Dragon Ball ZGX Rated T: Blood, Cursing, Suggestive themes.
Description: The conflict between Bardock and the Elite Assassins is over, and Turles has met his end at the hands of his most trusted ally, Tundra. With the knowledge that Gine is still alive, Bardock is bound and determined to find her. But how? Without any clues, Bardock feels the search could take years. However, he receives a willing hand from an unexpected ally. The adventure continues, now.
Act 4: Reunions Saga
Chapter 40: Vortano
xXxXxXx
Planet Vortano
Like Earth, Planet Vortano was home to a wide variety of animals. The wilds were heavily populated with predators such as dinosaurs, wolves, mountain lions and bears. And Gine, falling back on her experience as a butcher on Planet Vegeta, became one of the primary sources of local animal products for her community. She spent much of her time hunting and gathering, and would make at least one delivery a month. It kept her paid, and the community supplied.
With Matto and Luffa in tow, Gine was in the middle of one such delivery. Her delivery method was just what one would expect from Saiyans. The brown sack she brought hunting was full of animals she hunted, and it was strapped to her back like an enormous backpack. She was a dwarf compared to the size of the sack, and not only that, but Luffa and Matto also had giant sacks strapped to their backs. Gine and Luffa didn't seem to have any trouble flying through the air with these enormous meatbags on their backs, but Matto was wobbling like a bobblehead while groaning and growling in frustration.
Luffa glanced back at her struggling brother and giggled. "Having trouble, bro?" She teased.
Matto narrowed his eyes at his sister for just a moment before wobbling again. "I don't understand how you two do this… Whoa!" Matto lost control and spun upside down. He remained like that with an unamused expression on his face.
Luffa laughed at this. "Too heavy for ya?"
"It's not heavy." Matto said while crossing his arms. "It's just awkward. I can't keep it balanced."
Gine looked back and giggled at the young Saiyan. "It's all about practice! It makes for some good training too."
"Training is supposed to be fun, Miss Gine." Matto said. He spun back around so that the sack was above him. He struggled to keep it balanced again. "This isn't fun, it's annoying."
"You're just looking at it the wrong way." Gine replied. She looked ahead again and giggled. "You just need to focus on where the sack is without moving your entire body to balance it." Gine proceeded to do a variety of different air tricks and loops, barrel rolls and nosedives. Matto didn't act amused, but inside he was thinking about how badly he wanted to try it.
Luffa sped up and took a sharp turn straight up into the air. She ascended until she was just a speck to Matto, then she too did a nosedive, complete with several spins and flips. It was effortless for them, and Matto couldn't believe it. Seeing his sister do it just irritated him.
"Well if she can do it, I can too." Matto said, oozing confidence. He made an attempt at a sharp upward turn, but instead wound up doing multiple backflips while hurtling towards the ground. He screamed all the way down, but just managed to pull out of it and regain control of his body. Matto was far closer to the surface now, and Luffa and Gine descended to match his elevation.
"We didn't say it was easy, bro." Luffa said with a sarcastic grin.
Matto blushed, then scowled and stared forward while trying to ignore his sister's antagonis. Gine looked back at the teenagers, and smiled at Matto.
"You don't have to help me with my deliveries, Matto. It's okay." Gine said.
Matto averted eye contact and huffed. "I'm not useless, I'm not lazy."
"No one said you were, buddy. Luffa likes this kinda work. You prefer combat training." Gine looked forward with a proud smile. "You're a warrior, through and through."
Hearing this relaxed Matto a bit, and soon, he started figuring out how to properly balance the sack. The journey became easier for him, and while he was still struggling, he was far less agitated about it.
The trio soon came up on a mountain range, and situated in a pocket towards the center was a large city called Gallance. Secluded, one wouldn't know it was there unless they were native to Vortano, or could fly like Gine and the kids. One detail that was obvious was the large tower on a cliff overlooking the city. The tower was connected to an enormous elegant looking building.
"Tarble's palace." Gine said as she looked in awe at the cliffside building. The kids looked as well, and while Luffa was captivated by it, Matto simply scoffed.
