out from under the table, wrapped around Goku, and secured him against the table.
"What are you doing?" Goku asked, struggling against the bindings.
"We heard about the flu epidemic in West City and we knew what you plus a needle equals. Now, Kibito."
"Yes venerable elder," Kibito said, walking up with a tray in his hands. On it were two objects, a bottle of flu vaccine and a syringe.
Goku's eyes got three times bigger.
"Its for your own good Goku. We can't have someone like you get sick," Supreme Kai said helplessly.
Old Kai took the two objects and measured the proper amount in the syringe. "This will only hurt for a second Goku."
"If this about wrecking your planet in the fight with Buu, I'm really sorry. No…no please…no…AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
All over Other World, everyone turned his or her heads in the direction of the Kai's planet.
Trunks had been training with Pikkon when Goku's scream echoed through the air.
"That sounded a lot like Goku," he said. Pikkon and the other warriors around him nodded.
Back on the Kai's planet, Goku was released and nursing the tiny hole on his arm.
"That really hurt," he whined.
"Oh quick being such a baby. Now go back to Earth, it's best that you calm your wife down before one of the others suffers the consequences," Old Kai replied.
Goku nodded and placed his fingers on his forehead.
"Wait," Supreme Kai said.
"What this time?" Goku asked nervously.
"You forgot your lollipop," Supreme Kai replied, holding up a purple lollipop.
"Alright grape!!!" Goku said excitedly before snatching it, ripping the wrapper off, and plopping it in his mouth. With a final wave, he headed back for Earth.
(((Capsule Corps)))
Vegeta grumbled to himself as he exited the GR. Falcon and Bra were standing outside, waiting for their training session to begin.
"Can we use it daddy?" Bra asked.
"Do what you want. But watch the hands," he warned Falcon, who calmly nodded in response.
He watched his daughter and the legendary Saiyan walk into the room and close it behind them. The silence inside was broken as the gravity machine powered up and the sounds of sparring leaked out. Vegeta wiped the sweat from his brow and went to get something to eat. As he walked, he couldn't help but remember his only daughter was sparring with the most legendary Saiyan of all time. His childhood idol was living in his house and fighting alongside him. Vegeta remembered how he had blurted out Falcon's identity but everyone else seemed to concerned with a grieving Pan and the lose of Trunks to take any note.
He bumped into something, causing him to stumble back. "Watch where you're going."
"Hey Vegeta," Goku said cheerfully.
"You're back. That harpy you call a mate is waiting in the kitchen."
"Oh well, it's now or never," Goku replied before marching off to the execution chamber that was the Capsule Corps kitchen, where his 'sweet' wife waited with her weapon of mass destruction.
Vegeta shook his head as he watched his rival walk away. Where'd he get that lollipop?
(((Later that day)))
Vegeta still pondered that question later that day while he went out on a solo patrol. He needed to be alone in order to think straight. The repeated clangs of Chichi hitting Goku were making it impossible to do that. It got really bad when Gohan and Goten tried to intervene on their dad's behalf, earning themselves a few new bumps to nurse. Add Marron's yelling at Broly and hitting him with her pan for having a Playboy on his person and then hitting Goten for giving it to him, and you have the 'Frying Pan of Doom Symphony'. It wasn't a tune Vegeta liked.
Bra smartly decided to go on patrol in the mountains and brought Falcon with her since he was an expert at mountainous combat. The very thought of any boy, even Falcon, alone with his daughter made Vegeta want to make a human pretzel out of the first boy he saw. Pan had confined herself to her room again.
A scream suddenly echoed through the air, brining Vegeta out of his thoughts. He looked around for the source but couldn't sense anything. Another scream made him turn to the source, an alley just bellow him. Thinking it was just another punk after some action, Vegeta flew down to investigate.
Instead of a human, he saw what looked like some king of reptile. It had dark blue scales that turned purple when the light hit them a certain way, a snake-like head, a human-like body covered in gladiator-like armor, and a long, flexible tail thrashing behind it. It was approaching a woman it had cornered in the alley, obviously wanting to eat her.
"Hey you," Vegeta said landing in the alley.
The demon turned around, flashing its fangs at Vegeta. "Who daresssss dissssturb my meal?" it asked with a hiss-like voice.
"And I thought you demons couldn't get any uglier. Why don't you leave the girl alone and take a bite out of this?" Vegeta replied, showing off his biceps. The woman took that moment to make a run for it, but the demon's tail stretched after her and wrapped around her waist, making her scream in horror.
