Hope and Choices


Raditz wasn't sure if it was a good thing that he was in a different bracket than the two Saiya-jins or not; while he was curious about the female's fighting abilities, he had hesitant thoughts about fighting her at the moment. However, if he didn't, she would never trust that her visions could and would change. Starting with the first bracket series, Raditz reluctantly woke Pepper up. "Do you want to withdraw," Yamcha asked her.

For a brief moment her tail tightened around Raditz's arm, but then she released him and slid down. Regardless of what she thought or felt, she wasn't a coward. Raditz couldn't recall if he had ever seen a female Saiya-jin fight; they hadn't been allowed in their ranks. It seemed Vegeta was just as curious, following her towards the ring. Vegeta wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure if he had a right to after what he had tried to do when she was born. Where no one could see, she reached for his hand and squeezed it before stepping into the center of her arena.

Several members of the crowd started to boo, yelling at the staff, demanding why a little girl was in the arena. "This isn't a playground!" some shouted. It wasn't like they weren't used to hearing people cheer; Planet Vegeta had had similar events, only there wasn't a no kill rule. Pepper felt strange... glancing at Raditz, she realized that something had changed, but she hadn't quite figured it out yet. While the visions still showed her dying... there was nothing else... It was like a choice that she didn't know about existed, and she decided it wasn't ideal, but better than the previous vision. It didn't even show Bardock behind her anymore... Perhaps she had no choice. If she was supposed to die, then all she could do was accept that fate and hope the others would find the power they needed to stop Frieza.

There was hope for her kind now... and Raditz had shown it to her. No, his life wasn't perfect, but because he had had such a profound hatred for how the women and children had been treated; he had made sure that he had never risen enough in the ranks to have to suffer that choice or regret. All of the children had gravitated towards him... Vegeta, Kakarot, and now her. No, he didn't feel like he was a saint, but he was willing to give them a life that didn't involve pain and suffering.

Yes, they would have to fight... That was the fate of a Saiya-jin, but that didn't mean that the children had to know cruelty and hatred. Vegeta... the brother she had been afraid to know... He was regarding her with a mixture of hope and regret. She wanted him to realize that saving her, even if it wouldn't change anything in the end, that he hadn't made a mistake. Yamcha, while crossing paths with him hadn't resulted in the best beginnings, he was back with his own kind. Eventually the Saiya-jin that had murdered his mother would find judgement. She was scared. She was sad. What eight year old child wouldn't tremble when they knew their own future?

She didn't want to leave the survivors with regrets, and so, as she stepped on to the stage of her first fight she glanced behind her at the survivors and smiled. It wasn't a sad smile, but one filled with love, hope, and forgiveness for what was beyond their control. She even extended that feeling towards Bardock and Turles, regardless if they would accept it or not. This was her path to the future, and she would no longer hesitate to carve a way for them.

Thank you.

They all heard her, watching the transformation, a silver aura radiating around her as the moon began to glow. It was only a sliver showing through, getting closer to the new moon phase, but they felt peace washing over them. Master Roshi compared her to the human version of an angel, a being that was sent as a guide, to stand between the light and darkness as they wage war against one another. In their case, that darkness was Frieza, the Saiya-jin race and many others like them suppressed and beaten down for over a thousand years.

The crowd went silent, feeling the same calm washing over them. She wasn't afraid as the 500 pounds and 6 foot tall sumo wrestler approached. It was a David and Goliath moment, and for strange reasons no one could understand... Their minds shifted towards the tiny little girl standing so valiantly as the enemy approached. He wanted to taunt her, but just when he started to open his mouth, he was out of the ring, her tail the only thing that had moved.

It took a moment longer for the moonlight to fade behind a cloud, and the crowd exploded with cheers. They didn't care how she had done it... Kids from all directions surrounded and reached out for her, looking up to her as a hero.


