Shadowed Future (Part Two)


Something had changed... Rolling over, her feet touched the wooden floor of her room, and she looked out the window of their apartment, the sunlight doing nothing to calm the pounding of her heart. Eight years had passed since the World Martial Arts Tournament, and while many considered that fight a draw, it had been enough to keep her linked to them. In that time they had trained, searched, hoped for a way to free the Universe of a monster that had no concept of a mortal life. She thought of the human laws that governed them, some good, some bad. However, the laws were something society agreed upon, and if it was wrong, they tried to change it. Everything about Frieza was wrong.

While she thought the laws seemed to favor the criminals more than the innocent, she worked outside the human boundaries to go after the people that used money and power to get what they wanted. She didn't mind the humans, but they were too easily swayed towards one side or another. Krillan and Master Roshi represented what was good of humanity, while entities like what she was currently investigating were the polar opposite. If Vegeta knew what she was about to get herself involved with, he'd probably have Raditz lock her away and throw away the key.

Checking on him, Vegeta was sleeping, and while she felt bad that she was about to take off again; she had no intentions of sitting out on this one. He had gotten so strong... but she knew that it wasn't going to be enough. Sitting on the edge of his bed, she watched the steady rise and fall of his chest... He looked peaceful, and she didn't make his life easy. Vegeta always had this look on his face when Raditz found and dragged her back. It wasn't her fault that he had gotten good at hunting her down, while the others struggled to figure out where to even look. Besides, she enjoyed getting a rise out of the Turles's second in command. When Vegeta had asked where Raditz had found her; he said something about a jungle.

While Vegeta never openly supported why she went out of her way to save the humans, he never said anything against it either. What was one war compared to another... They always involved innocent bystanders, governments using their people as pawns to gain an advantage over another territory or government. Raditz was determined to prove her wrong, that he could and would find her, regardless of how many times she ran off or where she went. It wasn't like she was avoiding him; she just made up her mind that she didn't need their help most of the time.

Brushing her fingers against the worried lines on his face, ones that she had put there, she leaned forward and touched their foreheads together. She had no idea how long she was going to stay gone this time... While the battle with Frieza was getting closer, if she didn't stop this new threat... well... that was the change; an unexpected one that none of them could ignore. "I'm sorry," she whispered. When Vegeta opened his eyes, she was already gone.

"Not again," he groaned. Vegeta wanted to know why Raditz couldn't just deal with her, but after the Tournament, he had refused to train or fight her again. While he had proven that he could do what was necessary to protect her, what he had had to do to earn that admission from Pepper had left him in a state of shock and lingering anger that would boil over if he didn't learn to come to terms with it.

Dropping back down onto his bed, he decided he'd face Raditz later. If he found out that Pepper had taken off less than 24 hours after finding her... "Nope... not happening... I'd rather jump on my ship and fight Frieza alone than face Raditz." It didn't help matters that Turles was almost to Earth... Two years... that's all they had left, and neither brat was anywhere close to where they needed them to be. Vegeta wondered if pirates or space fighters could put in for a leave of absence. While it was a human term, he rather liked the idea of taking a break. "Ha! Turles would break every bone in my body and then say that my leave of absence was my recovery time in the healing pods."


Bardock was sitting on a water tower that over looked West City. He didn't have to look to know that she was there. It seemed any time their visions changed, they took a moment to talk about it. Unless it was dramatic, most of the time they kept it to themselves. It didn't do any good to involve the others with something that may or may not have any impact on them. Something they've learned over the years is that any decision, especially a random one that a person hadn't thought of, could alter the vision in an extremely dramatic way.

He still didn't spend any length of time with his sons, but the animosity had calmed between them a little; and while he allowed Raditz to raise and train Kakarot, he sometimes gave the occasional pointer that would serve to upset Raditz when Kakarot decided to listen. "I think you're intentionally trying to provoke a fight with Raditz. I thought the first time would have been enough reason to avoid that."

"I don't really consider that fight a legitimate win. Many in the Martial Art's world would say the same. The only reason that was a win was because he managed to stand back up and I was too emotionally exhausted to bother arguing with him any longer. Humans are so illogical at times, changing rules when it suits them because they have to keep up the entertainment. We both lost, but because the fans wouldn't have accepted that, they randomly made something up. You and I both know that wasn't a real win."

"Is it that necessary to have him win when you have access to your full abilities?"

"Frieza can kill me with or without them... If Raditz can't do the same, then I'd rather just do it on my own. I'm not a child anymore..." Bardock gave her a look... As far as he was concerned, she was still too young to make the reckless decisions the way she did, but her visions had forced her to grow up long before she had learned to walk or talk.

