A Perfect Soldier's Promise


"Wake up, Raditz!"

The tall Saiya-jin growled in annoyance. For the first time in three years, he was grateful that they were finally on Earth. If he had to endure another year of Vegeta babbling and asking his never ending questions. Looking at his readings, they were in the final minutes of their approach. "Activate your shields, Vegeta."

"Yes sir."

At least he still honored the rules Turles had placed him under. When and if he was given an order; Vegeta didn't hesitate to execute. Raditz didn't think for a minute he would extend that courtesy to anyone other than Turles or himself. Earth was vastly different than their home planet had been. There were trees, grasslands, deserts, ice continents... It was hard to take it all in, and according to their scouters, a variety of energy levels were scattered across the planet. Raditz was a bit surprised the ice-jin Empire hadn't found this place yet... The resources like water and breathable air would place it on the market at a price that no one under the rank of General could afford to buy it.

"You're an idiot, Vegeta. What made you think to send them here and think that the Ice-jins wouldn't eventually discover it."

"I just picked a planet that he hadn't discovered yet."

The two Saiya-jins scouted the planet, struggling to find energy levels that would match three Saiya-jins. "I think the high energy level by itself is Bardock," Vegeta said, pointing to the north.

Raditz wouldn't know for sure unless they investigated, but if it was his father, he couldn't promise that he wouldn't start a fight. While trapped inside their space pods, he couldn't do anything about what was happening here on Earth, but the link with Pepper had never reconnected. "There's a large cluster of energy levels coming from the east. While they're not as high as I would like them to be if two Saiya-jins were with them... They were raised on Earth, and most likely without my father's help."

"It's fine... the sooner we start tracking them down, the sooner we can find my sister. If she died... I swear... I don't give a damn if Bardock is your father... I'll kill him!"

"No objections there, kid."

"Can you stop calling me that? I hit my coming of age a few days ago!"

"Until you've officially been tested; I'll keep calling you what I want." Vegeta glared at him, but now wasn't the time to have this debate.


The noise was almost too much for them to handle. Pulling her cloak further forward, Yamcha tried to shield her the best he could. For a long time she had refused any offer to join him here, but that had changed a couple of days ago. The first year with her had been rough... too many times he thought she would die, but he had refused to give up. Finding food, he had chewed and force fed it to her. That had been one hell of battle by itself. She had refused to swallow it, fighting him at every turn, but she eventually stopped resisting his efforts to save her.

He doubted that he could do any of that now, but she for the first year, had become so weak that trying to move had become too much for her. While he hunted, the other wolves had stayed with her. It had been a good thing to... she would have been a prime target for any predator that wanted a free meal. There was still an empty sadness in her eyes... something had happened during that battle two years ago, but she never talked about it, and his memory was a dark blank. The only reason she hadn't given up was because his will had been stronger than hers. It was enough... for now... "Are you sure about entering the tournament?" he asked her.

She didn't answer, and he gave up trying to get one. Her voice and mind were stubbornly silent; it was a miracle that she chose to mentally speak to him at all. While he found that ability useful; he would donate all the money he won from this tournament if she would smile... even once. If she didn't want to be here, why did she enter? Yamcha had given up trying to understand her. As long as she wasn't refusing to eat or drink, he would let her do as she wanted.

Keeping her close, they passed through the growing crowd, missing the two boys that were jumping up and down in excitement. Pepper thought she heard Kakarot, and with a sad whimper, she pulled her hood further forward. She had to stay away from him... The only reason she had agreed to come here was to ensure nothing happened to Yamcha. Something was going to and she owed the desert bandit her life... He was so determined to keep her alive... she had no idea why... and yet, she had finally decided that refusing his plea was cruel and selfish.

Yamcha... she felt the unusual energy surrounding him, and she thought that she could only feel that with another Saiya-jin. While he looked and acted human; she had a feeling that he wasn't. The only way for her to find out was to unlock the link to the other Saiya-jins, but that wasn't about to happen any time soon. Her actions had nearly gotten Yamcha killed, and Bardock's rage and rejection had taught her that involving anyone else in her fights was selfish and unacceptable.