The Saiya-jins parted, letting her pass between them before they surrounded and gathered her into their warm embraces. It didn't matter if it went against everything they had been taught. This feeling of happiness and love... It wasn't something they had ever felt before, and they didn't want to let go of it or her. Raditz was the only one that held back, waiting until the others had had their moment. "We'll find a way... Believe in us."

I already do, she said. Raditz tried to understand the meaning behind her words, and if he had had his father's abilities, he'd have had cause for concern. He wanted to believe in the strength that was flowing into them, but it made him uneasy and he was all the more desperate to ensure that he kept his promise. What he couldn't understand was why his father had rejected this girl?

"What happened?" everyone asked. No one had seen the attack, and when they snapped out of their trance, she was already surrounded by a large group that wouldn't let anyone close enough to question her.

Raditz suddenly realized what she had done, and he gaped. "That's cheating!" he roared. He heard gentle laughter in his mind, and he found her staring back at him with a hint of mischief in her eyes. "I'd appreciate it if you stayed out of my head, kid!"

There is only one rule in combat... to win. He couldn't deny that, but to use that move... It was considered the highest insult to another opponent... It was essentially saying that they weren't the effort to bother with a real fight and they all saw the proof as the opponent she had knocked out being carried out of the building.

"Are you sure no one trained her," Raditz asked.

"She's a Moon Saiya-jin. Her power isn't in her physical strength," Vegeta warned. "It's her ability to draw the knowledge from the rest of us and use it to her advantage. What I want to know is... why didn't you ever mention that we could do that?!"

"It's not something we recommend and I've never taught it to anyone. I don't know why, but I kept thinking that if I told you, you would have tried it on Turles."

Vegeta paled... "Are you stupid? Turles would have killed us both if I had tried something like that."


Bardock had watched her from the shadows, shocked that this was the same girl from two years ago. Over and over again he had rejected and despised this girl, and yet... His oldest son had somehow managed to not only alter the visions that had plagued both of them for so long... he saw a brief chance that the girl would somehow survive. She wasn't even aware of it. For a long time he had hated his kind, believed that they needed to die just as Frieza did. His oldest son wasn't giving up; his youngest had shown a rare courage to die for what he wanted to protect. The humans around them were surpassing their weak limitations, and she was the catalyst that was changing them.

Maybe fighting Frieza wasn't suicide; he couldn't change the past, but he could stop it from happening in the future. He had a lot to answer for, and one day Kakarot might forgive the neglect and hatred he had shown them. You're still their father, Bardock. While Raditz is strong enough to lead... Kakarot wants you to want him... Raditz needs your approval... Turles needs the brother that helped him through his nightmare as a child. You are NOT beyond saving, and I will NEVER stop trying.

You're something else kid. I give up... you win. I suppose if you think I'm worth saving, then who am I to argue? Will you tell them; about the vision?

No, but I can't guarantee that my brother won't. What I know... he knows, and he's dead set on saving everyone, and that includes you.

Bardock saw her glance at him... The others hadn't seen him and it was fine. He had been wrong... She wasn't weak... She wasn't selfish or reckless. Instead, Pepper was strong, selfless, and courageous. There were no other words to describe her, and he too felt the link that she had severed come back to life.


Yamcha couldn't believe how fast Pepper had ended her fight... For the past two years, she had been like a lifeless shell, and when he had hated and feared his own kind, the tall warrior had changed everything. She had been so bright, that it had been hard to not look away. Taking his hand into hers, she gave him a gentle smile, and he couldn't help but gather her close and hug her. I'm so glad, he whispered in her mind. When you wouldn't smile or laugh anymore... I had no idea what to do.

Thank you... You saved my life and I will always be grateful for that. I know I made it hard on you and for that I'm sorry. Good luck when you fight.

Pulling away, he saw Kakarot running up to her, the happiness at seeing her again spreading to the others. "That was incredible! Promise that you'll make it to the main rounds! WE HAVE TO FIGHT TOGETHER!"

