A/N: I have had this one in mind for some time...
Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
….
Arrival on Earth:
Raditz wore an angry scowl as he exited his pod and checked his coordinates a second time. There was no error involved. He had just set foot on the exact planet intended. This "Earth" should have been nothing more than an enormous barren rock. Instead lush grass cushioned his feet and scores of wildflowers dotted the fields and hillsides. Birds chirped merrily and several animals scampered about. All life hadn't been purged from this planet it was positively abundant with it!
Sudden movement caught the former denizen of Vegeta-sei's eye. Well it seemed as if he was going to have the opportunity to interact with one of this world's inhabitants. Perhaps he'd enjoy a few moments of entertainment with a confrontation.
Raditz smacked his forehead in disgust and disappointment. His scouter registered the power level of the lifeform that was wildly waving something in his general direction. A miserable rating of 5 flashed across the device. FIVE?
How had his brother failed to eradicate the species of this planet? Even a Saiyan infant should have been perfectly capable of doing so.
The long-haired Saiyan rolled his eyes as it became apparent that the being advancing towards him was carrying some sort of unimpressive-looking weapon.
"YOU THERE! You're trespassin'! Now turn aroun' and get goin' afore' I fill ya full o' buckshot! Go on! NOW GET!"
A single blast of ki silenced the annoying Earth dweller. When his scouter flickered to life once more registering a far more decent power level Raditz earnestly hoped it was his younger brother. They certainly had a great deal to discuss….
….
Landing in a clearing the son of Bardock experienced disappointment once more. He was unfamiliar with the green individual he encountered but perhaps they had some knowledge of his brother's whereabouts.
"I am looking for one known as Kakarot. I had initially thought you were him, " Raditz declared.
"Well you're sadly mistaken. I'm NOT him!" the green one snapped.
The third class began to impulsively charge a blast as his scouter suddenly alerted him to yet another power level.
"Fortunately for you I have business to attend to," Raditz announced as he flew off in search of Kakarot.
…
At Mount Paozu:
"I'm sure glad mom let me take a break from studying to go fishing with you, Dad," Gohan gushed happily as he sat on the riverbank next to his father.
"I know, me too!" Goku agreed with a sigh.
It was too often that Chi-Chi relented on insisting that their son spend countless hours of relentless studying. He knew she dreamt of Gohan becoming a great scholar but surely there was time to squeeze in a little fun now and then.
Raditz watched the pair from the shadows. There was no mistake. The mirror image of his father sat holding some sort of wooden pole smiling and laughing with a diminutive being beside him. His eyes narrowed in anger as it became apparent to Raditz that his sibling no longer possessed his tail. How had he allowed such a travesty to occur?
The elder Saiyan stifled a gasp as he took in the sight of a tail waving about the youngster. He could also see a familial resemblance between the two. Revulsion filled him as he realized his brother must have allowed intimate relations with a being of this world.
'What's happened to you, Kakarot?'
"GOKU! GOHAN!" a strong feminine voice called out.
"SUPPER MUST BE READY!" Goku shouted excitedly.
Father and son gathered their poles and their days' catch and headed to their cozy home at Mount Paozu.
Raditz followed closely but held back from announcing his presence just yet. He wanted to know more about his brother's existence on this backwater planet…..
…..
From his place of concealment Raditz could see into the strange place in which Kakarot obviously dwelt with his misbegotten progeny. He winced in embarrassment as he observed the obviously female being that strode about placing large bowls and plates on an enormous wooden table. The female was surprisingly attractive.
'As a Saiyan warrior I should find such a lesser being beneath my notice' the Saiyan mentally scolded himself.
He grimaced as he watched apparent displays of affection between the female and Kakarot.
Appetizing smells wafted from the simple dwelling and as Raditz watched his younger sibling and his brat devour the meal set before them his own belly growled in protest.
'I'll tend to my own nourishment and then I'll settle with you, Kakarot!' Gine's eldest reasoned….
…
Raditz sat up with a start. He'd only intended to snatch a quick nap after making a meal out of a few of the forest creatures but darkness had fell. After all this time a few hours wouldn't make a bit of difference for him to declare himself. And it wasn't as if he had anything to fear from the residents of this simple planet. Stretching out and making himself comfortable Raditz drifted off back to sleep.