He felt it... For a brief moment, the link was there, and he looked around, frantic to find her. All he saw were humans and food carts. Normally he wouldn't mind the food, but he ignored all of that. He had been so afraid that something had happened to her, and if she was alive, he was determined to find her. Kakarot had never hoped to see her here... after his training was complete with Master Roshi, he had planned on searching for her.

"I thought you were hungry, Kakarot?"

Kakarot didn't hear him... Damn it! Why won't you let us find you?! This time he did feel it. It was stronger, and he couldn't shake the feeling that she was close... She hadn't been able to ignore him and it gave him hope that she was still linked to them. Pepper, if you're here, I will find you! This time there was nothing; all he could see or feel was an empty darkness.


Grabbing his arm, she sat, the small space blocking her from the view of the other contestants. Kneeling, Yamcha took her hands and hissed at how hard they were shaking. "As soon as we're done with registration, we'll go back to the hotel," he promised. "Pepper, I'm dead serious... You don't have to do this. I know you're strong... I have no idea what happened two years ago, but if you need more time before you're ready to fight again, then I'm fine with doing this on my own."

She wanted to say yes... Pepper started to nod her head, and then he said the wrong thing, and he knew it as soon as it came out of his mouth. "I promise to not let anything happen to you." Shoving him away, he knew it would take several hours to get her to open back up to him. Sighing, he made his way to registration.


Raditz almost overlooked her. Every human, despite how pathetically weak they were, had an energy level. Hands in her pocket, she passed through the other humans quickly and quietly, no one paying her a glance. They were too busy talking about the upcoming tournament and who they thought was going to be the new champion. Tapping his scouter, he signaled for Vegeta to close in on him.

He had no idea if Kakarot or Pepper could fly; taking no chances that this girl was her, they kept pace with her, keeping a large distance between them. Vegeta hated to think that they might be wasting their time, but Raditz was rarely wrong. Hunting was one of his favorite sports, regardless if it was an animal or Saiya-jin. While they couldn't determine if she was Saiya-jin or not, she most definitely didn't smell like a human. Just as she turned a corner and they followed, all they found was an empty ally. There were no doors or roof tops low enough for her to climb, but there was a man hole with the lid off.

"Do we go after her?" Vegeta asked.

"We're still not certain if she's the one we're looking for," Raditz growled. Granted, he was curious about her. Raditz was considered one of the best hunters in the Saiya-jin fleet, and she had made no indication that she was being followed. And yet here they were, looking at an empty alley with only one escape route.

Heading back to the large crowd, they kept their eyes open for two children. Raditz hadn't expected to find a planet that had a population of people that looked Saiya-jin. It was the perfect location to hide them, and he started to see the value of other survivors coming here. Why destroy and sale it if the Saiya-jins could start over? Did they really have to fight Frieza if they could live outside of his jurisdiction? It was a childish dream, but after everything they had gone through; he wanted something... anything other than the life of a Soldier.

Neither of them saw her... watching from the shadows as they went from person to person, child to child. Raditz surprised her... while she knew he had a dominating personality, he wasn't like the other monsters that had ultimately destroyed the Saiya-jins from the inside out. Vegeta wanted to revive the old ways, and she had thought it impossible. Now she wasn't so sure; she wasn't sure about anything anymore.


Krillan hadn't known Kakarot for very long, but the last time he had seen him this serious was when they first met. Whatever excitement he might have had about the upcoming tournament was gone. "Kakarot; I know you rarely talk about anything before we met..."

"It's not something I like to think about, Krillan. I know I said I hated him, but after two years, you would think my father might come looking for me. Instead, here I am, so desperate to find someone that vanished a year before that, I can't help but feel a little tired. This tournament was a stupid idea anyway."

"Why?"