She briefly smiled. Vegeta had no words for what he was seeing. Thanks to Raditz, the pain they had all felt at her severed link was gone. From the very beginning, Raditz had been the one saving them, and he knew that if they continued to believe in him, they'd rise to what they had once been a thousand years ago. As the fights progressed, her eyes settled on someone... the reason she had come here. Pulling away from the others, she made it appear as if she was just walking around.

I warn you... he heard someone whisper. The three eyed man looked around, startled to hear something speaking his head, but he couldn't find the source. Something slithered against his neck, but when he slapped at it and turned around, he saw a sea of people. I'm watching... I know...

"What do you know?" he shouted. "Stop playing around and show yourself, coward."

He heard a frightening laughter... A cold chill filled him and he saw a vision of what they had planned, but it was followed with another. It wasn't that he wanted to kill the Emperor, but... Walk away... you think you're strong... when we get done with you... this is a tournament... the rules are not to kill... we know ways of making you wish that you had died, but unless your heart stops... it's fair game... right? I see the glee in your mind when you fight other people... While it's not your fault that you act the way you do... if you hurt anyone like what I see in your mind... I will personally crush every bone in your body... I will prevent your ability to forfeit... you will suffer. You think you have power... I know... I see... I hear... Walk away...

He staggered... An army he could fight. A target... he could take out. All he could see when that voice whispered were golden eyes and a promise of retribution if he followed through with the Assassin Guild's plans. He didn't know if they had a traitor in their ranks, but this... this felt different. What or whoever was in his mind, the images were too accurate, the methods he used to kill people unknown to anyone, and without warning, he withdrew from the tournament. He could fight a person, but not a demon he couldn't see or touch.


Raditz watched a three eyed human take off, his expression pale and frightened. Her eyes never leaving him was Pepper... Returning to them, he felt her tail wrap itself around his arm... it seemed that the kids liked doing that, and he had given up trying to convince them to keep it around their waists. "You forced him to quit... didn't you?"

He chose that on his own... I just showed him a few possibilities of what would happen if he hurt Yamcha. While he thinks to protect me; it's really the other way around. He's had enough suffering and I'll destroy anyone that makes him go through that ever again. That and the human was a part of some Assassin's Guild. He would have disrupted the tournament, and seeing Kakarot smile... well... that was another reason to threaten him. I'm just curious... how'd you know that I did anything?

I'm not stupid, kid. Most of the humans here are so arrogant that it's past the point of insanity. They have no concept of real power and that human had a higher energy level than most. That, and if you wanted it kept a secret, you shouldn't look at your target. I'm a Soldier and it's my job to notice stuff like that. She started to pull her hood back on, but he stopped her. I stick out, she protested.

And I care about what these humans think?

Pepper hadn't planned on him being so observant. If she wanted to protect them, she had to make sure he never saw to the heart of what needed to happen. They had to believe that they could get stronger, and if they lost hope, the vision from before would return. Raditz felt lingering shadows of her fear. Now that he had an idea about the link that she shared with all of them, it was simple enough to hold on to it. Deep down, she was terrified of dying. While he wasn't in the habit of coddling these brats, he didn't want her to revert back to how he found her. Picking her up, he set her on his shoulder and she stared down at him in confusion. Don't get used to it, kid. I just thought I'd make it easier for you to watch Kakarot fight.

Her expression softened and for a brief moment, he saw that same fear return to her gaze and then it was gone. Raditz had had a feeling that she was doing her best to comfort all of them, but there was no way that she could recover after only an hour of being with them; not after eight years of living in terror. "You might fool the others, Pepper. Never forget that we were taught how to hide how we felt as well."

She remained silent; he decided to leave it alone for now. He had plenty of time to chip away at the emotional shield that could return and lock her away from them again. Kakarot heard his name and took off, the other Saiya-jins, Krillan and Master Roshi watching. After watching what Pepper had done, they were just as curious about him. Master Roshi often had a feeling the boy wasn't taking his training as seriously as he should, but after seeing the kind of strength the girl had used... it was a good thing. She hadn't even tried to knock that fighter out of the ring...

