Marked
Chapter 9:
The party was hopping in West City. Ghouls, goblins, witches, superheroes, and a variety of characters littered the dance floor of the hotel ballroom. Chi-Chi, Bulma and Sami – all prominent figures in society – were invited to a major Halloween party. After doing some daytime celebrating at a festival in her kingdom, Chi-Chi didn't think it would hurt if she and Goku got away for a night, so they took the opportunity.
After some dancing, the gang heads to a pub table for a little bit of debauchery.
"Come on Goku. You might like this one! It's fruity and not so harsh!" Sami pokes Goku with her fairy wand as she tries to get Goku to try a caramel apple shot. She's definitely had a lot to drink and the more she has the more she likes to see what she can make Goku do. At Chi-Chi's birthday party she kept throwing stuff at him when he wasn't looking to see if he would catch it and he would. It delighted her and her friends to no end. Chi-Chi always thanks Goku for his tolerance of her friends' antics but Goku doesn't mind. He would if he had to deal with it all the time, but he's learned that's them really just being girls. The more time they spend with Goku and see how unique he is, the more they want to know him and he's thankful for that.
Goku fake gags. "Nuh uh. That stuff is all nasty. It tastes like poison. I don't see how you could drink it."
The rest of the group – consisting of Chi-Chi, Bulma, Kira, Sami, Yamcha, Krillin, and Tien – all throw back a round of shots.
"Bleck!" Chi-Chi yells after having hers then takes a swig of Goku's coke. "Okay, that's it. Wine only the rest of the night. Plus, I have to be cognizant in case we need to go get Gohan." Alcohol is pretty new to her having only had champagne and some wine at their wedding and on their honeymoon, but she figured what better time to try new things than when she's safe with her husband.
"Tien, I'm surprised you drink," Bulma points out knowing that he's usually the most reserved one of the group.
"You forget that I have a pretty… seedy past," he responds trying to figure out the best way to say he's not always made the best choices. "I don't mind a little fun every now and then. It's when you have too much fun that the trouble starts. Plus, when else can you go out with a third eye and nobody look at you funny? Halloween was made for me."
"Cheers to that!" Sami says passing out another round of which everyone but Goku and Chi-Chi partake.
Kira takes one more sip of her drink. "So… Chi-Chi. I have a question."
"Maybe I have an answer," Chi-Chi giggles feeling the slight affects of the teensy bit of alcohol in her tiny body.
Kira points to Chi-Chi's neck. "What's that?" she asks of the teeth marks on Chi-Chi's neck that she's seen before but never had the nerve to ask about. Now that she's had a few shots of liquid courage, she's going for it. She knows it has to do with Goku. She's known Chi-Chi her whole life and her friend didn't have that scar on her body until after he showed up.
"It's part of my costume. Goku's a vampire and I'm a courtier," Chi-Chi says spinning in her rose colored, medieval ball gown.
Bulma shakes her head as she finishes her cocktail. "Nice try, but you both have one," she says fearlessly tugging at Goku's shirt to expose his mark. "That's permanent."
"Hey!" Goku snaps prying her hand off. He honestly doesn't care if people see them. In fact, he wants their marks to be seen. But it bothers Chi-Chi. She explained that people won't understand, and it should be between them.
Chi-Chi's cheeks blush bright red. She thought they were clever tonight, and she even used fake blood to make it appear as if she was just bitten. She knows how much Goku likes it when others can see her mark so when they're around people they don't know, she lets it show. For the life of her she can't figure out why Goku likes that or why it matters to him, but she always tries to keep it somewhat hidden around their friends for this very reason. Unlike Goku, she gets comments by strangers about her mark all the time, jokes about vampires being most common, so she thought leaning into it for Halloween would kill two birds with one stone. Apparently, she hadn't been as conspicuous or clever as she thought.
"He's a vampire so of course he would have a bite mark. That's how he became a vampire. Duh," Krillin intervenes.
Chi-Chi relaxes thinking maybe their friend just saved them from an awkward conversation.
"No way. You guys have had those marks since you came back from your honeymoon. But what you guys do is none of our business," Sami says narrowing her eyes at all of their friends. "What we should be talking about is how amazing Chi-Chi looks after having a baby a few months ago. I mean, seriously. Could your boobs look any better in that dress?"
Now Chi-Chi's blushing for a different reason. "Sami, really?"
Goku frowns not thrilled with the extra attention to Chi-Chi's slightly revealing costume.
"Chi, you have got to lighten up! This is your first night out without Gohan. You look smokin' hot. We're at the Halloween party of the century. Just take the compliment, throw back this shot and tell us how the hell you two ended up with matching bite marks!" Bulma barks really wanting to hear the juicy story. She knows it's good.
"I bit her, and she bit me."
The group looks at Goku who said that with the same tone one would say "I got groceries." They all stare at him in stunned silence.
Chi-Chi, completely mortified, puts her face in her hands praying for this moment to pass.
"Goku, you just said that as if that's a thing people do. I mean… it is a thing people do," Sami winks. "But they don't leave scars."
"Look, I don't really see how this is any of your business, but back off. We don't have to explain anything to you guys." Goku isn't sharp with people often, but when he is, it's noticed.
"Okay… Sorry Goku. We didn't mean anything. We were just curious is all…" Bulma apologizes still not used to Goku having anything other than a lighthearted attitude. That's changed somewhat since he got married and became a father. She initially blamed Chi-Chi but quickly realized Goku just grew up.
"I'm getting a drink," Chi-Chi says walking away.
Goku follows her feeling her annoyance with him. "Chi don't be mad. I'm sorry. I don't see what the big deal is. Now they'll leave you alone."
She continues walking to the bar and orders a glass of wine. "It's fine Goku."
If he's learned anything in their year of being married, it's that "fine" actually never means fine. In fact, he's questioning every time someone ever told him something was fine and wondering if he was always being lied to.
"Hey," he turns her around to face him.
"What? I'm sorry I know it isn't a big deal to you, but it is to me. They don't need to know all of that. It's embarrassing Goku."
"You're embarrassed of it?" he asks offended while pointing to the mark he's extremely proud of.
She sighs. "Not embarrassed that it happened but embarrassed that it left such a visible mark on my body. I know it's special to you and it is special to me. I understand it's what makes us connected. I know that. But it's weird and people point it out all the time."
Goku's face falls. It's like she just sucker punched him. The list is short for what he considers precious: his wife, his child, his grandpa's power pole, the four-star Dragon Ball, and that mark on her body that made her his. For her to feel that way is like someone touching an exposed nerve. "Oh… Okay, Chi-Chi." He turns and walks away back to their room, yanking off the cape to his costume.
Kira approaches Chi-Chi as she's about to go after him. "Chi, I'm so sorry. I didn't know it was such a sensitive topic."
"If it was any of your business, I would've told you about it a long time ago," Chi-Chi snaps following her husband.
She finally makes it to her room and goes inside with her key. Goku is standing on the balcony having mostly undressed from his costume except for the black pants.
He keeps his back to her so Chi-Chi walks to him and puts her cheek on his back and her arms around his waist. "I'm sorry Goku. What I was trying to say didn't come out right."
He stands there unmoving. "What you were trying to say is that you're embarrassed of your mark."
She shakes her head on his back with her nose brushing his skin. "That's not it at all Goku. I'm not. I love it. I love that we're different from everyone else. But it also makes things complicated and invites questions that I'm not always comfortable with. People, for whatever reason, maybe they're afraid of you or something, they don't ask you about yours. I never imagined that they would be so permanent or prominent on our bodies. But really, yours isn't quite so noticeable. Yours is my tiny teeth on your manly neck. Mine is your giant man bite on my tiny neck."
Somewhat understanding, Goku turns around to face her and she shifts her arms from his waist to his neck, lightly brushing the mark on his body, giving them both chills.
"Believe it or not, I wish your mark were even bolder. Especially after tonight. I hate the way men look at you. I mean, you do have your boobs out for the world to see."
"Hey!" she slaps his chest. "They just look especially full because I need to pump."
"My point is, and I can't explain it, but that tells the world whose you are. Even if they don't understand it. It is what makes you mine and nobody else's."
"Goku…" she kisses his neck. "I don't need a mark to know that. Or a ring. Or anything else. That's a given."
He shakes his head. "No Chi-Chi. That," he lightly touches her mark with his finger, "makes you mine. And don't you ever forget it."
He leans down and kisses her lips, and she can feel where this is going very quickly. He begins pushing her back to their hotel bed. "Goku, honey, slow down. I wasn't kidding, I need to pump. My breasts hurt and need relief."
His mouth moves lower to kiss the tops of her breasts that peek out above the corset. "Fine," he growls. "But be quick."