"Come on Krillan! You and I both know that I can't fight these people! I'll have to use parlor tricks and cheap shots to eliminate them... One mistake and they're dead! While I really don't care... people that enter these things should know the risks... I don't want to cause you or Master Roshi any trouble."

"It's still hard to believe that you're not human. Why haven't you told Master Roshi?"

"He's the closest thing I have to a parent; that's why. I was just afraid that he'd send me away if I told him that I wasn't human."

"That's not the only thing that's bothering you... I've heard you at night... you keep saying someone's name. Who is Pepper?"

Kakarot flinched, pausing to stare at the water beneath the bridge they were standing on. "I traveled to Earth with her! When we got here, she had a vision and took off. I haven't seen her since." Picking up a rock, he tossed it, watching it skip across the water. His reflection looked nothing like the boy that liked to laugh and joke around. Krillan started to get the idea that Kakarot was putting on a show. He didn't want to let anyone know how much he was hurting, and it vibrated against the wooden rail as he slammed his fists against it. "Damn it!" he cried. "I miss her Krillan; when she severed the link, it felt like something was ripped out of me and I haven't felt the same ever since. It shouldn't hurt like this, and for a brief moment today, I felt her! Why? Why won't she let us find or help her?"

"Found him!" Looking up, the two boys saw an average height man with black hair, strange looking clothing, standing at the end of the bridge. Kakarot tensed... He had a red tail. He had no idea who the man had been talking to, but he didn't want to find out. Grabbing Krillan, he took off. It shocked Krillan. Kakarot never ran from anything. Krillan was afraid of everything, but when Kakarot chose to run instead of fight; he felt terror moving his legs forward as Kakarot dragged him through the crowds.

Just when he thought they would make it to the hotel, they skidded to a halt. Another man was approaching, taller than the other one. Krillan kept close to him; Kakarot was snarling, his tail bristling, and he wasn't an idiot. Krillan knew a cornered animal when he saw one, and with no where else to run; he was going to fight. "Krillan... I need you to run."

"No... I won't..."

"I said run!" Firing off the only energy blast his father had taught him to use, he once again took off running. Throwing Krillan onto his back, he pushed people over, ducked through buildings and alleys... He knew it wasn't enough and Kakarot had never been so scared in his life. The files on the space pod computer had had horrifying stories... He didn't want to go back... he was happy here... Now he was glad he hadn't found Pepper. There was no way he could take these two, and if they found her... With a terrified whimper, he pushed Krillan beneath a bed and told him to stay hidden.

Krillan knew it was stupid, but when he saw the two reach for Kakarot, he acted without thinking. Even if he died, he wasn't going to let them take his best friend while he hid and did nothing. His life had meant nothing before meeting him... they played together... they trained together... and best friends didn't bail on one another! When they pinned him down, Kakarot went insane, snapping and snarling. Raditz barely avoided getting his arm ripped off, while Vegeta got several tail slaps to the face.

"Any ideas," Vegeta growled, blood dripping from his leg. While he could quickly end this, that wasn't their objective, and Kakarot had Krillan shoved against a wall... He was prepared to fight them to the death, and getting any closer to either one of them was sending Kakarot into a terrified battle frenzy. "Human..." Raditz said, using a dialect that was common for this region. Part of occupying new planets was that they had to study their languages prior to landing on them. "Step away from him..."

Krillan couldn't move, and when Vegeta and Raditz stepped towards them, Kakarot lunged for the attack. He was lightning fast, twisting and turning, using the rafters to swing from in a ways the older males couldn't do. He had never seen anything like it... Kakarot was beyond human... he was desperate and Vegeta grabbed Krillan's arm and pulled him out of the building. He almost struggled, but Vegeta's grip almost became painful, locking him in place. "Don't!" Vegeta warned. "While I could care less if you live or die; we won't be able to calm him down if he thinks we've hurt you!"