Kakarot ignored the crowd... a few started to whisper, but they were still talking about the other girl. The minute the announcer mentioned that Kakarot was a student of Master Roshi, the crowd went wild, chanting and clapping in honor and respect. "Are you some kind of legend?" Vegeta asked him.

"I wouldn't go that far," the old man dismissed. "Humans are easily entertained when they see or hear of things they cannot understand. While not everyone can fight... with a lot of hard work, anyone can achieve a small piece of the impossible. When I first met the boy, he was angry and wild... I simply gave him a way to vent. Krillan was an added bonus and I doubt that I would have made as much progress without him. The two needed each other, and as they trained, they developed an unbreakable friendship."

Kakarot looked relaxed... too relaxed. While he seemed carefree and too naive or innocent for combat, none of the other Saiya-jins believed it for a second; especially after the incident from the day before. There was a savageness in his eyes; it was at odds with the smile on his face, and his tail was snaked around his leg as he waited with growing impatience, listening to his opponent wine and plead for anyone other than a kid to fight. The little girl had been a fluke...

Pepper glared at the human. Sharing an image with Kakarot, he blinked, and suddenly he was grinning from ear-to-ear. "That's mean, Pepper," he laughed.

"What's he talking about?" Krillan asked.

"She can communicate through our minds," Raditz explained. He was curious, but he wouldn't have to wait long. Kakarot was dancing with pure excitement, unable to contain himself.

What did you show him?

I picked up a little trick... Some humans simply need to relearn what their mother's used to do if they stepped out of line. It's a human method, but rather effective if a Saiya-jin uses it.

Master Roshi chuckled... he had seen what she had in a mind, and he had to admit... While he had never thought of the technique himself, it would not only prove effective, but serve as a rather humiliating lesson. "Hey mister," Kakarot whispered. Waving his hand, his opponent stopped shouting and whining about his luck of the draw. The crowd went quiet, trying to hear what the boy had to say. The fight with the girl had happened so fast, they were afraid something similar might happen here as well. "I wanted to show you something."

"This isn't a game, boy. If I do, will you drop out? I really don't want to risk elimination if I accidentally kill you."

"If you don't like what I have to show you; I guess so. However, if you leave the ring, I get to stay."

"Show me already so I can fight a real battle; I swear... this tournament has turned into a daycare center."

"I promise... it won't take long to show you. However, you can't blink. If you close your eyes even for a second... you won't see it."

"Hurry up already!" Kakarot motioned for him to get closer, and everyone waited with baited breath. The timer was running, but everyone forgot about it, even the announcer. What did the boy have to show him? Putting his forefinger and thumb together, he glanced at Pepper to see if he had it right, and she nodded.

"Promise not to blink?"

"Whatever... yeah sure."

Placing his fingers on the man's forehead, he counted to three and just like that, the match was over, the man flying through a wall, a red welt forming. "Guess he couldn't handle the 'Take A Nap' trick," Kakarot smirked.

Raditz had no idea what to say... the audience was standing with their mouths open... the Saiya-jins were glaring at Kakarot in outrage, and suddenly Bardock started laughing. Until now, no one other than Pepper had realized he was there. They turned to see him doubled over, Pepper's mouth twitching at the corners of her mouth. "Did you know he was here?" Raditz growled.

He's been here since this morning.

Kakarot was filled with a mixture of emotions... a small part of him was afraid that his father would take him back, but the other part of him was happy that he had seen his fight... Pepper?

He's just curious, Kakarot. Wiping the tears from his eyes, Bardock turned and walked away. It was too soon to expect anything from Kakarot or Raditz, but he would keep an eye on them.

"I don't know why he was laughing," Vegeta snarled. "That match was a joke and an insult to every fighter here!"