Vegeta went into action, sending a ki blast forward. It hit its mark, severing the demon's tail. This caused the woman to start plummeting to the ground but Vegeta was quickly there to catch her. As the demon thrashed about, agonizing over its wound, Vegeta set her down.
"Get out of here," he commanded. She only nodded and ran off into the night. "Now where were we?" He quickly ducked and rolled back when the sharp tip of a newly regenerated tail came straight for his heart.
"You'll pay for thissss," the demon hissed.
"Oh I'm so scared. Please don't let the big bad lizard hurt me," Vegeta replied mockingly.
"That'ssssss General Viper of Lord Chaossss Kai'ssss army to you."
"Viper huh? I personally think Gecko is more appropriate for you."
Viper barred his fangs and lunged at Vegeta, claws outstretched to stab the prince. Vegeta was in no mood to have something sharp stab him so he jumped back and leaped up to the rooftops above. Viper landed where Vegeta once stood and opened his mouth in the direction Vegeta landed. A jet of green acid spewed from his mouth toward the Saiyan prince.
Vegeta merely smirked and levitated a few inches above the building, letting the acid burn away the concrete just under his feet. Viper sent another jet, which Vegeta simply floated to the side to avoid. He let out a fake bored yawned, further infuriating the demon general. The snake demon flew up toward Vegeta and thrust its tail forward. Vegeta tilted his upper body to the right then sucked his stomach in as the tail swing across his torso.
The tail came back for another thrust but was stopped when Vegeta grabbed it. As Viper's reptilian eyes widened, Vegeta chuckled and started spinning the demon around and around, finally letting go to send Viper plummeting into a building's side.
"Don't tell me that's all you got," Vegeta called, hovering in front of the hole in the wall. Another acid jet shot out of the hole, catching the prince by surprise. He managed to dodge by less than an inch, a few drops landing and burning his skin. Viper used the distraction to fly up and slash Vegeta across the chest. Vegeta cringed before Viper's other claw came down, the nails sinking into his shoulder. Overcome with pain, Vegeta let out a yell, surrounded him in golden ki and forcing Viper back.
When the light died down, Vegeta was a Super Saiyan 2. He inspected the wounds he'd received and frowned. Viper took a step back when the prince glared at him. In the blink of an eye, it was reeling back from a fist connecting with its cheek. Vegeta came on with a flurry of punches, hitting the snake in the stomach, chest, face, and joints. As Viper started weakening, Vegeta sent him to the pavement with a roundhouse kick to the side of its torso. Viper landed with a sickening thud, cracking the pavement beneath it. It groaned and looked at the prince as he hovered above.
"Not bad Ssssaiyan princccce, but I'm far from finissshed."
It stood up and crossed both arms in an X over its chest. Vegeta watched with curiosity as a green mist formed around the demon. Viper looked up at him and charged forward, the mist still around its body. Naturally Vegeta sent a ki blast to try and stop it, but it incinerated upon hitting the strange mist. With nothing to stop it Viper threw a punch. Vegeta naturally blocked it but felt a little weaker when his skin made contact with the mysterious mist. Viper smirked and swung its tail up, slamming it into Vegeta's side. Vegeta felt more of his strength dissipate and quickly realized the mist absorbed energy.
Thinking it had found and opening, Viper's head lunged forward teeth ready sink into Vegeta. The mist around its head disappeared, giving Vegeta the opening he needed. Viper flew up like a rocket after its jaw felt the power of Vegeta's uppercut. The mist immediately dissipated and Vegeta didn't hesitate to send a volley of ki balls at the demon. The explosions that followed concealed the snake in the smoke, but Vegeta could still tell it was alive and probably made.
That suspicion was confirmed as Viper came flying out of the smoke, its armor cracked but no damage on the body. Vegeta readied himself incase more mist appeared but Viper had another surprise up its scaly sleeve.
Its head shot forward, the neck stretching out behind it. It opened its mouth to try and bite Vegeta. Vegeta managed to avoid the fangs but Viper didn't let up. Its head continued its assault, snapping at Vegeta, keeping him from putting up any offense. While its head kept Vegeta at bay, Viper's body flew down the tail shooting forward. With his attention on the head, Vegeta couldn't stop the tail from stabbing his gut but he grabbed it in time to stop impalement.
Viper went for the kill by going for Vegeta's neck but instead got a mouthful of Saiyan fist. Its fangs dug into the hand but Vegeta's hard bones kept it from penetrating to deeply.
"Bite this," Vegeta said, ki gathering in his fist. "FINAL SHINE." His blast split Viper's head in two, sending the body flying back before bouncing off a wall and landing in a heap on the ground.