Krillan heard a heavy crash, and Raditz suddenly went flying through a window. Just when he thought it was over, Kakarot came flying after him, and Raditz rolled, barely missing the slash of his fingers... The two Saiya-jins were quite literally in a battle for their lives, only Raditz was hoping not to have to kill the boy. "If you're not here to hurt him... I don't understand..."

"Our kind doesn't have a pleasant story... We never trained him to be like us; he's under the assumption we're going to bring him back and kill everyone on the planet."

"Are you?"

"No. Believe it or not, there's only a handful of us left and the survivors are trying to change the way the universal laws are currently written. Did he ever mention a female; her name is Pepper."

"Yeah... just a few minutes ago."

"Is she alive?"

"We don't know. Kakarot said she disappeared three years ago."

Kakarot howled when Raditz wrapped his tail around him and tossed him, but he wasn't going to stop. "Do you promise that you're not here to hurt him," Krillan asked.

"Why do you care?"

"He's the only friend I have and while that might not mean much to either of you; I don't want to see him hurt." Pulling away from Vegeta, Kakarot was coming in for another attack when Krillan cut him off, startling Raditz and Vegeta; Kakarot froze. "Kakarot... look at me." His tail was still weaving back and forth, his fangs showing... Krillan thought he saw hints of red in his black eyes, but Kakarot wasn't moving. "I'm trying not to freak out here, Kakarot. You have to calm down."

"Listen to him, Kakarot." An old man slowly approached, using a cane to walk. The boy whimpered, looking between the humans and the Saiya-jins. He was torn... The Saiya-jins were savages, and he didn't want to see his human friends killed. The old man calmly approached, his palms up as if he were trying to soothe a wild and injured animal.

Kakarot trembled, another whimper the only sign that the two humans were getting through to him. "They're not here to hurt you..."

"You don't know that!" he howled. "You have no idea what they're capable of; they clear planets and sell them on the black market! I won't let that happen to you guys!"

The old man gently took the boy's face into his hands and Kakarot went limp, his tail wrapping tightly around him. "It's okay, son."

He had already lost Pepper and his father... Kakarot had no idea what he'd do if he lost Krillan and Master Roshi as well. "Please don't let them take me away..." he begged.

Krillan also hugged him, and Kakarot continued to snarl and whimper, lost in his fear to let them go. "We can talk at the hotel," Master Roshi suggested, lifting and carrying the boy. There was blood on all three of them; Raditz having the worst of the injuries.

"How do you know we won't do like he says?" Raditz growled, a bit taken aback at this human's level of trust. The small human child was even more amazing. He had thrown himself between an enraged, feral Saiya-jin... He had never seen anything like it, but he was grateful that he no longer had to consider seriously injuring Kakarot to get him to stop.

"You could have ended the fight before it started," Master Roshi said. "Instead, you were both trying to find ways to immobilize him. This boy, while he might seem happy and reckless, is very serious and emotionally wounded. He's pleaded over and over again to not return to his father, and I have to say I agree. However, I don't have the strength to fight either one of you."

"There's not a chance in hell I'll let our father have him. I've only known about him for three years and it's taken that long to get here. Even if I were to take him; there's nowhere to go and he's too dangerous the way he is right now, I'm curious to what he'll turn into when I've had a chance to calm him down and help him."

Krillan went to the bathroom and returned with a medical first aid kid. Vegeta had a few lacerations to his arm, but Raditz had several deep cuts in his side. "Damn... I don't even want to know what your sister's like," Raditz growled, too tired to think. Kakarot snarled... he was about to go into another attack frenzy, but Master Roshi continued to soothe him.

"Kakarot," Vegeta whispered, kneeling in front of the boy. While he growled, he wasn't trying to attack and that was good enough. "I know you have no reason to trust us... I want you to think... If I had wanted to harm my sister... Do you think I would have sent her here? That is not something we did with female Saiya-jins and you know it."

The red in his eyes faded and the grip of his tail loosened. There was a dark bruise on the old man's arm, and it shocked Vegeta that he hadn't said anything. "Why are you here?" Kakarot finally asked.