She rolls her eyes and walks to her suitcase. "That's not really something I can control, now is it?" After she pulls out the device, she begins undoing the laces of her corset. "It's a shame I'm going to waste all of this milk. But letting loose a little bit I think has been good for us."
"What do you mean?" Goku asks knowing that Chi-Chi has never let a drop of her milk not be given to Gohan.
"Well I had alcohol tonight. And remember that what I eat, Gohan eats. Can't very well give him this. So, tonight, I'll be pumping and dumping."
Goku puts his hand on hers to stop her from putting the little machine together. "You're saying you can't give that to Gohan?" he asks poking her breast.
She nods.
Goku rips apart her corset.
"Goku! I rented that! Now we have to pay for it! You have got to stop destroying my clothes! We can't afford your appetite and a new wardrobe for me all the time. You need to chill."
Her rant is cutoff by his lips devouring hers. "And you need to learn when to shut up."
Chi-Chi takes a small step back. He only speaks to her that way when there's… She looks behind him and sees that Halloween did fall on a full moon. Being so busy with Gohan, she forgot to keep track.
Goku takes her leaking breasts in his hands and squeezes gently.
"Goku… What are you doing?"
He leans forward as if he's going to taste.
"Goku! No! That's… No! That's gross!" she says pulling away from him.
He follows her and grabs her possessively around her waist to pull her back. "How can that be gross considering the other things we put in our mouths?" he says nibbling her neck.
"I swear Goku. I am locking you up during the full moon from now on."
"You're welcome to try."
Chi-Chi shudders as she feels him pull the rest of her gown off before tossing her on the bed. He climbs on top of her and licks his lips. "You said you needed relief. I'm just helping."
Kira, Sami, Bulma, Yamcha, Krillin and Tien step off of the elevator.
"Kami, I feel so bad. This is their first real night away from Gohan and I started a fight," Kira says as they walk down the hall.
"We all played a part. Don't beat yourself up. We'll apologize and I'm sure they'll come back down," Bulma suggests as they get closer to Goku and Chi-Chi's room. She raises her hand to knock when… "Umm…"
"What?" Yamcha leans his head forward to the door. "Holy hell! Yeah, um. I think they made up. Let's go."
Everyone's faces blush when they realize the sounds of faint moaning and a rattling bed through the door.
"Yep! That is definitely our cue to scram," Krillin says as almost everyone starts walking back toward the elevator.
Yamcha grabs Bulma's wrist. "Maybe we could go ahead and go to bed?" he says quietly with suggestive eyebrows raised.
"You're such a guy," Bulma rolls her eyes. "But… yeah. I'm tired," she winks.
They walk past the others as they wait on the elevator. "You guys go on back down. We're gonna call it," Bulma says as she pulls her cat ears off.
"Yeah. Whatever," Krillin says as they get on the elevator. "See y'all in the morning."
Back in their room, Goku has Chi-Chi pinned up against the wall with one foot dangling near the ground and the other resting on his shoulder in a perfect split. "Yes, Goku… Goku… GOKU!" Her head falls forward on his chest and she lets her orgasm wash over her.
"That's right Chi. Say my name," he says as he continues to thrust not quite ready to let go. Once she's done twitching, he lowers her leg, and carries her to stand in front of a mirror turning her around so they can both see their reflections.
He presses his body against hers and points to her mark while looking at her in the mirror. "What does that mean?" he questions as he slides into her from behind.
She grips the table in front of her. "That…" she moans, "that means I'm… yours."
"Whose?" He picks up the pace.
"Yours, Goku!" she cries gripping the table tighter as his thrusts come harder and faster.
"That's right. Mine. All mine." He clutches her waist and pounds her ruthlessly causing her to crack the table she's using for support. He brings his hand back around and very gently holds her neck while brushing her mark causing them both to buckle slightly. "Chi-Chi, I may not be able to give you the world, but that is all of me," he says kissing her temple.
She smiles at the slight shift in his demeanor but pulls off and turns around while cupping his cheek with her palm. "Well then it works out because you and Gohan are my world."
Their lips meet for a passionate kiss.
"Goku, I am proud to be Son Chi-Chi. It's all I ever wanted." She points to her mark while kissing his. "I will never cover this again. I promise. Well… unless I'm cold."
He picks her up and tosses her gently on their bed. She looks so beautiful with the moonlight hitting her skin. She almost glows. "I love you Son Chi-Chi."
She spreads her legs to welcome him back inside. "I love you too Son Goku."
The following morning the group gathers for a brunch buffet – the first argument Chi-Chi used in suggesting she and her husband partake in the quick getaway.
"Where are Goku and Chi-Chi?" Krillin asks.
"We're right here," Chi-Chi says happily as they walk up to the table. Goku pulls her seat out then sits next to her and puts his arm on the back of her chair.
Chi-Chi is wearing a purple fall dress with a wide neck, her hair pulled back and her mark proudly on display but none of them dare says a word about it. Goku leans over and kisses her cheek. Since that Halloween weekend, Chi-Chi never cared about her mark being covered again.
*Goku? Can you still hear me?* Chi-Chi asks through her bond with Goku.
*Yeah babe. How far away are you? I know it's only been a few days, but you've got to be millions of miles away at this point. Pretty cool that we can go this far.*
*I really don't know. I'll ask Bulma later. I just want to talk to you right now. I can feel it getting weaker and don't know how much time we have left.*
*Yeah, you're right. How's it going up there?*
*Well, I had to explain to Bulma that she can't walk around in her underwear in front of my child. But other than that, it's okay. I probably should tell you that Krillin walked in on me changing. Don't freak out. He saw none of the goods. Just my back. But it's close quarters up here. I've only been gone a few days, but I am so ready to be back in my bed. We haven't slept in our bed together in over a year.*
*Believe me, I'm well aware.*
*Mmm, you miss me baby?* she says seductively.
*Don't tease me when I can't do anything about it Chi,* Goku warns.
She chuckles. *Fine. You're right. That's not very nice. So how are you feeling honey? I'm hoping more progress today?*
*Yeah. More bandages off. I've got use back in my left arm and my legs are starting to work again. Not that it matters. Senzus will take care of everything. I'm just so bored. I can't be in this bed any longer. Master Roshi and your dad have stopped by a lot but, no offense to them, they're not as fun as you and Gohan.*
She smiles. *Well nobody is.*
*Oh, Chi, I can feel Dr. Machi headed this way. I'll let you know what he says in a bit.*
*Okay honey. I'm going to get some sleep. I love you babe.*
*Love you too.*
Chi-Chi stands up and goes back to the common area. Finding Gohan on the ground with one of his workbooks and his headphones in, she pulls one of them out so he can hear her. "Hey baby doll, what are you working on right now?"
"Just some math," he says keeping his focus on his long division.
She bends down and kisses the top of his head. "Okay, honey. I won't bother you," she says tucking the earbud back in. Seeing Krillin in the small kitchen area, she grabs an orange and sits across from him.
"Jeez, Chi-Chi. You really think homework is that important? You brought the kid a library," Krillin comments.
Chi-Chi stops peeling her orange and grabs a pencil and piece of paper from Gohan's school supplies. Krillin watches as she scribbles something down. She passes him the paper and pencil.
9345/150 =
"You solve that math problem without using your fingers or toes and then you can question my parenting."
Krillin blushes instantly. He could do the math but painfully slow and would need a few fingers.
"I know you all think I'm tough on Gohan but please keep in mind we spent the last year in a cave. I did the best I could with what I had but I don't see the harm in sharpening his mind while we're coasting through outer space."
Krillin slowly drinks his glass of milk hoping she'll either walk away or he'll have something good to say by the time he finishes. Neither of these things happen. "Yeah I guess you're right."
She leans back in her chair and keeps peeling her orange.
"So, what was it like spending so much time with Piccolo?" Krillin asks curiously. "I mean, if you're okay with talking about it."
"Of course, I am. Goku was right about him. As much as he would like to think he's this devious super villain, he's not at all. In fact, what he's needed more than anything is a family and friends. He'd never admit it, but he loves Gohan as his own and he tolerates me pretty well," she chuckles thinking about how they ended up quarreling like brother and sister. "But he doesn't have to say it out loud. You saw it for yourself. He died for my baby."
Krillin nods. "It's wild to me that he's so much different from his father."
She bites one of her orange slices. "I know. When we went with him, I didn't know what to expect. It definitely wasn't summer camp, but I honestly think he took care of us the best way he knew how. Especially our last few months with him. You know… he even gave Gohan a birthday present."
Krillin's eyes pop open. "What?"
She nods to support her claim. "It's true. The gi that Gohan wears that matches his. He gave that to him at my sad excuse for his fifth birthday party."
"Ah, Chi-Chi, don't beat yourself up. Last year was the craziest year of our lives. We'll all help you celebrate Gohan when we get back. It'll be awesome."