"I think that's why he was laughing," Master Roshi chuckled. "I think we can all agree that man wasn't a fighter, but an attention seeker. Now that he's got it, he'll probably retire from martial arts after that."

Kakarot returned, tilting his head to the side when he saw the others glaring at him. "What's everyone so worked up for? I was trying to figure out what to do with him and she gave me a great alternative. It's better than biting his arm off, and I didn't kill him."

Krillan was pale, and he stared at the Saiya-jins with a new level of awe and fear. He had known that Kakarot was different, but he hadn't been aware that he was something other than human until yesterday. It almost wasn't fair that the humans were having to fight them. Pepper looked at him, and he felt himself smile despite his growing anxiety. She didn't seem dangerous, and he didn't want to waste all of Master Roshi's training.

"Kakarot... are you going away after this?" Krillan was trying not to cry... After leaving the temple, he had given up on people in general, but Kakarot had become like a brother to him and it was painful to think that he was about to walk out of his life as quickly as he had come into it.

"No," Kakarot stated. While Raditz and Vegeta might have argued, he wasn't going to make it easy if they chose to separate him from Krillan. Where he went, Krillan had to go also.

"If you want," Master Roshi offered. "I have room if you need a place to stay or time to settle in. The boy needs to get to know you, and there's plenty of food and water. It's quiet and isolated from the rest of the world."

"As long as it doesn't interfere with his training; I don't care where we stay," Raditz agreed. It was too easy to satisfy the brat, and just like that he was smiling again.

"Kakarot, I know we're here to observe and learn, but you guys are insane."

"I've never known you to give up, Krillan. While you're still human, you're not going to find a challenge against anyone other than us. I think that's kinda of my fault, but at the same time, it means that humans aren't complete idiots or hopeless."

"Are you able to talk?" Raditz asked Pepper. He wasn't asking about the telepathic ability of hers, but her actual voice. He had never heard of a mute Saiya-jin; and for a long time, she didn't say anything.

"Yes."

Her answer, the first and only word they had ever heard her say, was no louder than a whisper. It was up to them if they heard or not, and they all turned to regard her with surprise.

"Does it matter if she can talk or not?" Yamcha asked.

"If I can figure out that we're somehow communicating without her voice, then so can the enemy. I don't care if it's one or two words... I'd rather them not know that she has a telepathic link to us."

Her tail tightened... Raditz glanced at her from his side vision, her attention on the contestants. She hadn't said anything, but the twitching of her tail couldn't hide what she was feeling. Was she still convinced that she was going to die? While she might have calmed in the last couple of hours, he knew that it would take several months or years for her to trust him to find the answer. She glanced at him, giving him a gentle smile. It was so foreign to see any of their kind laughing or smiling, but perhaps that was because all most of them knew was fear and pain.

Ten years... She kept that knowledge to herself, but the timer was running out. She never saw a future past Frieza, and perhaps she wasn't supposed to until that moment. It was the only thing, to fight and free themselves from his grasp, that drove them to hide and survive, to train and fight. She wanted to believe in him, and he simply held her on his shoulder, his unwavering strength flowing into her.

"Stop thinking, kid."

"As you wish," she whispered.


Raditz relaxed as he watched the brats breeze through the preliminaries. While he didn't doubt that they could defeat their human opponents, he never put a lot of value in their human training. In Pepper's case, her vision training. It was a bit unsettling that she could learn any technique from seeing it in their minds... He couldn't help but wonder though... If she learned how to use that, what kind of fighter would she turn into in a handful of years? Raditz wanted a better understanding of what they had to work with, and they wouldn't get that until later on in the Tournament.

Does your side still hurt? she asked him.

You know about that?

While I knew the two of you were searching for us... I wasn't sure if you were going to hurt him or not. That's why I stayed... I have my ways of protecting someone, and it's rather painful if you're not fast enough to avoid the after effects. Bardock and Vegeta learned that lesson eight years ago.