"I'm asking you, not as the Saiya-jin Prince, but as Pepper's brother to help me find and save her."

That's all Kakarot had wanted... for three years, he had wanted to go after her, instead she was gone and all that he could feel was the dark emptiness. Taking the boy from Master Roshi, Kakarot finally let him and he cried until he fell asleep.

"That's the first time I've ever seen him do that," Master Roshi said.

"It seems we're rather emotional when it's not beaten out of us," Raditz snarled, hissing when Krillan applied some kind of cleaner on his injuries. "Still, I'd rather him attach himself to you... if I had two of you clinging to me like you did... This is not what they trained me for... That was a really stupid thing for you to do," Raditz groaned, struggling to sit up as Krillan finished.

"He's my only friend..." Krillan shrugged, as if it made sense.

"I don't even know what that means. Is it like family?"

"Sometimes it's stronger." Raditz and Vegeta wanted to understand... Krillan wasn't that powerful, and yet what they had witnessed defied all logic. A Saiya-jin, when they got to the point that Kakarot had, would have normally ripped through someone that got in front of them, but the boy had stopped. It was baffling, but Vegeta wanted to figure it out and wondered why it had turned a mouse into a lion.


Kakarot remained awake throughout the night, watching the two Saiya-jins. When neither made a move to take him away, he inched his way towards the taller one. Raditz opened his eyes... their gazes locked, the two brothers studying the other. He didn't know his father, but he did know Turles, and this boy was just as savage. There had been rumors that Turles had done to his captors what Kakarot had tried to do to Vegeta and Raditz.

Just as the first rays started to rise, Kakarot went to sleep, pressing himself against his brother. For a brief moment, he wanted to believe in someone that was related to him... that he was worth coming after. When Raditz finally woke up, Kakarot was sitting next to him... "She's here... I felt her."

Vegeta sighed... he had hoped to leave this crowded mess, but Master Roshi had mentioned that the boy was entered in their human tournament. While he wanted a better sense of the boy's abilities, they weren't going to get that if he fought the humans. "There's still time to enter," Master Roshi suggested.

Raditz wasn't interested; however, like Vegeta, he needed to find out what Kakarot did or didn't know. His attacks the day before were far too primal to do him any good in a real space battle. "Fine..." Kakarot stared at him with wide eyes, a spark of interest flashing in his eyes. "If you can keep from going berserk again... I'll fight you."

"We don't have time for this," Vegeta growled.

"Vegeta... if Kakarot thinks she's here, there's a possibility that she entered the Tournament. While she might try to run; I'm betting that she'll fight if she's here."


Pepper waited for the arrival of the crowds, her golden eyes staring at the morning sunrise. She had thought of leaving, however, she wanted to make sure that Kakarot was okay as Raditz and Vegeta tried to corral and pin him down. Hours later, she felt Kakarot finally accept his brother... What was it like? While she was grateful to Yamcha for saving her life, he wasn't her brother.

She had brief images of Vegeta and Bardock trying to kill them both, but she had never once hated them for it. Like Kakarot, she had known about the fate of all female Saiya-jins, and if they hadn't sent her to Earth, she would have preferred that over the alternative. Yamcha finally caught up with her, a bit hurt that she had been avoiding him. "Are you really that mad about what I said?" he demanded.

I failed to save your life once... Please don't take it so lightly that you would place mine above your own.

"What are you talking about?"

Instead of answering, she stood and walked towards the warm up area. Ensuring her hood was pulled over her face, she studied the human fighters. They were so simple, and yet they had potential for both great courage and terrible destruction. Sighing, she finally relented and took Yamcha's hand. I will fight my own battles. Yamcha didn't like it, but if it had her talking to him again, he'd leave it alone.

Sensing Raditz closing in on her again, she retreated into the crowds. Seeing a group of fighters, Yamcha paled. Three of them had tails, and with a growing sense of dread, he went looking for Pepper. He couldn't let them find her. They're not our enemies, Yamcha.

