As his pod approached Earth many thoughts ran through Raditz's mind. He'd seen Kakarot only once in the nursery. He, like any Saiyan would be, was disappointed in his brother's extremely low power level. He was sent to this planet solely because of that. It was one of the weakest known planets in the galaxy. He figured even Kakarot would have been able to handle the weaklings of this planet.
He frowned as Earth came into view. The planet didn't look decimated from where he was, however he couldn't be sure until he landed, and either way Kakarot would be on this planet. He felt a little excited at the prospect of taking his brother with him to meet Vegeta and Nappa. If only because he wouldn't be singled out as the weakling anymore. His pod entered the atmosphere and he caught a momentary glimpse of some building as it landed making a crater in the ground.
He pressed the door control in the pod and stepped out. The air smelled fresh and lively. The first sign that Kakarot had seemingly failed. A dead planet always smelled different from one that was still full of life, and as he raised into the air it became clear that this planet was thriving. Raditz frowned as he looked around.
"H-Hey you!" A man pointed what looked to be a very primitive gun at him. "This here is private property. If ya know what's good for ya get lost!" He said putting on a brave face.
Raditz looked at him. Wordlessly he raised his arm to check his scouter. The man jumped and quivered at the very movement his brave facade quickly breaking. Raditz simply waited for the scouter to do its work.
"A power level of five?" He chuckled darkly. "Pathetic scum."
The man fired the primitive weapon but Raditz caught the bullet easily. He smirked at the man's expression. He moved the bullet to rest against his index finger and flicked it with his thumb sending it flying back at the man. On contact the man was sent flying into a truck. Though he had survived this attack Raditz stepped forward to finish the job when his scouter went off.
"Huh? Well this is a higher power level. Could it be Kakarot?" He rose into the air and flew in the direction of the power level.
As he did he couldn't stop thinking about the fact that this planet was still full of life. Kakarot had failed his mission. Raditz questioned if Vegeta would really want someone who was too weak to even destroy such a weak planet. He closed on the source of the power level.
"Alright. What do we have… here." He said, looking at the creature before him. It definitely wasn't Kakarot. The being wore a purple outfit with a white cape and turban. The main give away was that this person had green skin.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" He asked.
What the hell is a Namekian doing on this planet? Raditz thought to himself before answering.
"I'm searching for someone important." Raditz replied, "I must commend you, your power level is much higher than the other natives, still you wouldn't even be a match for me." He mocked the Namekian.
"You'll regret underestimating me." The green warrior said.
Raditz laughed. "Will I really!? Okay then show me." He challenged the Namekian.
The Namekian responded by firing a ki attack at him kicking up a cloud of dust. The Namekian looking quite pleased at first went wide eyed after seeing that his attack did nothing. "Is that all? What a puny attack. How about I show you one of mine." Raditz prepared to attack and his scouter interrupted once more.
"Hm? Another power level. It's even higher. Definitely the strongest on this puny planet." He said to himself.
He flew up into the air leaving the namekian there mostly to process just how little he had been able to do to Raditz.
"Hm. It's that way." He muttered to himself flying off in the direction of the power. "Yes this must be him. I'm coming for you Kakarot."
Raditz flew for a little while heading toward the sea following the directions from his scouter. "Hm… he must be on that small island." He mused looking at the tiny island with a house.
He landed on the ground slowly with a smile. Standing across from him, wearing an orange outfit with a symbol on the ches was his brother. "So I finally found you." He said with a smirk.
He looked at his brother's company using his scouter. The difference between Goku and the other earthlings was significant to some. But negligible to him. Kakarot was still leagues weaker than he was. "Who are you?" Kakarot asked.
The bald one perked up. "He has a tail… just like you did. Do you know this guy Goku?" He asked looking up at Kakarot.
"No. I've never seen him before in my life." Kakarot replied.
"I see. So you've no memory of why you're here." Raditz said. "But to think you'd grow up to live and protect this world. You've even removed your tail. Despicable."
"My tail? Memory?" Kakarot asked. "What do you mean?
"Your name is Kakarot, you are a member of the Saiyan Race. The mightiest warriors in the galaxy." Raditz explained. "And I am your older brother Raditz."
"An older brother huh? Guess that means you'll be at the family parties huh? Nice to meetcha Raditz." The short bald one walked towards Raditz with a friendly smile.
Raditz winded up and punched the earthling into the wall of the house that resided on this tiny island. "Hey stop attacking my friend!" Kakarot shouted.
"Friend? You must be kidding. Come on Kakarot. It is time to finish off this mud ball and come with me. Together we could do great things. We would be unstoppable."
"I'm not Kakarot. My name is Goku." Kakarot said getting into a fighting stance.
Raditz chuckled. He had hoped to do this the easy way. "You really think you can face me with your power level?" He asked. "Don't make me laugh."
He looked down and saw a young boy with a tail. "A son? You have a son?" He asked genuinely surprised.