The trio descended towards the city and flew overhead until they came to a large gated off compound. They landed in a field behind the building, and they each unlatched their straps and let their meatsacks drop to the ground. There was a very obvious white-noise, made up of the combined sounds of machinery, conveyor belts, industrial fans, large trucks, chatter among others. Matto's annoyance with all of it was obvious, while Luffa remained all smiles.
Gine glanced back at the kids. "Alright, you guys hang out while I go get this haul checked in."
Gine then began walking towards the back of the building, where she met up with a heavyset, light-blue skinned humanoid alien. An obvious butcher, wearing a white blood stained apron, white bandana, pointy ears, orange hair and an orange mustache.
"Gine, my dear!" Said the alien butcher.
Gine smiled at him as the gap between them shrank. "Hey Davey, how are things?"
"Eh, had a few hang-ups with deliveries from Riddleton." Said the blue alien, Davey, with a shake of the head. "Other than that, things have been a-okay."
"Great!" Gine said cheerfully.
Davey looked over her shoulder in the field behind the compound and spotted the meat sacks. "Well ain't that quite the haul!"
"All hunted and gathered this morning. Everything's as fresh as it gets."
"Hah!" Davey exclaimed heartily. "You Saiyans are something else."
Gine chuckled sheepishly. "Yeah, we still get that a lot even after being here for as long as we have."
The two shared a brief laugh, then made their way over to the meatsacks. Gine hunted based off of a list of flora and fauna that was released every month. She was considered an "unofficial supplier" since she started doing it out of kindness during a food shortage years before. Several times she was offered work as a butcher and hunter for the depot, but she liked her quiet life with the kids. She was paid quite well for her service regardless, and occasionally made extra deliveries if the depot reached out to her about it.
It took about 45 minutes for them to go through each bag and haul the contents inside. Gine didn't need to do any of this, but it was part of her motherly nature to do all that she did, and besides, she enjoyed it.
"Alright!" Davey said cheerfully after the last cart of carcasses was driven inside of the building. "Thank you much for this bounty." The alien handed Gine an envelope, and as she grabbed it, he grasped her hand briefly with his other as a display of gratitude.
"Oh, it's nothing, Davey." Gine said with a smile.
With that, Davey turned and headed towards the depot, and Gine turned around to face the kids. However, they were no longer there.
Gine looked around briefly and huffed in response to this. "Are you kidding me?"
xXxXxXx
"Matto, we're gonna get in trouble!" Luffa exclaimed as she chased her brother down an alleyway.
"Oh, come on. You seriously don't want to fight in The Pit?" Matto replied.
"Not really. You know how The Pit is. And they're not just gonna let us in."
"Of course they will! We're Saiyans, sis! Fighting is in our blood!"
"If Miss Gine finds out, she'll kill us!"
Luffa chased after her brother reluctantly, and followed Matto's every turn. They soon arrived near a building with a large man guarding the back door. "The Pit" was written on a sign in neon red, in a graffiti-like font, which was illuminated by a light just above it.
"We're here, Luffa!" Matto exclaimed in a whisper as he started walking towards the door.
"Why can't we just go in through the front?"
"Because, I don't want to watch, I want to fight."
Luffa followed him slowly. "I don't like this, Matto. Why can't you just fight me?"
"Because I need a challenge. You're a great fighter, but I already know all of your moves."
"So you're saying I'm boring?"
"Kinda, yeah."
Luffa crossed her arms and huffed at her brother. He started approaching the door, but was stopped about twenty feet away as the guard noticed him.
"Halt!" Said the guard, a tall, pale-blue skinned man with long black hair and a bushy beard, wearing black jeans with tan boots, a black vest with a white undershirt, giving Matto a death glare. Matto didn't say a word, he just stood there petrified momentarily. "Leave now if you know what's good for you. The Pit ain't a place for little kids."
Matto scoffed at this and crossed his arms. "Maybe for natives. But I'm a Saiyan, and so is my sister back there."
"I want NOTHING to do with this, Matto!" Luffa called out angrily from behind.