Yamcha growled in irritation. Like the day before, she was avoiding him again. Or was she avoiding the two Saiya-jin males that were moving through the crowds? There were deep cuts on both the adults; the boy seemed to have a few cuts and scrapes, but he was nothing like the other two. Did the kid fight them?

Master Roshi quietly spoke to both boys, reminding them that they were there to learn... not to win. With Raditz entering the tournament, it was almost a guarantee that neither boy would win, and for that Master Roshi was grateful. If he hadn't shown up, he had planned on entering. Now he could focus his efforts on the other Saiya-jin they were trying to locate. He had a feeling he knew where she was... unlike the others, he had certain abilities he had acquired from Kami and he felt a strong desire from her to avoid the other Saiya-jins.

She wasn't afraid of them... She simply felt that if she got close to them, she would endanger their lives. Walking through the crowds, he found her sitting in a small corner... He didn't bother giving her away, but like Kakarot, he thought he could offer her some measure of comfort. "We sometimes think that saving the people we love means that we need to push them away. However, that only endangers them more. While I see a terrible darkness that surrounds you; I also see a glimmer of hope if you let the others try to help."

He was going to walk away when she finally looked up at him... He saw so much when their eyes locked together. It was heartbreaking to know that a girl so young could have so much responsibility placed upon her tiny shoulders. While he might agree that Bardock was right about her actions being reckless; she was a child that had never had any guidance. All she had were the visions and it blinded her to the simple truths that she needed to help her. Master Roshi was half way to rejoining the others when he bumped into Yamcha, the boy searching for his companion.

"You need to trust her, Yamcha."

"How do you know who I am?" he demanded.

"I know a lot of things and that girl needs them far more than you realize. If she continues to shut everyone out; she will die! That is not a warning... That is not a threat... It's the harsh reality of what they're trying to fight against."

"Did she talk to you?"

"Words are not always necessary to learn, Yamcha. They are not the monsters that murdered your mother... Like humans, they too are capable of good and evil. Do not place judgement on those that do not deserve it."


Raditz had no idea why he looked in the corner. It seemed she had a lot in common with her brother, but when he started to approach her, someone cut him off, a hard edge to his eyes and mouth. "Stand aside, kid."

"I've tried for two years to keep her alive... I don't want her to suffer anymore; so why should I let you near her?"

"If you mean what you say; stand aside," Raditz commanded. "My father, while I understand why he did it, should have never allowed her to live on her own. That girl has the ability to see things that the rest of us cannot, but her visions are seen from the eyes of a child." Yamcha didn't know what the right answer was, but nothing he said or did in the last two years had gotten through to her.


Pepper had nowhere else to run and she knew it as Yamcha let Raditz past. She had known for a long time that he would come, but she had never really known if she had wanted him to or not. Unlike his father, he didn't blame her for the choices she made... He didn't agree with them or her, but he wasn't going to blame a child for trying to make adult decisions. It was the adult's responsibility and if his father had stopped her in the first place, neither Pepper or Yamcha would have been put in this predicament. However, that being said, Yamcha wasn't human and he'd address that soon enough. If Pepper hadn't struck out on her own, they wouldn't have crossed paths.

"Are you going to stop hiding?" Raditz asked. She shied away from him. "Pepper... look at me." His voice was soft and compelling, impossible to ignore and he saw a glimpse of her golden eyes staring back at him. "I'm curious... even as Soldiers, we never operate on our own. There's a reason for that, and I'm sure you're aware of it. A battle against the Ice-jin Empire is not a war we can win on our own, and if you continue to shut us out; we will die."

Pepper was tired... so very tired. Why couldn't she find a way to save everyone? Her visions never changed, and as Raditz got closer, she shrank further back. If she let him... She didn't want them to die! Raditz and Vegeta weren't like the others... Turles and Bardock thought they were beyond salvation, not understanding that they hadn't done anything wrong. They were victims just like the survivors they were trying to find and protect... survivors like Yamcha.