"That's not what forced you to leave again today, is it?" Bardock had an idea what was bothering her, but it was easier to talk everything out. It sometimes made a difference.

"I can't see the fight with Frieza; it just vanished. Right now... all I see is an army with red and white armbands on. A lot of them aren't even human."

"And for a moment I thought what the Karnassans did to me was going away... Are you prepared to deal with Raditz if you keep provoking him? While it does provide a lot of entertainment, he's violently opposed to challenging you."

"I'm not forcing him to do anything. If he wants to fight; I'll fight him. If he chooses to do nothing; I'm fine with that as well. What none of you seem to understand is that the Saiya-jins don't naturally want to hurt their females."

Bardock froze, trying to understand what she was getting at. His visions only helped him to see what was ahead of them, never the past. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that she was linked to all of them. "Can you explain that?"

"The Saiya-jins were forced to go against their natural and primal instincts; we're pack animals, Bardock. Our first instincts are to protect and shelter the young; why do you think that Frieza's Soldiers trained the younger Saiya-jins and not ours? At a year old, they're easier to turn into mindless killers... They're taught to hate and to hurt... And yet, regardless of what the Ice-jin empire did to us, it couldn't force the males to harm the females... The males fought against it, and that's when he had his scientists figure out a drug that would send them into a uncontrollable mating frenzy without marking the females." Bardock remembered them injecting him with something, but he hadn't hurt Gina... not like how the other Soldiers had done. "That's because the drug doesn't work on black tailed Saiya-jins; your instincts were a lot stronger. The survivors are dealing with a lot of psychological trauma, and that's not something I can fix. While's he's noticed that the males are acting nothing like the way they would have if they had been raised on Planet Vegeta, he's still under the impression that if he tries to claim a female, he'll seriously hurt her. He's terrified of it."

"The day that Frieza dies can't come soon enough."

"I can't say I disagree, but that's still two years away."

"What has you so worked up about the Red Ribbon Army?" he asked her. "I get that you're having a hard time seeing what they're planning, but you've dealt with organizations like this before."

"No... you're wrong." He heard a hint of fear in her voice, and that got his attention. To his knowledge, the only thing she feared was the battle two years from now. "If left alone, this Army will grow into something that not even Frieza can stop."

"Then why are you trying to fight it on your own?" He demanded. Bardock was half tempted to stop her himself, but decided to hear her out.

"Actually... I had no intention of doing it alone." He knew the vision had changed, but he never thought there would come a time when she would openly admit that she needed help. Falling back against the tower, she stared up at the sky... "There's a new moon coming. Of all the times for it... Why can't I see anything? It doesn't make any sense! It's like every decision being made is random."

"If that's true, then we're dealing with someone that's not only dangerous, but beyond reason and logic. Also, you did say that a majority of the military is made up of robots. Robots don't think. They process information and based on their programming, comply with their directives. It has nothing to do with choices. It's a logical outcome based upon what is presented to them."

Her head hurt, and she looked at the city that would occupy a lot of her time in the coming days. There was someone here that she needed to find and while the person would play a major role with the Red Ribbon Army, she would end up becoming a huge part of their success against Frieza as well. "It doesn't stop changing," she whispered, clutching at her head.

Bardock sighed... "Kid, I've never opposed any of your decisions. And while it might have caused us some problems early on... I strongly recommend you not challenging something that you can't get a firm grasp on. With what you can see... how bad is it?"

"I'll put it this way... I can leave them alone and millions will die. If I get involved, we'll have to deal with this again later in the future. And as I've said; they're far too dangerous to let them continue growing their numbers."

"That's not like you to leave the head of the snake attached."

"It won't come out of hiding this round. While chopping it into pieces will force it to retreat until it's fully recovered; it will use that time to become even deadlier. Bardock... The others won't understand, but somehow all of this is connected to our fight with Frieza."

"Like I've always told you; unless I feel it's going to affect our chances against Frieza, I won't get in your way. That's how it's always been between us and I'm not about to do it now."

"Thanks." Standing, she let the wind blow back her hair, allowing a brief moment of peace wash over her. "Who knows... I might just start that fight with him myself. Raditz is so damn arrogant, stubborn, and prideful. That idiot! Why can't he understand that he's strong enough to never hurt someone he's chosen to protect?"

"Pepper... Raditz has made it clear that he will never mate with anyone."

She glanced at him, struggling not to laugh, and failed. "You of all people... I never thought you'd buy into that nonsense! The Ice-jins might have suppressed them, but the instincts still exist inside of us, and sooner or later he cannot and will not have the ability to stop it. A Saiya-jin can only hold back for so long... He needs a mate, and if he continues to resist that part of himself... He'll go feral until he finds and obtains what his Oozuru wants." Wiping away her tears of laughter, she calmed down, happy that she was alive. Even if it was only for a couple more years... While she still didn't know how they were going to save her, there was a future after the fight. "The old ways are not gone, Bardock. The survivors just need to re-discover them. My one and only desire has been to set all of you free, physically and emotionally."