The guard raised an eyebrow. "Rules are rules, kid. Saiyan or not, you shall not pass."
Matto scowled at him. "Maybe I'll have to test my skills against you. That'll change your mind."
"Matto! Stop!" Luffa again called out.
The guard only blinked at the young Saiyan, very obviously uninterested in his cocky challenge.
"Don't ignore me! I want to fight in The Pit! Or you! Either way, I want to fight!" Matto exclaimed.
"That's enough out of you, young man!" Called the stern voice of Gine from above.
Matto froze immediately, and slowly looked up to see his suedo-mother descending between the buildings with a deep scowl across her face. She landed between the guard and Matto and crossed her arms.
"M… Miss Gine…"
"What do you think you're doing? What have I told you about The Pit, Matto?" Gine asked.
Matto ducked his head and sighed. "'Never go to The Pit'".
"NEVER GO TO THE PIT, Matto!" Gine said angrily.
Matto rolled his eyes while his head was down so Gine wouldn't notice. "I don't see what the big deal is… How'd you even find us?"
"Well for starters, you're too young to fight here. And you're always overestimating yourself." Gine said. "And finding you was easy because you were getting ready to fight this man, and my scouter went off." Gine then raised her right hand to reveal a pink scouter.
"Come on, Miss Gine!" Matto groaned.
"Give it a rest already, I told you she'd kill us but you didn't listen to me." Luffa said from behind him with her hands on her hips.
Gine sighed heavily. "'Kill' is a bit too strong of a word here. But I'm definitely not happy."
Just then, the door swung open and out walked two hooded figures. The man in front was an average sized man, the man behind him was significantly taller than the former. Gine, Matto and Luffa all looked on quietly, but they hadn't realized they were there.
Gine's scouter turned on in her hand, startling her. She put it on and scanned the two men. The one in front first, then the second one. The numbers on the screen continuously rose until eventually, the scouter exploded.
"Ouch! What the heck?" Gine exclaimed, her ear ringing a bit from the sound of the scouter breaking.
The two men both glanced at them, and Gine could see part of the face of the man up front. Most of his face was hidden and shaded from the hood, but she could make out part of a mustache, and a diagonal facial scar. She also noticed that his skin was more like hers, and not a bluish hue like the Vortanians. The tall man behind him had a similar skin color, was significantly larger in bulk, but she could only see a sliver of his face and his left eye which was onyx.
The man in front gave Gine a single nod. "Hello, Miss Gine."
Gine simply stared and nodded to him. The man then took a left and walked away. The taller man simply grunted a little, then followed suit. They walked down the alley before disappearing in the distance.
Matto and Luffa watched in awe, shocked over the fact that Gine's scouter broke while measuring the tall man's power.
"Heh." The guard said as he looked in the direction they left in. "That's The Pit's grand champion, you don't wanna go toe to toe with him unless you want your head caved in."
Luffa blinked a few times while her mouth was agape. "He broke a new scouter. Unreal."
Matto gritted his teeth and shook his head. "So I just have to get stronger than him."
"Alright!" Gine said, snapping back into it and startling the kids. "There'll be no more talk about The Pit, understand? No more."
"Okay okay, sorry. Jeez." Matto said frustratedly.
"And cut the attitude." Matto sighed and ducked his head again. Gine too sighed, then turned to the kids. "Come on, let's go home."
xXxXxXx
Tarble's Palace
The top of the tower overlooking the city had a round balcony surrounding it, and an automatic double doorway leading inside. Tarble was leaning against the railing, looking out at the city with a hand under his chin for support. He could hear accumulative noise from vehicles, machinery and voices. Occasionally the sound of a horn going off would ring out. As he stood there, he noticed some really dark clouds rolling in from the north side of the city.
That looks nasty. Thought the Saiyan leader.
The sound of the doors opening up alerted him, and he turned around to see the same hooded figures Gine and the kids saw at The Pit coming through the door. He turned fully around as they both approached, and once near, both knelt in a bow.
"Greetings, Lord Tarble." Said the shorter man.