Bardock was right... her existence was nothing more than a curse, but if she gave up what would happen to others? She didn't have the answer and she covered her head and screamed. It wasn't out loud... They were all dead, executed one at a time. Why wasn't she there to stop it? No... she whimpered. Please stay away from me. I'm a curse... please... your father was right.

"Like hell he was." Raditz finally caught and pulled her into his arms. He couldn't believe how small she was; how could any of his kind consider hurting them? Her entire body was shaking, her hands clutching at her head. Raditz had no idea what she was seeing, but he retreated from the noise and people, giving her a moment to let the silence calm her.

"You're too much like your brother," he whispered. Raditz wondered if he was even getting through to her. He had seen the look in her eyes before... in Soldiers that were pleading to die... The fact that he was seeing it in an eight year old child enraged him, and despite the fact that he was nothing more than a Soldier, he let her draw on his strength. It was what his father should have done, and he hoped that he would be enough.

If he put her down, he knew she would run, and they would never find her again. "Let me help you, kid." It was a flicker... a small light of hope in the darkness that she was drowning in. Even though it was daylight, he could still see the shape of the moon. "Vegeta says that you're a moon Saiya-jin... I don't even know what that is, kid, but it has to mean something that you were born when our planet was destroyed. No, we might not have the answers right now, but we will find it. You have to believe in us... believe in yourself... and believe in the power that you were born with."

The light grew stronger... he was reaching for her... all she had to do was let him in. He almost didn't feel her move, her tail curling around his arm. As she did, her hood slid back and he couldn't believe that a creature like this one existed. The thought of anyone hurting her; it sickened him, and he knew then that he'd do everything within his power to save this girl. If his father couldn't or wouldn't... it didn't matter anymore. He'd gain the power they needed to survive.

Raditz... no... she whimpered in his mind. Don't... Her fingers curled against the edges of her armors, her entire body threatening to fall apart.

Look at me, little one. Their gazes locked, and he gently wiped away the tears that she was trying so hard to keep locked away. I know you can see everything that I've done... That's your power isn't it? Have I ever hurt a woman or a child? Have I ever broken a promise? Is it so hard to trust that I can save us; all of us; even Turles and my father?

The shield around her heart and mind was cracking. "I know it seems like my father has the answers... Perhaps he does, but you have to believe in all of us... believe in yourself. Please?"

She tried to search his mind... never in his life had he ever used that word, and he was doing it with her. Raditz... the perfect Soldier... the killing machine that executed every order without fail... he was pleading with her to trust him and the crack in her invisible armor shattered like shards of tiny glass and she flung her arms around him and cried. I can't stop him! Please, Raditz! I don't want to die! It never changes... I don't want any of you to die! Please... how do I stop him? I thought if I stayed away... Please... if it'll save everyone...

He sighed in relief... Raditz couldn't believe how close they had come to losing this girl... If she had remained the way she was for any longer... Sinking to the ground, he held her, rocking her, letting her cry until she couldn't do it anymore. Eight years... from the day she was born, she had had visions of her dying, placing herself between all of them. If she stepped aside... they would die and it wasn't something for a baby, let alone a child to cope with on her own. After she had fallen asleep, he carried her back to the Tournament, watching as the registration lines closed, and everyone received their line up results.

"How long before she has to fight?" he asked Yamcha.

"It depends on how long it takes for them to go over the rules and separate everyone into their brackets." Raditz refused to put her down, and while they waited, he let her sleep. Vegeta wanted to protest, but if it kept her from taking off again, he would wait a little longer to get to know her.

"You're not going to let her run off again; are you?" Kakarot asked, his hands clutching at his brother's armor.

"No." For the first time, Kakarot smiled... It wasn't fake, and Master Roshi couldn't stop the tear that slid down his old face. Raditz had done what he hadn't been able to... The boy, while he had grown to care for them, had needed someone like his brother, and it showed as he finally reunited with the friend he had separated from three years ago.