She smiles knowing how much their friends love her child. "Thank you. That'll be great. I also booked the three of us a trip to Adventure World. He's so excited he even brought a calendar to count down the days and started a scheme with his father to stay even longer," she says playfully rolling her eyes. "So, what about you Krillin? Any lucky ladies waiting for you to get back?"
He leans back in his seat and puts his hands behind his head. "Nah… You know me. I just like to keep my options open. You know, play the field."
"So, you're terrified of women?"
"I am mortified!"
She laughs at his unexpected honesty.
"I mean, I'm not scared of you or Bulma. You're basically sisters. But any girls I'm interested in… What's wrong with you people? How are you so… scary?"
"What are we talking about?" Bulma asks sitting next to Chi-Chi and taking one of her orange slices.
"Krillin's crippling fear of women," Chi-Chi informs her.
"Oh that? Who's the lady in question?"
"I think all of them," Chi-Chi teases. "Except for us apparently."
"Ugh! That's rude! Chi-Chi and I are gorgeous!"
Krillin puts his hands up in defense. "I didn't mean that you aren't! I just said you're like sisters to me! What..? I mean..? How is that bad?!"
The girls both laugh at his stammering.
"See! Girls are scary!" he cries. "Even Goku's terrified of you!" he says directing the comment at Chi-Chi.
Chi-Chi chuckles knowing that's not true at all but it's cute when he acts that way. "Yeah. And don't you forget it," she advises. "But Krillin, girls are not scary. Maybe you're just going after the wrong girls. Is there anyone specific you have in mind?"
He avoids eye contact and keeps his lips sealed.
"Oh! There is!" Bulma squeals. "Spill."
Krillin shakes his head 'no.'
"Krillin, who else better to get girl advice from than two girls you aren't scared of?" Chi-Chi questions.
He thinks on that for a second. "Well… when you put it that way…"
Bulma claps ready for the gossip.
"I actually really think your friend Elise is cute, Chi-Chi."
"My Elise? My sweet, quiet friend who is the least scary female on earth that you've known for five years now? Why haven't you asked her out?"
"Even the biggest mouse is scared of the smallest lion," Krillin says having heard Roshi say that before.
"That's ridiculous Krillin. Just ask her out. Or have Chi-Chi set it up," Bulma says.
"No way. He wants to go out with her? He'll ask her out himself. Nothing's sexier than a guy that goes after what he wants."
Bulma nods her head to agree with Chi-Chi. "Oh yeah she's right. You want her? Go get her."
Krillin frowns and looks at Chi-Chi. "You went after Goku."
Bulma's mouth drops shocked that Krillin had the stones to say that out loud.
"Excuse me?" Chi-Chi asks.
Krillin shrinks a little in his seat but doesn't back down. "What? It's just true," he shrugs.
"For your information, I wasn't aware that Goku didn't feel about me the way I felt about him. And if you must know, I tried to leave Goku at the tournament. You guys weren't there for that part of the conversation."
Bulma and Krillin sit there stunned.
"It's true. I was ready to leave since I'd lost my fight and told him I would take him to dinner sometime since that's what he thought he was agreeing to when we were kids. But he wouldn't let me leave and he proposed to me."
Bulma begins to giggle. "Betcha feel pretty dumb now Krillin. If Goku can propose to a girl after five minutes, you can ask one on a date after five years."
Krillin's cheeks turn pink. "Yeah fine. You guys are right."
"Then it's settled. Operation: Ask Elise Out will be our first mission when we get back from Namek," Bulma says as she and Chi-Chi both get up from the table.
Krillin lets out a sigh of exasperation once the girls are out of earshot. "Not scary my ass."
"Hey, son. How are you feeling?" Roshi asks walking through Goku's hospital door.
Goku is sitting in his hospital bed flipping through the channels on the TV. "I'm okay. Just bored."
"You've never been much for sitting still. How about some reflex work? Get out some of that energy," Goku's martial arts master suggests.
"Yeah sounds… Wait. What is that?" Goku asks finding a news channel. On one side of the screen is a pretty blonde reporter and the other side of the screen is showing footage from the fight against the Saiyans.
"We have our suspicions about who some of the fighters are, but we weren't able to get close enough to confirm."
The video cuts from the footage of the fight to footage of Goku and the fighters being wheeled out from the airship and into the hospital but thankfully their faces are all blurred.
"What? What the hell? This lady was secretly recording us? Can she do that?"
"She already did it. Can't take it back now. This is actually the reason I came over. I wanted to show you what was going on. Nobody can tell who you guys are for now but I'm pretty sure this sneaky reporter has figured it all out. I got a phone call from someone at World News asking if I still trained you. Only way they would know that is from the bios at the tournament museum. They wouldn't be going public like this if they didn't have it all figured out and could protect themselves legally. I know you don't like being in the public eye, but I wanted to prepare you. I'm not sure you're going to be able to avoid it."
Goku sighs frustrated. This is the last thing he wants to deal with right now, especially without Chi-Chi.
The screen takes a wide shot of the reporter standing outside in front of the hospital as the reporter keeps talking.
"They're outside right now?" Goku asks very annoyed.
"Yeah they've been outside for days. We didn't think it was a big deal and hoped it would blow over but that's not happening."
"So, you kept something else from me?"
Roshi stings from the still open wound. He and Goku never exchanged harsh words before that conversation and it was less than pleasant.
"I'm sorry, Master Roshi. Just… give me some time."
"It's okay, Goku. I deserved that. But this isn't the same thing. Gyu Mao, Dr. Briefs and I were trying to handle this for you as you recovered. This is not what you need on your plate at the moment."
"But it is on my plate. And I'm going to have to deal with it."
"I don't think that's a good idea. You can't deal with this the way you usually deal with things," Roshi counsels.
"Why not?"
"You're really going to go down there and kick that little girl's ass?" Roshi says pointing back to the screen.
Goku frowns. Of course, he's not going to do that.
"Goku, you saved the world. That's pretty public work and it's hard to keep that quiet. Honestly, I'm pretty impressed with her sleuthing. If you want my opinion, you should talk to her. No cameras of course but I bet if you offered her an off the record conversation, you might be able to get them off your back. She's not going anywhere. Might as well keep the power while you still have it."
Goku looks up at the screen again. "I'll think about it."
Roshi senses that things may still be shaky for them. Neither of them has the same kind of trust they did before. For now, at least. They patched things up for the most part but forgiving and forgetting are two different things. "Okay, Goku. I'll let you get some rest. Just… call me if you need me."
"How could you keep that from me? How could you not tell me?"
All three of their faces fall.
"You've lied to me practically the entire time you've known me. How could you keep something like that from me? Especially knowing that Gohan could transform? You were there the day he was born."
Silence.
"Do you know that I've gone out at least once a year since we got married to look for the monster that killed my grandfather to kill it so that it wouldn't hurt anyone else? What if I had stumbled upon my son not knowing it was him? What if it happened when he wasn't with us and he hurt or killed people?"
A tear falls down Chi-Chi's cheek listening to her husband realizing he did connect the dots. On one hand, she's glad she doesn't have to explain it to him. On the other, her heart is breaking for him knowing this has been on his mind for the last three days. Her eyes are still closed and she's doing everything she can not to let them know she can hear them. She feels that this is something he needs to do alone.
Bulma walks forward and sits next to him. "Goku… we wanted to tell you. We even tried. But every time we did, we couldn't imagine breaking your heart. Your grandpa was so special to you."
"And my child isn't?! I could've killed him!" His rising ki causes a small quake in the room and Bulma stands back up next to Krillin and Roshi. Goku feels his emotions taking over and doesn't want them to see that. "You should go."
Now Chi-Chi feels like she needs to intervene. "Goku, wait honey." She sits up in her bed and they all look at her.
"Oh, sorry Chi. We didn't mean to wake you," Bulma says.
"It's fine. This all needs to happen." Chi-Chi, never one to beat around the bush, suggests an alternative. "Look, the worst thing about this group of people is your ability to communicate. It's virtually nonexistent on real matters. You guys need to fight, yell, scream, put it all on the table then makeup. You're all too important to each other to let this damage your relationships." She takes her IV and wheels it over to Goku's bed to sit next to him.
"Chi-Chi, you need to get back in bed," Goku says detecting her discomfort.
"I will Goku. But I think I can help with this situation." She nods to the vacant seats in the room for their friends to sit down.
"Goku, I realized the truth about what happened with your grandfather the day you died. Gohan transformed that night. That's why the moon is gone again," she confesses.
Goku's eyes pop open at her. He's definitely not angry. She has been more than preoccupied since he's been back. But he hates that she went through that discovery alone. Did that change how she felt about him? But she takes him away from his thoughts.