Tarble chuckled and placed his hands on his hips. "How many times have I told you that you don't have to be so formal, Paragus?"
"Old habits, sir. It's the etiquette I had drilled into me." Paragus replied as he stood up. "But I find your casual attitude refreshing, so please don't change for my sake."
"Wasn't planning on it." Tarble said before a chuckle. He turned around and resumed his observation of the city below. "How was the fight?"
"Broly won, as usual." Paragus replied as he glanced back at the taller Saiyan. "His opponent had no chance."
"I'm not surprised. Your boy is the strongest of our people, you should be proud."
Broly simply grunted, then turned and started walking along the balcony. Paragus cleared his throat, then turned his attention back to Tarble.
"It's not that I'm not proud of him. His instability is what worries me." Paragus said.
"Has it gotten worse?" Tarble inquired, glancing back at Paragus.
The hooded Saiyan sighed, then joined Tarble at the railing. "He's been having episodes more frequently. I hate that I have to use a shock-collar to reel him in. But not one test the doctors have run on him yielded any results. To be honest, I'm at a loss."
"Not even removing his tail has helped, huh?"
"I had hoped it would. At the very least, we don't have to worry about him turning into an Oozaru anymore. It won't grow back this time, I just wish I knew what to do." Tarble chuckled sheepishly at Paragus, who side-eyed him curiously. "What?"
"Nothing, I was just thinking about when he transformed on that barren planet you guys found me on. How he wiped out all of those wild monsters I was running away from."
"Yeah…" Paragus said in a more hushed tone.
Tarble looked at him with a smile. "Paragus, how many times do I have to tell you I've forgiven you?"
"My apologies, sir." Said Paragus. "I just think about how I almost killed you out of spite for your father. I wasn't even gonna give you a chance. You were a victim of that system as much as Broly and I were, and Broly was the only reason I didn't execute you. Had I, we wouldn't have this life here. I can't help but feel guilty for even considering it."
"But you don't have to. We are here, and you're a much different man nowadays." Tarble said while patting Paragus on the shoulder. "I'm proud to call you my right-hand man, Paragus. I don't wanna hear you beat yourself up over this anymore, and that's an order, understood?"
Paragus chuckled at this and nodded. "Understood, sir."
Tarble smiled, then looked up at the sky again. The clouds were getting closer, and Vortano's sun was partially covered up. After a few moments of silence, Tarble's facial expressions shifted and he sighed in a sadder sounding tone.
"What's bothering you, sir?" Paragus asked.
"I'm just worried that the Frieza Force will find us out here someday."
"If that were to happen, I wager it would take decades with as far out in the universe we are." Said Paragus as he joined Tarble in looking up at the darkening sky. "On the flip side, we have no way of knowing if they're even still active."
"You think someone took down Frieza?" Tarble said, turning his head to Paragus.
"The only person I'd put money on being able to kill Frieza is my son. But I can't just let him go either. At least in The Pit, he's able to control himself. It's different when he's fighting for his life as opposed to fighting for sport."
Paragus turned his head and saw Broly leaning against the rail a distance away. His hood was now down, his shaggy black hair on full display.
"He hates having to wear that collar as much as I hate having to use it on him." Paragus said somberly.
Tarble placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out, Paragus. Don't give up hope."
Paragus sighed and looked up to the sky again. "Maybe we should head inside, that storm is almost here."
Tarble nodded, then pushed away from the rail and headed towards the automatic doors. Paragus looked over at his son again. "Broly! Let's go inside, son."
Broly looked back at his father with a depressed look on his face. "Yes, father."
xXxXxXx
Gine's Homestead
"Who was that guy at The Pit?" Matto said to Luffa in a hushed tone while sitting in a chair on the front porch of the house.
Luffa, sitting in another chair next to him, sighed and shook her head. "You really wanna make Miss Gine mad, don't'cha?"
The storm had arrived, and the rain was coming down hard, pelting the roof over the porch. Every few minutes, lightning would light up the sky, followed by thunder claps of varying volumes.
"Come on, sis! The new scouters were designed to never break, and that big guy made hers break. Aren't you at least curious?"