So you haven't forgotten.

No, but from their perspective... What other answer was there? I was a female with a silver tail. Killing me, in their minds, was their way of trying to save and set me free. Your father hasn't recovered from Gina's death... I figured you should know that before you decide to challenge him.

Were they a mated pair? Raditz demanded. He waited with baited breath. While Saiya-jins weren't allowed to mark their females... it wasn't impossible to find their mate. He never envied the fool that did... To ease a male's suffering when he accidentally ran into his soul mate, one of his comrades would kill him. It was far crueler to leave him alive.

No, but he didn't want her hurt either. He had no intentions of giving her another son, but then he found out that she was scheduled for execution if she didn't get pregnant again.

Why would they execute her?

The Ice-jin empire needed Soldiers. If a female couldn't provide that, they were considered dead weight. Bardock was the only one that could get her pregnant; no one knows why. When he found out how they were going to try to make it happen, he stopped resisting and gave her what she wanted.

Raditz almost found himself not hating his father... Despite what Pepper told him, however, that still didn't excuse the last eight years. He had no idea how much progress these two would have made if his father had trained them; they were eight years behind and now he wasn't sure if they had enough time to make up for it.

Yamcha had no intentions of letting his opponent off easy like Pepper and Kakarot. To him fighting wasn't a game... He took it seriously, and the years he had spent with his wolf pack had taught him a variety of savage attacks that worked on other predators or large targets that he needed to take down for food. Try not to kill them, Yamcha.

The teenager had potential. While he hadn't been officially trained either, the harsh lessons of the desert had been efficient as he clamped down on his opponents arm, digging in as if he had fangs, and forcing their submission. A howl of pain could be heard echoing throughout the room, and Yamcha pushed the man off the ring, ignoring the large amount of blood pooling around him. Several people jumped back as he passed, and if the other Saiya-jins disapproved of his methods, he couldn't find any hint of it.

When it was his turn, Raditz put Pepper down and made his way forward. Enough people had seen what this group was capable of and they didn't stand in his way. There was something about him that sent shivers of fear through his opponents. When the announcer signaled the start of his match, he didn't move, and as his opponent tried to strike him, he started howling in pain, clutching at his burnt hand. "What happened?" the announcer asked.

"I guess I should learn to pick up my feet when I walk," Raditz taunted. "I tend to build up a lot of static." He took a step towards the terrified human, and when he took a second, the man took off screaming. He made a wide circle and snarled at the crowd. "This entire tournament is a joke. With the exception of an eight year old boy, I haven't seen a single fight that's worth my teams' time! You say you can fight, but you get thrown out by tails and parlor tricks! Where I come from, this kind of combat is sacred to us! We don't cringe at the thought of death; we thrive on it! If you continue to treat this like a joke; I'm going to get seriously pissed off!"

Raditz stormed off the platform, reaching for Pepper and left. He already knew Krillan would win his next match; after what he saw the day before, he could see why Kakarot liked and hung out with him. He was perhaps the only human he could and would respect. The old man wasn't bad either... It took a lot of guts to raise a kid that wasn't human.


"Kakarot! I did it!" Krillan came running up, easily making it past his first match!

"Told you!"

"We might actually make it to the main tournament!"

"I did tell you," Kakarot smiled, head locking his friend and tossing him.

"Hey!" The two played until the remaining matches finished, but it wasn't like a typical human game of tag or rough housing. Kakarot would try to pin or knock Krillan out, and the boy gave back as good as he got. That would explain how and why Krillan was a different caliber of fighter in comparison to other humans. Kakarot had been teaching him in his own way, but the gap would eventually widen when Raditz and Vegeta started to train them.


Later that evening, Turles listened to Vegeta on a private frequency that he hoped was scrambled. They needed every Saiya-jin they could find, but it wouldn't do any good if Pepper and Kakarot weren't ready to fight on the level they had to be on. "What else do you know about the unidentified male?"