"And believe me, I was going to tell you the moment we were truly alone. I promise." She hesitates on her next thought hoping he doesn't feel as if she fought his battle for him. "I was so angry Goku. I had never been that angry in my life up to that point. I went on a rampage. I confronted Kami because he kept it from you, too."
Goku hadn't even considered that, yet.
"And I even left Gohan with Piccolo that first night to go back to Kame House and tear them a new one. I was so raw at that point after losing you and seeing what our lives would be for a year. Goku I was vicious, and I let my anger toward them eat away at me for a while. But I had a lot of time to reflect on everything. They made a really terrible decision, but I truly believe it came from a place of wanting to protect you. They didn't want to hurt you and I don't want you to lose your family over this. I hope you can get to a place of forgiveness, even if it takes a while."
Roshi, Krillin and Bulma relax somewhat having Chi-Chi help clean up the mess they made .
Chi-Chi's had plenty of time to deal with this herself and explore what their secret keeping could have done to her family. "Goku, you believe in fate, right?"
He thinks for a second. At this point, so much of his life seems fated to have gone a certain way. "I guess? Maybe… I believe we make choices that take us down our path," he says narrowing disappointed eyes at his friends. "That's why I always try to go with my gut."
"That's fair. And I agree. Sometimes, though, bad choices can result in great outcomes. Now, don't misunderstand me. I'm not condoning their choice to keep that from us. It very easily could've gone terribly wrong. But thankfully, it didn't. And if we had Gohan's tail permanently removed when he was a baby, we would've lost to Vegeta. You and Gohan would be dead and I would be… well… not here," she says unable to speak what would've happened in a different life.
Goku cringes as he considers those possibilities.
"Goku, letting anger fester in you is not what you do. Not forgiving is not who you are. You saw the good in Tien and Piccolo. Ask yourself if your friends were being malicious."
He looks at them and sees the apologies written on their faces but remains silent.
"And I'm not asking you to get over this tonight. That's not realistic. I just don't want anything to happen that can't be undone."
Feeling a little more comfortable to approach her friend, Bulma steps forward. "Goku, I am so sorry. We are so sorry. And we won't keep anything like that from you ever again."
Following her lead, Krillin also approaches the bed. "Goku, man, I don't have kids, so I don't understand how you feel. But would it help if you kicked my ass when you get out?"
Goku gives a small grin. Krillin can always be counted on to lighten the mood.
"Krillin, you wouldn't have been able to use that spirit bomb if you didn't have a pure heart," Goku acknowledges of his friend's character. "I can understand that telling me would've been difficult. But you guys are just going to have to give me some time to… I don't know… process this."
Chi-Chi caresses his forehead very pleased that he seems to be taking the high road.
Their friends all shake their heads in understanding.
"Of course, Goku. Take all the time you need. We're here for you two. Always," Roshi promises.
"I know Master Roshi. I know. But I need Chi-Chi to get back in bed so let's call it for tonight," Goku says.
"Right. We'll check on you guys tomorrow and let us know what you want to eat, Goku. We'll bring whatever you want," Bulma offers.
Goku smiles and they take their leave. Chi-Chi, however, remains by his side.
"Okay, honey. Talk to me," she requests. She looks at him and sees a new look on his face as he stares at the ceiling. She's never seen him so devastated. Now, he's acknowledging the truth of his grandfather's death and it's clearly killing him. "I'm so sorry Goku," she says caressing his bandaged face.
"Chi-Chi, you really do need to get back in bed," he states with a storm brewing in his eyes. Yes, she needs rest. But he's also concerned about protecting her from himself.
"I'll be fine Goku. I'm not going anywhere."
Surrendering to his feelings, tears fall from his eyes. She's never seen him cry before, not even when Gohan was born.
"I killed him, Chi-Chi. He's dead because of me," he sobs on her shoulder.
Chi-Chi doesn't say anything yet. He just needs to feel and process. If he were well, he would be blasting mountains and shooting the biggest Kamehameha Waves into the sky the world's ever seen. In her opinion it's not the best way to handle things. Maybe being confined to a bed to deal with this is exactly what he needs.
"Chi-Chi he must hate me. He must curse the day he ever found me in the woods. And it's all because I'm… I'm… this Saiyan monster!"
She sits up and gently takes his face in her hands determined not to let him damage his body anymore. "Son Goku, you listen to me right now. How much do you love Gohan?"
Goku's crying ceases for a moment as he looks at her confused. "What?"
"Tell me. How much do you love Gohan?"
He doesn't know why she's asking but he answers. "Chi-Chi, I love Gohan more than anything in the world. You know that."
"Exactly. Now is there anything he could ever do to you that would change that?" She watches his face as the puzzle pieces fall in place.
"No, Chi. There's nothing he could do that would change my love for him."
"You're right again," she says kissing his forehead. "Goku, I will never say that what happened wasn't tragic and I don't expect this to be easy to process. But if there is one thing I know for sure: your grandfather loves you and is so thankful for the time he had with you. I know that in my bones… in my soul Goku."
Goku stares at her in awe. He was prepared to collapse, and he probably will at some point. But having her here right now, she can put perspective on the worst thing that's ever happened to him. "How do you do that, Chi-Chi?"
She caresses his cheek. "Do what baby?"
"How do you always have the right words?"
She kisses the corner of his mouth. "I told you Goku. It's because I know you and know what you need. It wouldn't work with anyone else. I'm yours and you're mine."
Goku leans his head back. "I'm not ready to forgive them, Chi-Chi? You may be right about everything, but I'm not ready to forgive just yet."
"That's fine Goku. It took me months. It will take you as long as it takes you."
She sits there with him for much of the night as he goes from crying to sharing memories of his grandfather, back to anger and then crying some more. Once he falls asleep, she goes back to her bed, pages Nurse Paula for some more pain meds and drifts to sleep herself.
"Are you crazy?! You could've killed us all by doing that!" Bulma yells at Krillin and Gohan who hopped off the ship on Namek without protective gear.
"Oh, uh, sorry Bulma. But we're all fine. I figured since Piccolo was fine on our planet, we would be okay on his," Gohan keenly observes.
"Bulma, where's the radar?" Chi-Chi asks uninterested in spending any more time on this planet than she has to.
Bulma turns it on and sees four already in one place.
"Well, that's convenient," Krillin says.
"Convenient or is someone else already looking for them?" Chi-Chi questions.
Suddenly there's a huge blast fired toward them that puts a hole in their ship.
"OUR SHIP!" Bulma yells out mortified.
The group looks up to see two beings dressed in armor that looks like the armor the Saiyans showed up in. They listen as the pair start discussing power levels.
"Friends of Vegeta's. Fantastic," Krillin says dreading what's next.
"Gohan, guard up," Chi-Chi orders.
Bulma moves behind the group of fighters.
"Tourists, I guess," one of the henchmen says. "But orders are orders." He fires a blast from a gun at the group which Krillin more than easily deflects.
"Oh, they aren't strong at all. Let's get'em!"
Chi-Chi nods at Gohan to join the fight. She and Goku discussed before they left that he needs more experience, so she stands back while Gohan and Krillin make quick work of their attackers.
"What the hell was that?! What are we going to do?!" Bulma panics.
"Well, we're definitely not alone on this planet and they didn't look a thing like Piccolo so I'm guessing they weren't Namekians. Did you notice their armor?" Chi-Chi asks the group.
"Yeah, it looked just like Vegeta's but they weren't Saiyans. Neither of them had tails and one of them was blue," Gohan notes.
"Bulma, can you call earth? I can't reach Goku anymore." On the way to Namek, Chi-Chi explained their bond with the three of them thinking it might be useful at some point, but they lost their ability to communicate about five days into the trip. It's not non-existent like it was when he died. Just quiet.
"Yeah I can do that."
They head back to the ship when suddenly the three fighters feel several powers racing toward them. Krillin puts his hand over Bulma's mouth so she doesn't scream at their quick actions and ducks into a cave with Gohan while Chi-Chi capsules their ship and then follows them in there. They slightly peek their heads out and see a dozen of the same uniforms race by.
Chi-Chi's heart sinks as she's piecing this together. But at that moment, she, Krillin and Gohan detect another extremely powerful being in the distance and he feels… evil. Chi-Chi pulls Krillin to the side not wanting Gohan to hear the slight fear in her voice. "What is that?"
Krillin shakes his head. "Chi-Chi, I don't know but whoever it is-" but he stops his thought when he sees another spaceship entering the atmosphere. They recognize the energy as Vegeta's.
"Oh Kami," Chi-Chi whispers. She marches to Bulma. "We have to call earth now." Chi-Chi's mentality is starting to shift from find the Dragon Balls to just stay alive until they can get off the planet.