…..
Raditz landed a few feet from the structure his brother now inhabited. The female was on the outside tending plants in a garden of sorts. The ground suddenly shook and an enormous reptilian beast lumbered forward and leaned down towards the leafy greens.
No doubt the delicate-looking woman would flee to her dwelling in terror. This would be amusing to watch.
To the Saiyan's utter surprise the Earth woman sank into a fighting stance and began to rain blows and kicks onto the overgrown lizard that had sought to ravage the tidy plot of plants.
"STAY OUT OF MY GARDEN!" the dark-haired female screamed.
Raditz covered his ears at the shrill cry and watched in amazement as the gargantuan creature turned tail and disappeared back into the forest.
After wiping her hands on the cloth tied at her waist, the female shook her head at a pile of fallen trees.
"GOKU! You were supposed to chop the wood for the fire!" she grumbled.
First lifting up some sort of implement, the woman quickly turned the huge trees into a neat stack of logs.
A female that possessed strength and beauty as well. Surprisingly it seemed as if Kakarot had succeeded in finding a woman that was worthy of being a mate to a Saiyan without actually being one as well.
Even considering that thought greatly disturbed the son of Bardock. He gave an irritated growl the woman was not his concern now to find Kakarot…
…
"Hey Raditz! Have you found Kakarot yet?" a voice garbled by static came over the third class's scouter.
Raditz quickly recognized the voice of Nappa despite the interference.
"When the electrical storm abates you can send a clear message, you bloated buffoon!" the unmistakable voice of the Saiyan Prince rang out from the communication device.
The son of Bardock mused over his assignment. He was to bring Kakarot back to assist with conquering and clearing planets of sentient life to increase the wealth and power of the youngest son of King Cold. He wondered just what Vegeta would think of his Earth-raised sibling.
…
Gohan had snuck away from his studies to engage in a little sparring with his father. His mother had gone to deliver a few home-baked treats to her own father the Ox-King; with such a trip she'd be absent for a considerable amount of time.
Raditz watched the interactions of father and son. A ghost of a smile crept over his face as he watched his nephew manage to land a few blows. He had nowhere near the skill that would have been expected of a Saiyan his age raised on planet Vegeta-sei. But the child hadn't been raised on the planet of his origin Raditz sighed. Still he couldn't help feeling just a bit of pride in his young nephew. Nephew? It stunned the full-blood Saiyan that he even considered the half-ling a relation. And yet the truth of it was the youngster belonged to his brother and no matter of snobbery on genetics would change that.
No doubt Vegeta would insist that he end the lives of Kakarot's son and his mate-his brother's family. Family. Raditz had not thought of his own parents for some time. Affection as a rule was rarely expressed by Saiyans but gentle Gine had ensured that her eldest son knew he was loved.
The long-haired Saiyan bowed his head. He would most likely never lay eyes on a child of his own nor bind himself to a woman for his entire lifetime. Ironically the remaining members of the Saiyan race served the very monster that had ended their civilization. And now he was to force his own blood to be subject to the bondage of the cruel Ice-lord as well….
…..
"Raditz, have you managed to locate Kakarot?" the imposing voice of Prince Vegeta resounded over the scouter belonging to the third-class warrior.
"Yes, your Highness. I found a damaged pod and the remains of a Saiyan child," Raditz reported without a trace of emotion.
"No doubt he was too weak to survive. Considering he shared your genetics it wasn't as if the bar was set very high," the Saiyan royal mocked.
Kakarot's sibling bristled at the cruel remark but remained silent.
"Stupid planet's too much of a distance for investors to be interested. Get your worthless hide back to the base. I'll have to devise a suitable punishment when you return for wasting my time!" Vegeta barked.
"As you wish, Prince Vegeta," Raditz replied.
"So the planet's inhabitants did Kakarot in huh?" Nappa wondered.
"More likely the brat eradicated all life on the planet and with no means to leave the planet he was left to starve."
The two elite Saiyans burst into laughter.
…
Raditz took one last look at his brother and nephew. THEY would never know the oppression of Frieza. Kakarot and his small family would live their lives in relative safety and freedom. Perhaps someday when the evil Ice-jin was finally overthrown he could return to this planet and get to truly know his younger brother…..
...
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