Vegeta panted from his spot in the air, a green liquid oozing out of the puncture marks on his fist. He reverted to his normal form as he landed and inspected the wound, not noticing Viper's body rise from the ground, the head repairing itself. Vegeta only heard a hiss before spinning around, finding himself unable to stop Viper's attack.
Viper couldn't believe its luck. He was about to feast on one of the enemy's key warriors. Its master would be please. However, those thoughts were quickly broken when a pair of feet slammed into its back, pushing it to the ground. Before it could utter a hiss something sharp penetrated its skull and into its brain then retracted and stabbed Viper's heart. This time, Viper didn't get back up.
"You okay daddy?" Bra asked, flying to her dad's side.
Vegeta only nodded as he watched Falcon pull his sword from Viper's body and sheath it.
"The only way to kill him is to damage the heart and brain in rapid succession," Falcon stated.
"I could have done that with a good Final Flash," Vegeta replied smugly.
"Big talk for someone who just had his ass saved," Bra said, not appreciating her father's rude remarks.
Vegeta ignored her and stood up.
"Did he hurt you daddy?"
"Just a few scratches. Nothing to worry about."
Falcon didn't seem convinced but held his tongue. He knew this was no time to get Vegeta riled up. "We should head back."
Vegeta pushed passed him and flew off, not wanting anyone to see his hand. Falcon and Bra looked at each other. Bra shrugged and the two flew after the prince.
(((Three hours later)))
"Are you sure you're okay Vegeta?" Bulma asked as she watched her mate wrap his hand in bandages.
"For the last time woman, I'm just fine. Now quit babying me and go to sleep," Vegeta growled back. He climbed into bed, his back to his mate. Bulma cast him a worried glance but closed her eyes to sleep, knowing through her bond with him something was amiss.
(((Next morning)))
Bulma awoke to a splitting headache the likes of which she hadn't felt since Vegeta's shoulder was impaled by Omega Shenron. It was a sign her mate was in pain. She quickly felt Vegeta's side of the bed, thankful to find him there but then she felt sheets condition. They were soaking wet and the scent of heavy sweat assaulted her nostrils but when she heard his hoarse breathing, she knew something bad had happened.
"Vegeta," she said turning to face him. Her eyes widened at the sight that met her. Vegeta's skin had taken a reddish color, like someone who had sun burn. She touched his face but pulled it back upon feeling how hot he was. He's burning up!!!
Hearing someone outside, she rushed for the door and opened it finding Marron and Bra chatting as they walked out from the bathroom. Bra immediately stopped when she saw her mother.
"What is it mom?"
"Get everyone up, something's wrong with your father," Bulma replied.
Bra didn't question what was going on and quickly left to find the others.
"Marron, I need you to get some cold water and rags. Hurry."
Marron nodded and ran off to get the requested items.
Within a few minutes, everyone had gather in the bedroom shocked and horrified at the prince's condition. Bulma sat next to the bed, dabbing Vegeta's face with a wet rag. "What's wrong with him?" she asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I don't know, he seemed fine to me yesterday," Goku answered.
"I suspect otherwise," Falcon said, making everyone turn to him. Without saying a word, he walked the stricken prince's side, pulled the covers off, and proceeded to unwrap the bandages around Vegeta's hand. He tossed them to the side, allowing everyone to see a dreadful sight. Vegeta's hand had turned purple with a few black spots where Viper's fangs had penetrated. Falcon examined it and squeezed one of the holes, causing the green liquid to ooze out. He dipped his finger in it and brought it to his nose, sniffing it. "Snake demon venom. Highly toxic."
Everyone gasped, Bra bringing her hands over her mouth.
Falcon hesitantly took the blue ribbon off his wrist and tied it tightly around Vegeta's bicep. "This and his immune system should slow the poison's spreading but he still won't survive. I'd say he has three weeks at the most, and that's if he stays in bed."
Bulma was visibly shaking now and finally let herself sob into the sheets. First Trunks, now Vegeta.
"Is there anything we can do for him?" Gohan asked.
"We have to get the fever down and give him plenty of fluids, while at the same time keep the venom from spreading to quickly," Falcon replied. He stood up and started for the door.
"Falcon, you say its venom that's doing this. Isn't there an anti-venom?" Bulma asked.
Falcon stopped in his tracks, not saying a word for half a minute. "…There is."
"Then where do we get it? Does some demon camp have it?" Goten asked.
Falcon didn't turn around and didn't say a word.
"Where do we find the anti-venom Falcon?!" Bra yelled, tired of the silent treatment.
Falcon turned to them, a glint in his eyes they hadn't seen much since he joined them "Demon World."
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