They take the ship back out and check if their communication methods are still intact.
"Come on baby. Work for Mama," Bulma says trying to fire everything up. "Yes!" she yells realizing her success and dials her father. "Daddy! Hey! No, I don't have time to chat. I need to speak to Master Roshi or Goku fast. Can you go to the hospital? The phone should be portable." She pauses as she waits for him to finish his next thought. "No, Daddy! You cannot stop to drop Mom off at her nail appointment! Get there now! This is an emergency!" She sighs in exasperation and turns to her friends. "Okay, he's on his way. Just a few minutes. He's taking the fast car."
Chi-Chi goes to take the phone from Bulma while Krillin and Gohan keep a lookout.
"Master Roshi? Are you with Goku? Yes, put him on!" Chi-Chi says.
Goku snatches the phone hearing his wife's voice on the other end. "Chi-Chi? What's wrong? Are you guys okay?"
She looks out the ship's window to make sure Gohan is far enough away that he can't hear her panic. "Goku, Vegeta is here. And some other powerful force but we don't know who that is. It's even stronger than Vegeta."
Goku's face turns white and Roshi's stomach turns. Very little puts that expression on Goku's face.
She continues. "We've found four of the Dragon Balls on the radar, but I think that's because whoever else is here is collecting them already." She pauses for a sharp breath. "Goku… they blasted our ship. We can't get home. I don't know what to do."
Goku quickly squashes any notion that his family will be stranded on a planet at the other end of the galaxy. "Okay, Chi. Don't panic. I'll get you home. Just lay low and keep this phone on you." He thinks for a moment pretty sure that they don't want whoever this is to collect all the Dragon Balls. "Chi-Chi, I don't want to put you guys in danger and if it is too dangerous don't do it. But is there any way you can collect one Dragon Ball? So they can't use them?"
"I… I don't know Goku. I'll try though."
"I mean it. If it risks any of you at all, don't do it."
Dr. Briefs clears his throat and walks to put the phone on speaker. "Bulma, Chi-Chi are you listening to me?"
Chi-Chi looks for a button to put the phone on speaker but Bulma beats her to it hearing her father. "Hey, Daddy. We're here."
"Good. I've been building another ship since you left. I collected the pieces from the ship Goku was sent to Earth in, used it to create a new ship, and made improvements after the last one we built. This one should get us there in under a week."
Bulma and Chi-Chi look at each other confused. "Us?" Bulma questions.
"Yes, 'us.' I'm not going to leave my daughter and her friends on an alien planet. I'm leaving immediately and taking anyone who will go with me. The ship is ready to go."
Roshi steps up ready and willing.
"You two are staying here and I'm going," Goku says wobbling out of the bed.
Roshi shakes his head. "Goku, you might be upright and can walk to the bathroom on your own, but you are in no condition for a trip to space."
Hearing all the commotion Dr. Machi and Paula, who's working days this week, walks into the room. "What's going on? Goku, get back in bed. It's not time for your PT," Dr. Machi states.
At that moment, Goku's door opens and in strolls Yajirobe. "Yo, Goku. Senzu bean delivery. Bet you're tired of this bed, huh?"
"Did he just say senzu bean?!" Chi-Chi exclaims hearing the comment on the other end of the phone.
Goku lights up. "Yes, he did! I need it now Yajirobe!" he says taking the bag out of Yajirobe's hands.
"Hey, have ya ever heard of thank you?" Yajirobe says crossing his arms.
Goku pops the bean in his mouth and flexes all of his muscles so that his bandages pop off his body before ripping the one off from his head.
Dr. Machi and Paula watch in stunned silence as the completely healed warrior snatches his gi out of the hospital bag Chi-Chi packed for him and dresses in record time.
Goku takes the phone. "Chi-Chi, I'm on my way."
Chi-Chi's anxiety lessens feeling semi-rescued.
Goku turns his head to Bulma's father. "Come on, Doc. You gotta teach me how to use a space ship."
Chi-Chi gestures for Gohan and Krillin to come back onto the ship.
She informs them about Goku and shares her plan with the group. "Okay guys. Clearly someone who shouldn't have Dragon Balls is trying to find them all. The Dragon Balls are useless to them if they don't have all of them. All we need to do is find one, lay low, and hold onto it until Goku gets here."
"Right. Then we'll get the rest, make our wish, and go home," Bulma says happily as if it's that easy.
Chi-Chi isn't as optimistic that the wish is going to happen. Right now, she's just focused on surviving. She'll wait on Goku to see what he thinks. Before anyone can say anything else, the three fighters feel life forces dropping like flies.
Chi-Chi's heart breaks knowing they weren't hostile.
"Gohan, let's go check this out. Chi-Chi, stay here and keep an eye on Bulma," Krillin says ready to take off.
"What did I just say? How is that laying low? You want to go to where the group of people just got slaughtered?" Chi-Chi asks.
Gohan learned after a firm discussion with his father in the hospital that he was under strict orders to listen to his mother on this trip but he's fighting that right now.
Chi-Chi looks at his face and sees his need to protect. She loves that he's driven by his need to protect and not a need to fight. Squatting in front of him she takes his hand. "Go. But do not intervene. Keep yourselves hidden. Just try to figure out what's going on. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, Mom." He and Krillin dart off on foot so they can keep their power levels concealed.
*Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi? Can you hear me?* Goku sits in meditation on his ship and tries to connect with Chi-Chi. He was hoping he would be able to feel her once he got deeper into space but no luck. *Chi?* he tries one more time. "Dammit. I hate not knowing what's going on." He walks over to the communication controls on the ship and tries calling back to Earth. "Dr. Briefs? Are you there?"
"Yes, hello Goku. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering if it would be possible for me to call them from the ship?" Goku asks his friend's father. "I just want to check on them."
"I understand but no. I'm sorry Goku. I didn't have the time to make that work, plus I would've needed both ships at the same time. I haven't heard from them in a while but if I do, I'll try to get a message to you," Dr. Briefs assures Goku.
"Okay. Thanks Dr. Briefs." Goku hangs up the call and watches as he soars through the universe. He can't believe how radically different his life has become in a little over a year. In a moment he went from being an extraordinary human to an average, or less than average depending on who you ask, Saiyan still coming to terms with his heritage.
It's been two days since Goku's confrontation with his friends and for the most part, things really are returning to normal between them. Chi-Chi is finally getting around well and should be discharged in a day or two.
She's sitting next to Goku on his bed as they play chess, Chi-Chi moving both of their pieces for them.
"Ah, are you sure you wanna do that?" Goku asks when she goes to make her next move.
She narrows her eyes and looks at the board. "Ugh, I swear Goku. I regret ever teaching you this game. I should've known you'd dominate me at a game on strategy. Before you and Gohan came along, I was pretty much undefeated."
He sticks his tongue out at her. "You only think a couple of moves ahead instead of seeing the big picture."
Chi-Chi makes a different move instead.
Goku grins. "It's also about knowing your opponent. Your original move was much better. Will you move my horse to your little tower thing?"
"You mean your knight to my rook?" she says moving his piece. "Yep. That's checkmate. Again. I'm done playing with you."
"Aw don't be a sore loser. You always kick my butt at Pictionary."
"That's because you've never seen any movies or read any books or had any exposure to pop culture honestly. The moment you didn't get Little Women I knew I would never be on your team again," she teases.
"How was I supposed to know those were little women? They looked like little aliens to me, and they didn't have any boobs. I thought you were drawing tiny alien invaders honestly. I thought mini Martians was a good guess."
Chi-Chi throws her head back in playful annoyance. "You're right. My tiny stick figure women with dresses and long hair looked like miniature Martians. I had a terrible lapse in judgment by not drawing breasts on them."
"Well, now you know," he teases as he puckers his lips out for a kiss to which she happily obliges.
Seeing an opportunity to broach the subject, Chi-Chi takes a shot. "You know, I always believed that Gohan's intelligence had more to do with you than me."
Goku purses his lips. What is she suggesting?
"Your mind is brilliant Goku. Just uninformed. I'm thinking of entering you in some chess tournaments when this Namek business is behind us."
Still unspeaking, Goku frowns. Surely, she has to be joking. "What are you getting at Chi-Chi?"
She closes the chess case after the pieces are neatly packed. "Goku, I'm saying that you keep looking at your biology as a curse when it's not. It's a blessing."
Goku gives her a look of derision. "How? Other than being able to survive a thorough ass kicking, why do you think that? Saiyans were a terrible group of people and it sounds like they deserved to be exterminated. How could you really think that after meeting the Saiyans we've met so far? Chi-Chi, that was supposed to be me and it would've been if I hadn't hit my head apparently."
She shakes her head. "Son Goku, I don't believe that for one second. You said it just a few days ago that life is all about the choices we make. With your power, you could've at any point in the last two decades decided that you would rule this world. Did a thought like that ever occur to you?"