"With the exception of Pepper, he hates us. That's not all." Vegeta hesitated, not sure how to bring this up, but it needed to be said. "He's a black tailed Saiya-jin, and to our knowledge, Bardock only had two sons."

Vegeta had known Turles long enough to pick up on when the Commander was upset, and that was true now when Turles looked away. It was his way of controlling the emotions that were raging around inside of him. "Did he mention anything about his mother?" Turles asked.

"No, and it might prove difficult to get the information. That girl... she's nothing like I expected. I mean... I remember what she did eight years ago... How does Raditz do it? On the surface he seems like any other Saiya-jin, but the kids trust him and Pepper isn't running anymore."

"Don't let her passiveness blindside you," Turles warned.

"I don't understand. She seems fine now."

"Bardock has the same visions that she does. While he wasn't born with the ability; he's still aware of the role we all have to play in this. While Raditz did make a significant impact in how bad it was; unless he figures out a way to save her... in ten years, Frieza will kill her. She's known this from the start, and that is why Bardock stays away from her. No matter what we did, her fate remained the same and he didn't want to develop an attachment."

Vegeta remembered how terrified he had been, always aware that one day he'd have to live with Frieza. He hadn't wanted to go, but he had never tried to find another way until he sent Kakarot and Pepper to Earth. He wanted to think that his defiance hadn't been a mistake. Was evil so strong that no matter what they did; they were still going to lose? How did a baby, now eight, live with that kind of knowledge? "Should I tell Raditz?"

"I wouldn't recommend withholding information from him. While he might have forgiven you about Kakarot; he won't about this. Never forget that Raditz is a Soldier. Every decision he makes revolves around having the facts, regardless of how painful or hopeless it might seem. He will not look at this through her eyes, but as a Soldier preparing for a war. Make no mistake... This is a war Vegeta, and if we want to win it... we have to set aside our emotions and look for a solution. Ten years... we can and will find it. If you lose faith in her... in what we're trying to do... she will know and this time if she runs off, we won't find her again."

Vegeta didn't know how tired Turles looked... There were dark circles under his eyes, and it seemed as if there was damage on the ship. "How bad is it?"

"The patrol nets are getting tighter, but I'll manage like I've always done. Vegeta, time is not a luxury. While I don't disagree that they need what they've found there; we can never forget that our freedom will never happen as long as Frieza remains alive. Good luck and will meet again."


Vegeta found them sitting around a large table, Kakarot, Yamcha, and Krillan eating as much as they could as fast as they could. Pepper had no idea what to do with the amount of food in front of her... Reaching for a plate, he filled it with meat and handed it to her. "This is the first time you've never had to kill or hunt for your food; isn't it?"

She nodded, and with hesitant fingers, she reached for the slab of meat and bit into it, her eyes widening. Taking it out, she stared at it, sniffed, and tasted it again. It seemed she was getting her first taste of how meat tasted with salt and pepper, prepared rather than eaten on the spot. While Saiya-jins had the ability to eat their food raw, he preferred good cooking if and when it was available. When she finished that, she tried a variety of other items, watching the other Saiya-jins as they continued to eat anything they could see or touch. As they ate, the older males assured she had enough to eat, her tail wrapped around Yamcha's wrist.

He hadn't said much, but Pepper had managed to keep him from leaving. Rather than ask him questions he didn't want to answer, they chose to enjoy a rare moment of comfort and food, to eat without the fear of an upcoming battle. Later, as they started to go their own ways, Kakarot went with Krillan and Master Roshi, while Pepper stuck close to Yamcha. Vegeta wanted to protest; he had waited eight years to see her again. I promise to go with you at the end of the Tournament Vegeta; however, I cannot abandon Yamcha. He's already lost everything that mattered to him and I owe him my life.

Once they were alone, Vegeta decided it was best that the younger Saiya-jins were gone. "We have a problem."