"At what cost to yourself? None of us want you to place our needs or lives above your own, especially Raditz."

"Yeah well... That serves as a double edged sword. He doesn't want me to take risks with my life, but he wants to lock me away as if I'm some kind of rare bird that shouldn't ever leave the cage. A bird needs to fly and spread its wings Bardock, and I won't let him stop what I've been born to do."

"That's not what I'm talking about. You want us safe and happy, but you're forgetting something. You need the same freedom that they do; do you really intend on living your life alone."

"No, but do you think there's anyone strong enough to accept and overcome a challenge from me? Raditz was lucky the last time we fought, and I was an eight year old little girl. Anyway... I'll see you around." Bardock watched her go, growling in irritation.

She was so focused on Frieza and the other Saiya-jins, that she was blind to the fact that if she died; none of them would be able to stop Raditz. While he had refrained from fighting her... If she took on the Red Ribbon Army and avoided Raditz at the same time... Unaware that Vegeta was thinking the same thing he was... "Stupid kids... I'm so taking a vacation when this is all over."


Kakarot collapsed to the ground, sweat dripping from his brow. He knew he had been a little temperamental lately, but did Raditz really have to give him 10,000 sit-ups and push-ups as punishment? If he didn't get them done before lunch, he wasn't going to get anything to eat until dinner time. His arms and legs were starting to hurt... "I'm so... hungry."

"You could eat something..." a gentle voice laughed at him. Glancing up, he saw Pepper sitting on Master Roshi's outdoor table, her feet crossed, and her tail lying across her lap. He thought of saying something, but she never listened to them. "That's not true... I listen to Raditz all the time. He just doesn't stick around to ensure that I remain in compliance."

"Isn't that the same thing as doing the exact opposite of what you're told?"

"No. I've never once given him a hard time if and when he finds me. I just don't stay when he drops me off. And until he decides to make me, I'll keep giving him reason to come after me. Besides, it's funny to see the frustration on his face. Like I was saying, if you're hungry, you should eat."

"Raditz said not to; he says unless I learn to fight and concentrate without food, it'll continue causing me trouble later. Damn it, Pepper. I know I promised to take fighting seriously, but... Is that all we're good for?" Frustrated, he sat up, his eyes showing the bitter anger that was building up inside of him.

"Maybe if you would talk to him; you might realize that one, he's not going to kill all of you. Second... Vegeta and Raditz don't want the survivors to live the way we did while we were under the laws of the Ice-jin Empire. If you don't want to fight, then tell them."

"I never said that I didn't want to fight... Pepper, I... I can't kill anyone! Why do I have to if I'm strong enough to crush and let them live with the shame of losing?"

Jumping down, she went over to Kakarot and gently lifted his face. She couldn't recall ever seeing his kind and innocent expression on one of the other Saiya-jins; perhaps Master Roshi's philosophies and influences played a large role in Kakarot's unique personality. "Kakarot, while you're opposed to killing, doesn't mean that you're not capable of it. And it's okay. Do you remember when Raditz and Vegeta first came here?"

"Yeah..."

"All you could think about was keeping Krillan alive and safe; deep down, you knew that if it was to protect your best friend, you would have tried to kill them if there had been no other option."

"It doesn't matter," he sighed. "In two years we have to leave."

"Kakarot..."

"I've known that!" he shouted. "It's just... This is our home Pepper! It doesn't matter that we weren't born here; it's all I know and these people have selflessly taken us in, fed us, taught us how to co-exist with the other humans! I don't want to become a space fighter, and I don't want to never come back here! Why do I feel so trapped when we're no longer slaves?!"

Yamcha had been feeling the same way... Sighing, she helped him to stand and gave him a shove into the water. "Pepper?"

"That's two years away, Kakarot. Why don't we enjoy the here and now and leave that serious stuff for another time?" Going back to the table, Kakarot noticed the magazine that hadn't been there before. "Is that what I think it is?" He was already out of the water and catching it in mid-air before she could say anything, smiling as he sat and started to read. "Wow... I knew she'd do it!"

"Is it the magazine that you like, or the girl that's featured in the last three issues?"

"I'm curious about her, but the magazine has a lot of cool stuff as well."