"Of course not," he immediately responds.
"Exactly. Because that's not who you inherently are. Maybe there were some good Saiyans too. No scratch that. I know of at least one," she says kissing his forehead. "You have to come to terms with this honey. You have to accept who you are. You are my Saiyan and I'm proud of that."
"How are you so okay with all of this? I am literally not human. Not even from this planet."
She smiles. "Goku, you are a Saiyan raised on earth. You are the best of both parts of your past. You may not see it all right now. But I do and I will remind you every day until you finally get it."
Chi-Chi and Bulma rush outside of the capsule home they set up when Chi-Chi feels Gohan and Krillin coming back. Once outside they notice the boys are not alone. The figure in front of them is practically a miniature Piccolo. The look of fear must be universal because it's all over his face.
The mother in Chi-Chi melts seeing his tender features and scared expression. She walks over and takes Gohan's shoulder. "Son, what happened? Who's our new friend?"
Gohan and Krillin introduce Dende and explain the horrors they just witnessed at the Namekian village while the Namekian child sits on the ground in shock. Bulma clutches her chest afraid they'll be next while Chi-Chi quickly dismisses her own anger at her son for getting involved. He's like his father and she knows she can't change that. But that doesn't change how disconcerting all of this new information is.
"So, essentially, an intergalactic crime organization is wiping out an entire civilization in search of the Dragon Balls?" Bulma asks trying to wrap her mind around this.
"Yeah that pretty much sums it up," Krillin confirms.
Chi-Chi, needing to make him feel as safe and welcomed as she can, takes a seat next to the frightened little boy. "You know, one of my dear friends is a Namekian. Usually, I would offer a new guest something to eat but I know you really only drink water, right?"
Dende nods.
"I'm really sorry you've had such a horrible day. We will do everything in our power to protect you. But, as a mom, could I make a suggestion? How about we go inside and rest for a little bit?"
Dende turns curious eyes up to her. "What's a 'mom'?"
She giggles thankful that he's speaking. She forgot that Namekians reproduce asexually like King Piccolo. "A mom is someone who takes care of people."
He chews on that for a second. "So, like our Grand Elder? He takes care of all of us."
She nods. "Yes. If he takes care of you, then that's definitely what a mom does." She stands and extends a hand down to him to take if he wants it. "Let's go in and get a drink."
Dende looks at her hand for a second. She's unlike any creature he's ever seen before. Her voice is soft, her hands are so much smaller than any of his big brothers', but her clothing and scars on her arms suggest she's a fighter. Feeling comfortable, he reaches up and takes her hand and follows her inside.
Gohan smiles at his mother's ability to be a mom to everyone.
After everyone has a meal, Chi-Chi and Krillin step outside while everyone else rests.
"Look, I don't know how you're feeling but I'm honestly not even thrilled about the idea of keeping a Dragon Ball here. I think once we find one, we need to hide it but not bring it here. Keep these people away from Gohan, Bulma and Dende," Chi-Chi states.
Krillin shakes his head. "I understand what you're saying but we need to have our eyes on it. Goku will be here in five days and then we'll get the rest."
"Do you feel that energy Krillin? I don't know if Goku can compete with that. I love him but that is something we've never felt before." Chi-Chi trembles thinking about her husband being forced into the position to fight this terror.
Krillin looks at her somewhat shocked at her lack of faith in her husband. "I'm surprised Chi-Chi… You don't think Goku would win?"
"He didn't even technically beat Vegeta! He died against Raditz." She sits on a rock and rests her face in her palms. "We can't keep making this his responsibility. I'm going to lose him again way too soon. Surely you're aware that whoever that is is significantly stronger than Goku right now. And that person is pure darkness."
"And Goku is pure light," Krillin responds. "When it matters, he always figures out a way. The least we can do is hold onto a Dragon Ball until he gets here."
Chi-Chi stands and sighs. The suns don't set on this planet, but she can tell she needs some rest. "I know you're right. But I hate it."
"So, you're telling me, there's a way for us to get a Dragon Ball and get significantly stronger all in one place?" Krillin asks Dende the next day of the information that seems to good to be true.
Dende nods. "That's correct. I can take you there."
Krillin hops up. "Okay! Let's go right now!"
"I'm coming with you," Chi-Chi says standing up. Desiring to do anything she can to keep her son from fighting anymore, she'll try anything. "You two stay here and out of sight," she says to Gohan and Bulma. "And if there's any trouble, spike your ki," she instructs Gohan.
"I want to be stronger, too, Mom," Gohan says before they can leave.
"I understand that baby. But for now, it will be me and Krillin. You're incredibly strong and I need you to keep Bulma safe. We will get you there if we're able," she promises.
After carefully following the Namekian child for hours, they approach a dome-shaped home on top of a mountain guarded by a young Namekian warrior.
"Nail!" Dende rushes to his big brother who crouches and gives the child a hug.
The warrior and child have a conversation in their native language before Nail turns his attention to the strangers. He stands up and looks at the orange clad warriors with Dende. "Who are you?" his tone defensive after the couple of days they've had with the invaders.
"They're friends Nail. They need to see the Grand Elder. It's urgent," Dende explains.
Nail trusts Dende's judgment but he is still a child. Feeling confident he could handle a threat should it arise, he guides them inside. "Fine. Follow me."
Inside rests a giant version of Piccolo. Chi-Chi and Krillin do their best to take all of this in. Never did they think that aliens existed or much less that they would be on an different planet interacting with the alien race's leader. They know they have to be quick but they just need a moment to capture this memory.
However, the moment is ruined when Krillin turns to whisper to Chi-Chi. "He kinda looks like Jabba-"
"Krillin!" Chi-Chi whisper-scolds.
Dende approaches the elder and explains the situation in their language before turning the floor over to Krillin and Chi-Chi.
"We're only trying to help, Mr. Grand Elder sir," Krillin says. "We only want to wish our friends back and go home."
After assessing that their intentions are pure and noble, the elder speaks to them. "Come here, child. And please, call me Guru," he says to Krillin.
Krillin gulps and walks over to him and is startled when he places his massive hand on his head.
"Yes. A brave, noble heart for sure," the elder states.
Krillin stands there for a moment when suddenly his aura erupts, and his power begins to skyrocket.
"Krillin! That's amazing!" Chi-Chi cheers once the elder is done.
"No joke! I feel incredible!" Krillin exclaims giving his "new" body a onceover. "Your turn Chi!"
Chi-Chi takes a step forward and braces herself.
"It's been sometime since I've encountered a female but I'm not sure I've ever met one so determined," Guru says taking her head. "You're bonded?" he asks immediately feeling her strong connection to another.
She looks up at him. "Yes. My husband is a Saiyan."
"A Saiyan? I didn't know there were any left. Is he here?"
"No sir. He is on his way. Does he need to be?"
The elder chuckles. "No child. But he will probably be confused when he feels this."
Before she can ask what he means by that, she feels a surge of energy consume her body and her aura lights up the room.
While training on his ship, Goku is suddenly overwhelmed with feelings of his wife. It's as if she's in the room with him. He clutches his chest and falls to his knees.
*Chi-Chi? Chi-Chi?!* he asks through their bond.
The energy slowly dies down in the room and Chi-Chi looks around. She can feel Goku as strongly as she could when they were on Earth. *Goku?!*
*Yes! Babe I can hear you again!*
Chi-Chi looks at Krillin. "I have Goku! He can hear me again!" She turns to the Grand Elder. "Thank you so much! I feel… amazing! I have to bring my son to you. He's so much stronger than me. You'll love him."
"Definitely!" Krillin echoes her plan. "Gohan will be crazy strong!" he says picking up the Dragon Ball. "Thank you Grand Elder."
"There is something you should know," Guru says before they can get too far.
Krillin and Chi-Chi turn back around.
"The Dragon Balls will only work as long as I'm living. It's no secret that I am an ancient being. I fear I have very little time left. Hours. Possibly days. The slaughtering of my children has weakened me severely."
The humans' hearts sink in response to all of that information. They may have come all this way for nothing, and an entire race of people could not exist soon.
"We understand, Guru. We will do everything we can to help restore your people," Krillin says. He's more optimistic than Chi-Chi, their resident eternal realist.
Feeling a sense of urgency and excited by their new strength, the two race off back to their camp at full speed unthinking about the attention their power could attract.
"Where's Gohan?!" Chi-Chi asks when she and Krillin return from their encounter with Guru and see Gohan is nowhere to be found.
"I can explain Chi-Chi! There was a Dragon Ball not far from here. It just popped up. So he went to get it. He should back any minute!"