"I figured as much; do we really need to stay two more days?" He grouched.


While he was grateful that she had decided to stay with him that night, it surprised him that the others hadn't stopped her. Crawling onto the large bed, she was instantly asleep. Like the food she had eaten earlier, it was probably the first time since arriving on Earth that she hadn't slept on the ground. He wanted to take her and run, but not only would the older one hunt them down and take her; Raditz had somehow connected to her in a way that he hadn't been able to.

He didn't want to admit it... but she needed the other Saiya-jins. At the end of the Tournament, he'd have to return to the desert, and that thought kept him awake for the rest of the night. As she continued to sleep, her tail stayed connected to him... it was like she was also afraid to let ago, uncertain of what would happen to them after the Tournament. The following morning, as they walked towards the tournament, she stopped him. "Yamcha..." He thought he had imagined at first. "They won't take me away; I promise."

"Pepper, you don't belong in the desert... you never did. I have no idea what you're running from... but I'm not the one that can help you."

"Raditz won't send you away," she insisted, reaching for his hand and holding on.

"He has no reason to keep me around, either. Black tailed Saiya-jins were executed on our home world; they're not going to want me around."

"I have plenty of reasons to keep you around, brat!" Walking up to them, Raditz paused, trying to decide how to explain their tails. "Prior to our planet's destruction, there was only one bloodline that had black tails. For a thousand years, we've had to hide them... My uncle... My father... My brother... and the one that I'm hiding right now... we all have a black tail. Now... before you decide to make a run for it... I want you to think about what that means. If you still want to leave after the Tournament, I won't stop you. However, she stays... that is non-negotiable. And Yamcha... I don't give a damn if you saved her life," Raditz snarled. "If you walk out of her life tomorrow; I won't let you back in it. She's had enough of that crap from my father, and regardless if she's forgiven him for it; I haven't. She's a child and because everyone decided that it was impossible to kill the bastard that is hunting all of us down; she was left to live or die on her own."

Yamcha looked away. He didn't trust them, but did he really want to leave and risk never seeing her again? Looking at Pepper, he knew she wasn't going to make the choice for him. He had to do it on his own, and he saw the fear in her eyes. She didn't want him to go, and when he didn't say anything, her hand pulled away from his and she walked away.

Kakarot stopped him when he was almost inside the building. Gone was the smile and laughter he had seen on his face the day before. This was a boy that was fully prepared to kill him... "Vegeta and my father tried to kill us when we were born... They thought it was better than what would have happened if we had survived. We weren't allowed to have our parents or brothers raise us. Females had only one purpose; one! In order to give her anything other than that, Vegeta decided to send us here. I had no idea what my purpose was... All I knew was that they sent her with me... something they NEVER did, and I didn't want them to take or hurt her. They would have and I knew it! Pepper, instead of embracing the chance at a new life here, saw one vision after another. She's cursed, knowing that she's going to die; despite that, she chose to distance herself, hoping that the monster that's chasing us will focus only on her and leave the rest of us alone."

"We don't deserve her; the Saiya-jin's like a lot of the humans on this planet were corrupt and cruel, but she's determined to save us anyway. My father didn't stop her when she took off and he never tried to bring her back. Two years ago, he rejected her completely, and the pain we felt when she severed the link that connected us all to her was excruciating! Pepper will never trust that we can help her if everyone keeps abandoning her! If you leave tomorrow; you won't have a chance to come back! I'll kill you!"

Yamcha had no idea what to do; he knew what they were saying, but why would she need him if she had them? He was weak and pathetic, unable to protect his own mother or her.


"How many people are we fighting today?" Krillan asked.

"Eight or ten more people each. You have to remember," Master Roshi explained, "Anyone may enter, but only one person can possess the World Champion Title. People will train for hours... spend millions for the best trainers and equipment, but they lose sight of what makes them a true martial artist... it's not about the prestige; while nice, it's about the lessons you learn from those that you fight with."