"No! Oh my god, what is it with you?" Luffa exclaimed. She huffed and looked in through the window she was next to and saw Gine in the kitchen chopping up meat. "I mean, the guy in front knew Miss Gine. I find that to be peculiar."
"Right!?" Matto exclaimed excitedly. Luffa hushed him and looked through the window again to see if Gine was alerted by her brother's idiotic excitement. "Wait, didn't she say something about them being Saiyans too?"
"Yeah, she did. Why? Does it really matter? I think she made herself pretty clear, Matto. It's bad enough that she's mad at you, but she's mad at me too because I chased after you."
"Pshh… she isn't mad at you, she's only acting that way so I don't feel as bad." Matto said. He placed both his hands behind his head and started rocking the chair lightly.
Luffa sighed, then stood up and walked over to the porch railing. Another lightning bolt flashed, followed by a loud bang that echoed across the landscape. She ran her hands through her hair, which she had let down since getting home, then crossed her arms.
"Do you think he's a Super Saiyan?" Said Matto.
"Don't tell me you're talking about the guys from The Pit."
Matto panicked and shot up out of his seat. Luffa turned around and saw him, then Gine, who was standing in the doorway.
"I didn't even hear the door open, you're sneaky." Matto said awkwardly.
"Don't change the subject." Gine said sternly.
Matto sighed dejectedly. "I'm just curious, ma'am. Especially since they seemed to know you."
Gine huffed and shook her head. "Boys…" She paused and glanced at Luffa, who had a hand pressed to her face. "Yes, we know each other. The guy who said hi to me is Tarble's top advisor, Paragus. The taller man behind him was Broly, his son. Being as close with Tarble as I am, I know a lot of personnel from the palace. And of course from our time back on Planet Vegeta. Although back then, we were separated by a class system that's been proven arbitrary by our new lives here. I didn't know Paragus that well back then, and Broly was just a baby. He's my son Kakarot's age."
Matto was delighted that Gine was talking about this, even though he couldn't show it. "Do you think he's a Super Saiyan?"
Gine chuckled. "Matto, Super Saiyans don't exist. It's just an old myth. But if one did exist, I think it would definitely be Broly. Even without it, he's super dangerous. And before you go getting any crazy ideas, he would cripple you without even trying."
"Has he… done that before?" Luffa asked cautiously.
"He's… done some damage." Gine said with a light shiver. "He's not a bad guy, he's just really dangerous, and oftentimes doesn't realize his own strength."
Another flash of lightning, another bang, and the rain got a little heavier. Gine sighed and looked out towards the forest in the distance that could hardly be seen thanks to the storm. Luffa and Matto looked on with her.
"After the storm, you two are going to gather firewood." Said Gine. Luffa and Matto turned their heads quickly, and Matto groaned. "Stop that, or I won't let you train for a week. You're lucky I'm not punishing you for earlier."
Matto sighed and nodded. "Yes ma'am." Luffa nodded too, but didn't say anything.
Gine then turned and headed inside, pushing the door closed behind her. She walked through the living room and into the kitchen and resumed chopping up meat.
"Those kids will be the death of me, I swear." She looked up and out the window over the sink and sighed lightly. Oh how I miss you, Bardock. I think you'd like this life.
Gine had no idea what was coming though. And for the next three months, life would play out similarly for her and the kids. Gine would hunt and stock up, and once a month, deliver to Davey's depot. And Matto and Luffa sparred every day, and did various chores for Gine like wood gathering, and assisting her in her hunts. Every now and then, Gine would jump into a sparring session. Even though she wasn't fond of fighting, it was different with the kids, and it kept her in fighting shape just in case she needed to fight for some reason. Meanwhile on Earth, Bulma, Dr. Brief and a team of Capsule Corp scientists constructed "Capsule Z". She even had Bardock take one of the other Capsule ships to retrieve Gummo from Transeki, as it was easier for the PTO ship expert himself to be in person to help. And as Gummo was the one that designed the original hyperdrive for the ship, their minds combined would maximize the results. Finally, three months had elapsed, and Capsule Z was ready for liftoff…
xXxXxXx
Earth: Mount Paozu, November, Age 767…
It was evening, the sun was setting, and the Son family was enjoying a bonfire together. Gohan and Bardock alternated chopping up logs and tossing them into the fire while Ox-King sat beside an obviously pregnant Chi Chi. Sheamus was the guest of honor, and had spent the majority of the last three months sparring with Bardock and Gohan, and occasionally Piccolo when he was around.