Pepper quietly studied her friend... There was no doubt in her mind that Kakarot could fight, but it seemed his attributes had nothing to do with combat and everything to do with his intelligence. He was a brilliant fighter, and it often gave Raditz a hard time. While most of the Saiya-jins operated on instinct and experience, Kakarot preferred to find the gaps in their defenses, even if that meant he had to take several direct and painful hits. "I was just curious... if I knew where she liked to read and study..."

Kakarot dropped the magazine and pinned Pepper down, his tail weaving back and forth. It had been so sudden that she hadn't had a chance to counter, and suddenly she laughed. He frowned, and with a horrified gasp, he backed away. Raditz had made it quite clear that they weren't supposed to fight or hurt her... He didn't give a damn if she could fight back and every Saiya-jin had agreed. None of them wanted to place her in a position where she was forced to mate one of them; if she wanted one at all.

"Well," she asked. "Would you like to meet her or not?"

"You're kidding right? I don't care if Raditz grounds me for the rest of my life... She's like the smartest person in the world! Yes, I want to meet her!"

"That's a very human form of punishment," Pepper commented. However, it made sense. While Raditz was strict, he kept the same rules for the younger Saiya-jins as he did for her. He was strong enough to enforce it, and that's why she didn't understand why Krillan, Vegeta, and surprisingly Bardock were so afraid of him. Raditz would rather die than risk seriously injuring one of them.

While Kakarot wanted to go, he started to get the feeling that Pepper wasn't going to West City just so he could meet Bulma. If something didn't conflict with what she was doing, Pepper didn't mind going out of her way to help them. "Why aren't you with Vegeta?" Kakarot asked.

"To rile your brother up."

"Do you have a death wish or something?" Kakarot asked.

"And aren't you tired of being treated like a child? Look, I was going to talk to her anyway... You have an interest in her, so it works out. Do you want to go or not?"

"Pepper, not all of us like breaking the rules."

"I never said you had to break the rules, Kakarot. This is your choice, not mine. If you decide to stay here, I can't promise that you'll have another chance to meet her."

Pepper never did anything without a reason; all of the Saiya-jins knew this. "You had another vision and she's involved somehow; isn't she?"

Her silence was answer enough, and he knew then that he wouldn't stay on the island. While she didn't talk about her visions, she gave them a push in the direction that they needed to go, and the rest was left to them. Pepper had learned awhile ago that if she tried to force their decisions, the outcomes weren't always in their favor of winning.

"If we don't leave now, my brother might demand why you're here instead of with Vegeta."

When Krillan finished cleaning the house and the kitchen, he stepped outside and froze. Raditz had given him clear instructions to feed Kakarot if he was still training when he finished the chores, but that seemed like it wasn't going to happen. "Why... me...?" There was no way he was waiting around for Raditz to come back... not this time. "I wanted to go to the supermarket anyway!"


Vegeta pulled his pillow over his head, refusing to move when he heard his door cave in. Did he even want to know how Raditz had found out that she was gone again? Okay... so maybe ignoring the phone all day hadn't been the smartest idea. "Vegeta..." Raditz growled... "You're far too old to hide like a little brat!" Yanking the covers and pillow away, he tossed them and turned over Vegeta's bed.

"I wasn't hiding," Vegeta complained, rubbing his head. "I was just avoiding you."

"It's the same thing! She took off again; didn't she?"

"You're surprised? I did suggest that we switch brats."

"Kakarot, despite what you think, isn't easy to deal with right now."

"He's an adolescent male... of course he's not! I wasn't easy to deal with either, but unlike him, I had a lot of combat to keep me occupied and out of trouble. However, despite that, the only one Pepper seems to listen to is you. The minute you drop her off and go back to the island, she takes off again."

"She's not that hard to control..."

"ARE YOU BLIND?! SHE'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL!" Vegeta shouted. "Name a single time that she's stuck around for more than a week! Where did you find her this last time anyway?"

"The jungle."

"What was she doing there?"

"Do you need to ask?"

Vegeta didn't... Knowing Pepper, she was probably freeing slaves or prisoners of war. She never chose a side unless it was an organization that was dangerous to everything and everyone around them. "How do you find her so easily?"

"Simple... Look for the biggest threat and she's involved."

"Things have been quiet..."

"Are you stuck under a rock or something," Raditz growled. "While it's small, they're growing in numbers, and a lot of people have already died."

"You could have said that's how you're tracking her."

"I thought it was obvious." Vegeta wanted to say that there was nothing obvious or predictable about her; however, he refrained from it. Raditz never did anything past what he had to when it came to her anymore, and he had a feeling it was because of how old she was now. When she was younger, he had no problem offering her comfort. That was no longer the case, and there was something predatory lurking in the Soldier's eyes whenever he had to go fetch her, something that made Vegeta want to stay as far as way as possible.