Every muscle in Chi-Chi's body flexes on instinct as she moves her way to Bulma. Frightened, Bulma walks backward until her back hits the mountain their capsule home is hidden inside. "You sent my child away from camp without discussing it with me? He's been keeping his ki hidden Bulma. What if something happens?! What if someone spots him before he has a chance to react?! What if they take him?! Do you ever think before you act?! The only one here that has a right to tell my son to do anything is ME!"
Bulma is about to respond when one of their potential nightmares on this trip is finally realized. Vegeta.
"Hello humans. Looks like we all had the same idea to come to Namek. Where's Kakarot? Decided to send out your weaklings again?" Vegeta mocks.
None of them responds. Giving him information can only be harmful at this point.
"No matter. I appreciate you saving me the trip of returning to Earth to kill you. I'm happy to do that here." Vegeta steps to Krillin. "Dragon Ball. Now. Hand it over."
"Not so fast, Vegeta. I'll be taking that back to Lord Frieza myself."
Before them stands a new soldier in armor like Vegeta's but they are clearly not on the same side at the moment.
"Ah, Zarbon. Let's get this over with, shall we?"
"Bulma," Chi-Chi whispers, "which direction did Gohan go?"
Bulma discretely nods the way he took off.
Seeing their opportunity to escape while Vegeta is distracted, Chi-Chi takes Bulma's hand as she and Krillin prepare to fly off. They're about to take off when…
"Not so fast." Vegeta stops them in their tracks. "This will only take a second and if you haven't figured it out yet, I've picked up your little energy sensing trick." He points to his face. "See, no scouter and I promise you can't outrun me fast enough." He looks behind Chi-Chi at the blue-haired female trembling at the prospect of dying and for a fraction of a second feels pity which he immediately dismisses. Pity is weakness and that will get you killed. "Just stay put or I'll kill you all slowly instead of quickly."
"What do you mean I shouldn't fight this Frieza guy? If he's really as bad as you say he is, shouldn't someone do something?" Goku questions King Kai who just warned him of the evil force on Namek.
"Did you not hear me?! He's a maniac! Yes, someone should and there are beings that will intervene when they feel it's time. They maintain order. If you try to face him, you'll only get yourself and maybe others killed! Please heed my warning!" King Kai pleads with the suspicion this is a losing battle.
Goku continues with his workout determined to be the strongest he can be when he gets there. "We'll see."
The moment Vegeta leaves, Bulma collapses on the ground trying not to vomit. "Guys! We have to get off this planet! We can't die here!"
Krillin puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We aren't gonna die here Bulma. Just relax," he soothes.
Chi-Chi leaps for joy and springs into the air to meet Gohan when she sees his black head of hair racing toward them. She thought about running to search for him but decided to give him a few more minutes so they didn't end up looking for each other. "Oh, thank Kami, Gohan! And you have a Dragon Ball!"
Gohan shakes his head proudly upon accomplishing his mission and surviving his brush with Vegeta. "Yeah but I think we need to move. Once Vegeta realizes his is missing he's going to be mad."
"You ran into Vegeta?" Chi-Chi knew that was a possibility since he flew off in the direction Bulma said Gohan went.
"Yeah but he was in a weirdly good mood. All he did was punch me in the stomach. Said to give his regards to Dad."
Chi-Chi's blood boils but she doesn't have time to waste on emotions. "Okay, everyone. Let's get Bulma and the Dragon Ball somewhere safe. And I think it's time we get Gohan to Guru."
Goku continues to race to Namek trying to get some rest in the last bit of time he has before he arrives while Chi-Chi, Krillin, Gohan, and Vegeta fly as fast as they can to retrieve the other Dragon Ball they left with Bulma.
"Woman, where the hell is Kakarot?! Does he hate you people? Is that why he keeps leaving you to fight these fights?!" Vegeta says as the two groups size each other up.
Before she can answer, her mind is filled with Goku's voice. *Chi? How's it going babe? I'm getting close. I think.*
*Goku? Oh, honey. I wish you could've seen it. I can't really explain what happened and do it justice but Gohan… he just had his power raised and he's… Goku he's phenomenal.*
*What? Someone raised his power?*
*Yes. Mine and Krillin's too. That's why you and I were able to connect sooner. I'm stronger now. I hope you have the chance to see him yourself.*
*Yeah, no kidding. But you guys are safe?*
She doesn't answer.
*Chi?*
*We're as safe as we can be while having the Dragon Balls in our possession.*
*You have all of them?! Chi-Chi that was insane! Why would you do that?! I said to get ONE! That's all you needed!*
*Goku I don't have time to get into it now. We're close to making our wish. Bulma is hidden. And I can't get into it now, but we have a somewhat temporary truce with Vegeta. These Dragon Balls are different and we're all getting to make our wish. Five new soldiers just showed up on the planet and I don't think we can't wait on you to get here. We're going to have to fight.*
*No way, Chi-Chi! You find somewhere safe and just wait!*
*There isn't time for that Goku! If we don't make our wishes before they find us, they will kill us and take the Dragon Balls! We have to do this! Just find us when you get here!*
Goku frustratedly paces his ship after being cut off by his wife and angry his family is already in this situation again.
"They're right down there!" Vegeta exclaims as they get close to his hiding spot for the other Dragon Balls.
"We might be catching a break after all!" Krillin says a moment too soon.
Right as they're going to snatch the Dragon Balls, five new soldiers with massive power levels land in their path. Seeing Vegeta quake, the other three know this isn't good.
"How far away is Kakarot?" Vegeta asks Chi-Chi.
"I don't know. He said he's close, but the ships don't really give an ETA. Regardless, he's not here so this is our problem."
The one who clearly seems to be the leader of the group steps forward. "Did you say Kakarot? Jeice, isn't that the Saiyan we were briefed about before we got to Namek? The one Lord Frieza wants?"
"You're right Captain Ginyu," the pink soldier confirms.
Ginyu ponders the four in front of him. "So, we have Vegeta, a Saiyan-looking brat, a baldy, and a female that knows Kakarot… You boys don't think we've hit the jackpot, do you? I mean I know Lord Frieza wants the Dragon Balls which is a done deal, but these can't possibly be the same Earthlings from our briefing?" He sees the confusion on their faces and begins walking to them and points at his scouter. "Scouters capture everything. We know all about Raditz going to Earth. We know about your encounter on Earth with Nappa. And we know about Kakarot, his crossbreeding mate, and his brat. Now, I'm not sure how this little team formed up but tell me, is there more than one Kakarot? Because I'm willin' to bet, there's not."
Chi-Chi's energy for battle begins to soar as she hears the word he used to describe her – the same one Vegeta used on Earth. This man's tone is more sinister and vile than even Vegeta's and Nappa's. Now her whole focus is on keeping Gohan safe.
Vegeta flustered and trying to think of something to keep Frieza from getting everything he wants launches the Dragon Ball he's holding in the opposite direction knowing they can't use their scouters to find it. However, his plan is quickly foiled when one of the soldiers seems to move as fast as lighting to catch the ball in midair.
"Great job, Burter," Ginyu says to his crew member. "Now we've got six. Just one more to go. And Burter, use that glorious speed of yours one more time to retrieve the female."
"Gladly, sir."
Before any of them had time to react, Chi-Chi finds herself in the arms of yet another villain. "What the hell is your obsession with me?! I am nobody!"
Jeice turns around to look at her and touches her chin. "Aw, cheer up love. Everybody is somebody to someone," he mocks.
"MOM!" Gohan cries as he's about to attack.
"Stand down!" Vegeta commands. "We have to be smart, boy. Think like a warrior. Not a child!"
Gohan stands down for now.
With only one Dragon Ball left, Vegeta screams at Krillin to destroy it but before he can, it's as if time stops. One second he has the Dragon Ball and the next it's gone.
"How… How did they do that?" Gohan asks mortified.
"Well it seems like you guys can take care of this. I'll take the Dragon Balls to Lord Frieza. Bring the woman when you're done," Ginyu instructs as he flies away with all seven Dragon Balls in his possession.
"Please let me go to my son!" Chi-Chi begs as she watches her son, Krillin and Vegeta get destroyed by the Ginyu Force. "Just let me take care of my son! Please! You can do whatever you want to me! Just let me get him out of here! Somewhere his father can find him! Please!"
Burter's grip on her tightens. "So, his father is close?" With this new information, Burter decides it's time to split the family up. "Jeice, I'm taking her to the ship. You and Recoome finish this."
"I think we're pretty much done here," the brute force known as Recoome says as he delivers one final blow to Gohan.
"No! You broke his neck! NO! GOHAN! NO!" Chi-Chi wails and fights to get out of the monster's arms but it's no use.
"Burter, for the love of the gods, shut her up," Jeice whines.