"Ya know, Sheamus," Said Bardock as he stared up at the clear night sky. "This trip isn't gonna be a short one. This'll be a steep detour from getting back to your future."
Sheamus shrugged. "IVA destroyed my future. That army is so massive that they're basically in control of the entire universe. I'm in no hurry to go back there."
Bardock sighed and looked at him. "I'd say 'you aren't the Sheamus I remember', but the only memories I have of you are from Transeki now. I don't even really know who you are, and yet I'm bringing you on this trip."
Sheamus sighed and shook his head. "I had my orders, Bardock. I know you don't really trust me thanks to all that. I know that tampering with someone's memories is morally screwed up, but I didn't think much about it until after IVA destroyed ZGX. If I go back, I'm going to die. But staying here isn't an option because I don't belong here."
"Because you're from the future?" Bardock inquired sarcastically. "Look, forget the technicalities. It doesn't matter anymore. Especially after everything with Trunks and Cell. There's probably several other alternate timelines because of that alone."
Sheamus stared at the darkening sky silently, watching as more and more stars were revealed. Bardock sighed and shook his head.
"Don't get hung up on the past. I used to, and it helps nothing." Bardock simply said before getting up and heading towards everyone else by the fire.
He sat down on a log beside Gohan, who was staring at the fire with a smile. I get to meet my dad's mom! Thought the young Saiyan.
"Well, Gohan, aren't you ready to be crammed on a spaceship with Vegeta?" Bardock said amusedly.
Reality struck Gohan and his smile faded to a blank stare. "Oh… I kinda forgot about that…"
Bardock chuckled and patted Gohan on the shoulder. "He should behave, you're still stronger than he is."
"Please be careful." Pleaded Chi Chi. "Every time you go to space, something happens. And I don't want you falling behind on your homework either."
"Everything will be fine, mom. And I'll keep up, I promise." Said Gohan. "But you have to promise me that you won't overdo it while I'm gone."
Ox-King started laughing heartily while patting Chi Chi on the back. "Don't you worry, Gohan. I'll be here making sure that she doesn't go overboard with anything."
"Just remember who'll be making you dinner." Chi Chi retorted with a glare, turning Ox-King's genuine laughter into nervous laughter, which made Gohan laugh as well.
Sheamus, now laying on his back behind the log and away from the group, just stared at the stars in silence. The others with conversing, joking and laughing, and all he could do was fester. He reached down his shirt and pulled out a locket, pressed the small button on top, which opened it up, and he stared at the contents within. On the left, a photo of himself, his brother, and his nephew. On the other side, a picture of his mother and father. Beside the locket was a ZGX medallion and ID badge. All it did was upset and anger the hybrid from the future. He glanced over at the group made up of his ancestors and got even more frustrated.
But his hands were tied, and though he didn't have to accompany them to Vortano, Sheamus was looking for a reason to care. Bardock had filled in many of the details that Sheamus didn't have before, but he couldn't shake the sinking feeling he had since he couldn't go after Eyce. All those thoughts led him to was memories of the horror he had endured before coming back. But all he could do was tag along and hope that things were actually changing despite not being able to see it for himself.
Chi Chi started yawning, and she stretched her arms in tandem. "Well, this momma's ready for bed." She stood up and gave Bardock and Gohan both knowing looks. "Just please be careful."
"We will, mom. We'll see you in the morning before we leave." Gohan said assuringly. Chi Chi smiled, then turned and headed towards the house.
Gohan and Bardock then looked at each other and smiled. "You excited?"
Gohan nodded. "Can't wait, grandpa!"
To Be Continued...