*GOKU! GOKU! FIND GOHAN THE MOMENT YOU LAND! THEY BROKE HIS NECK! HE'S ALMO-*
*CHI-CHI?! CHI-CHI?! TALK TO ME!* Goku panics but he sees a planet quickly coming into view. *Chi! I'm here! Talk to me! Where are you?!* The closer he gets the more he can sense the powerful forces on the planet.
"Ey! Burter! There's a new ship," Jeice says as they see a new ship enter the atmosphere. "I bet that's him. Go on ahead and get her to base then come back so we can deal with this guy."
"You don't think the two of you can handle him?" Burter asks Jeice and Recoome.
"Yeah but we're not supposed to kill him. We're supposed to subdue him," Jeice reminds him. "Let's just use all the cards we've got. Your speed might come in handy."
Jeice nods and darts off to their ship with an unconscious Chi-Chi in tow while the other two remain in their place waiting for the mysterious Kakarot.
"Goku, baby, that little reporter from World News is here to see you. You sure you want to do this?" Paula asks her favorite patient.
He looks at Roshi for one more confirmation before nodding. "Yeah, Paula. I'm sure. She can come in."
The petite blonde walks through the door with no camera, no audio recorder, and not even a journal to take notes… The only way Goku would meet with her.
"Hi," Camille says somewhat nervously. "Thanks for meeting with me. I know you're still recovering so I won't stay long. And this is completely off the record, I promise."
Goku feels she's telling the truth, but he's still guarded. "Yeah… So… What do you want to know?"
She pulls out a piece of paper from her pocket. "I wrote a list of questions, but I promise this is all confidential until you tell me otherwise."
Goku nods.
"You are in fact Son Goku, the same Son Goku that won the last World Martial Arts Tournament, right?"
"Yes."
"And you were the one in that fight a few weeks ago? Against those brutal men in weird armor?"
He nods again.
"And who were those guys?"
Goku and Roshi agreed they wouldn't answer that for fear of causing a panic about the existence of aliens. "I can't tell you that."
She frowns but moves on.
"Are there any other notable fights you've won in the past that the world doesn't know about?"
He shakes his head. The last thing he wants is attention from what he's done in the past. "I can't tell you that either."
She sighs in frustration and folds up her paper. If he won't answer those, then he definitely won't answer the others and she never wastes her own time. This was a lost cause.
"Do you have anymore questions?" Goku asks.
"Just one. Why did you agree to meet with me? You clearly didn't want to, and you've basically given me nothing."
"Because I wanted to handle this before my family comes home."
She looks at him curiously. Where would they be while he's in the hospital? "Comes home? Where are they?"
Dammit. Stupid slip. "That's not important."
"What did you mean by 'handle this'? Handle me?" she asks.
"Pretty much. I don't appreciate you people snooping into my life. I don't do anything I do for recognition and I don't see how it's anyone's business."
She leans forward in her seat. "Forgive me, Mr. Son, but you saved the world. And I'm guessing you did that more than once based on your answer to my previous question. You really should work on your poker face, but I get the feeling that lying doesn't come naturally for you."
Goku is taken aback for a moment at how well she reads people.
"My point is, I'm not covering you because I want to harass you or make your life public even though you do very public work. I want to say thank you. And so does everyone else. We're all alive because of you. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to tell your story because it is without question the best one I've ever heard and I only know pieces."
Goku adjusts in his bed. "Look, it may seem remarkable or something to you, but it's just my life. I don't know anything different. And when I'm not fighting, I want to live my life in peace with my family. That's really all there is to it."
"I hear you." She stands and places a business card on his end table. "In case you ever want to share your story, I'll be here. But keep in mind that as long as you do what you do out in the open, you're fair game and I'm keeping my eyes peeled." As she's walking out, she decides to ask one more question. "Was that your family with you that day? The woman in the gi that matched yours and the little boy in purple? Gohan I think is his name."
Goku flashes her a glare. He's not thrilled she knows his son's identity. "I didn't tell you his name."
She's been in tough interviews before. Interviews with thieves, killers, child molesters and just the worst of the worst. She was never afraid of them. But being with this person who actually saved her life and is confined to a hospital bed? She's terrified, but she's not going to let it show. "I heard it when you arrived at the hospital the first night."
"You mean after you hunted us down then spied on us."
Camille tries to keep her heartrate steady. "Mr. Son-"
"Just Goku," he says hating the formality.
"Goku, I was well within my rights as a journalist to be on that roof. I didn't share anything personal and they can't even identify you or your friends and family from the footage. But back to my question… Was that your wife or girlfriend and your son?"
"Why does that matter?"
She pauses and gives him hopelessly romantic eyes as she recalls the moment he took the small woman in his arms. "Because Goku… The way you protected them and the way you cared for that woman… I've never seen anything like that in my life. I'm a storyteller and to have something so raw and real happen right in front of my eyes and not be able to share it… I just wanted to know, if anything, to give me a little hope."
"Hope?" he questions.
"Well, yeah. I'd like to believe that someone would protect me like that someday if they had to."
"Goku defends everyone that way," Roshi intervenes on his student's behalf. "We're all still alive because that's just who he is."
Camille purses her lips and narrows her eyes. Maybe he does defend everyone that way… but she doubts it.
Goku finds his son as quickly as he can and is filled with rage at the condition of his child. He sees at least two of the people responsible but doesn't pay them any mind. Not yet.
"Gohan, I'm here son," he says as he softly places one of his four remaining senzu beans in the child's mouth.
Gohan hops up and wraps his arms around his father's neck. "Dad!"
"It's alright, Gohan. I'm here." Goku walks to Krillin and Vegeta and gives them each a senzu bean, not taking the time to question why he's helping Vegeta right now. He just has one question. "Where's Chi-Chi?" he asks anyone willing to answer.
At that moment, Goku falls to his knee and places his hand over his mark. Inexplicably, it feels as if it's being burned.
"Ah, I see the good doctor's gotten started," Jeice says at Goku's reaction.
Vegeta didn't know this was true. He thought it was just Saiyan grumblings he heard as a child. Being royal, he was spared the true gory details of the Saiyan allegiance to the Cold Army. He heard of Saiyans disappearing and his father demanding answers but then he was sent off the planet. Now that he knows the truth about what happened to the Saiyans and he's seeing it with his own eyes, he knows exactly what's happening to Kakarot.
"They're breaking their bond," Vegeta states.
Goku looks up at him with pain in his eyes. "What are you talking about? That's possible?"
"Oh yes, it's possible," Vegeta confirms.
Goku stands up pushing the pain coursing through his body aside. "Well, it's not happening today."
"Please…" Chi-Chi finally lets the tears fall she's been fighting. Her whole body feels as if it's burning from the inside out. "Please stop. Why are you doing this?"
"Well, my dear. Usually this wouldn't be quite so difficult, but your bond seems to think its unbreakable." The doctor speaks casually to her as if this is an every day part of his life and puts down his instruments for a moment. From outward appearances, this alien looks like he would be kind and gentle, however he's anything but. It's clear he's enjoying her torture because the only moment she sees life in his eyes is when she's in pain. "But I suppose it's a fair question. You, and like many others before you, are simply viewed in this galaxy as a commodity. Once I can finally get this bond broken, I'll put you in the healing tank, you'll be good as new and sold to one of the dealers. A pretty crossbreeder like yourself will fetch a nice price," he says as he readies his needle again.
"Doc, I hate to interrupt but I need to speak to her for just a minute."
The doctor immediately stops his work. "Of course, Captain Ginyu."
Ginyu unstraps Chi-Chi and sits her up again and offers her a glass of water.
Seeing a door not ten feet away, Chi-Chi kicks him as hard as she can and dashes to the door but is again caught by Burter who puts her back in the chair she started in.
"Man, I do like some attitude in a female but you're starting to piss me off," Ginyu says squatting in front of her. "Listen, I don't like having to be mean. Really, I don't. But this is the last time I'm gonna ask ya. You're gonna tell me, everything I need to know about Kakarot and what you pathetic lifeforms are doing on this planet," Captain Ginyu says taking Chi-Chi's chin.
She shakes her head again unwilling to speak.
"Well, I guess it's a good thing we have a healing tank cause you're really starting to look like shit." He slaps her with the back of his hand one more time.
But this time, Chi-Chi does something strange. She starts… chuckling.
"And just what the hell is so funny?" Ginyu asks seeing the woman's somewhat delirious state. "I like a good joke. Please share."
Chi-Chi cuts her eyes up at her captor and takes a deep breath. "I'm just thinking about all the ways my husband is going to hurt you when he gets here."
Ginyu laughs a little himself. "You're right. That is funny." He jerks her back up and gives her back to the doctor. "Get that bond broken so we can ship her off. I'm gonna go pay Kakarot a visit myself."