"So you must have reproduced with one of the beings on this planet. Interesting. And advantageous." He knocked Kakarot out of the way and picked up the child who started kicking and screaming.
"I'll be taking this with me. I'll give you a choice. Kill one hundred people on this planet. Join me or this will be the last time that you see your little boy alive." He gave Kakarot the Ultimatum and flew off.
"No. GOHAN!" Kakarot called out as all he could do was helplessly watch as Raditz flew away.
Raditz flew back to his pod. "Now then. Just need to sit and wait. Kakarot will definitely come." He said to himself.
"M-my Daddy's going to beat you up" The tiny half saiyan yelled.
"Your father is a weakling. His power level is only a few hundred. My power level is fourteen hundred. Your father will die if he tries to fight me." Raditz said.
"Oh y-yeah. You can't beat my daddy. He's the strongest in the world!" Gohan insisted.
"Be quiet squirt. Your voice is so annoying." He grabbed the child and threw him into his Saiyan pod.
"H-hey what are you doing?" Gohan asked as Radiz closed the door to the pod.
"Getting a little peace and quiet. You can come out when you've stopped bawling." Raditz answered before going back to waiting.
Gohan began to wail and sob and beg to be let out but Raditz either couldn't him or simply ignored him. Raditz sat on a walk and waited.
He didn't have to wait very long at all as two figures landed on the ground several yards away. One was Kakarot who had jumped off some kind of flying cloud. So Kakarot didn't even know how to fly, Raditz seriously began to wonder if this was just a complete waste of time.
Next to Kakarot was the Namekian from before. "So Kakarot. Have you considered my offer, little brother?" He asked.
"My name is not Kakarot, it's Goku. And a heartless man like you, is not my brother." Kakrot said firmly.
Raditz sighed a little disappointed, it seemed he'd have to kill his little brother and return to Vegeta and Nappa. He glanced at his Saiyan pod which held the little saiyan boy. He didn't necessarily have to head back empty handed though.
"I had hoped you would understand." Raditz said standing up. "It seems you will not be convinced, such a poor excuse for a Saiyan. You are a disgrace to our race! Prepare to die!" He yelled, getting in a fighting stance.
Both Kakarot and the Namekian lunged at him. He grinned maliciously as he easily countered their attacks kicking Kakarot in the stomach and punching the Namekian in the face sending them both backwards.
They attacked again from the side, and then from behind both attacks having the same result, which is to say none.
The two stayed some distance as they conversed.
"Goku if you have any techniques that you've been hiding now would be the time to use them." The Namekian said.
Kakrot just laughed sheepishly, "Can't say that I do Piccolo." He replied.
"Tch," The Namekian apparently named Piccolo grunted, "You've gotten lazy Goku, luckily one of us has kept up our training. I have a technique that should be enough to stop him. But it'll take time to charge, you'll have to keep him distracted."
"Right!" Kakarot said getting ready to charge at Raditz again.
"Whatever the two of you are planning it won't work!" Raditz exclaimed confidently as Kakarot charged at him.
Kakarot didn't respond to Raditz's taunt and just threw punch after punch and kick after kick at him. Raditz blocked and dodged with little to no trouble at all. He pushed Kakarot back with a strong attack with an evil grin. However that grin soon vanished as his scout went off.
"What the-?" He turned to see Piccolo in a strange stance, energy emanating from his fingertips.
"That attack, right now his power level exceeds my own. I can't block that." Raditz said to himself,
"Take this. SPECIAL BEAM CANNON!" Piccolo released the energy in the form of a beam that seemed to spin like a drill.
It travelled towards Raditz dangerously fast. He barely had enough time to dodge it, but dodge it he did. It hit the ground next to him generating a huge cloud of smoke and dust. When they cleared Raditz stood no worse for wear.
"Wha- He dodged it!?" Piccolo exclaimed horrified.
Raditz chuckled maliciously, "That was a powerful attack, I'll admit it if it had hit me it would spelled my end. Too bad you missed isn't it- URK" He felt his strength leave him.
He looked behind himself and saw Kakarot holding his tail. "K-Kakarot!? What are you doing!?" He yelled.
Kakarot was panting and hurting, but smiling all the same.
"Good Goku. Keep hold of his tail, I only have one more of these in me so don't you dare let him go!" Piccolo ordered as he began to focus his energy again.
Raditz went wide eyed. "Wait Kakarot, I'm sorry! I've seen the error of my eyes. I'll… I'll leave this planet in peace. I'll give you your son and I'll leave, just let me go!" He begged.
Kakarot looked at him. "You will?" He asked almost too innocently.
"Goku don't listen to him, he's lying!" Piccolo yelled.
"Yes.. Yes I will, I promise!" Raditz continued.
Kakarot seemed hesitant at first, "Well if you promise." He said as he released his hold on his tail.
Raditz grinned, his bluff had worked wonderfully, he punched Kakarot in the stomach causing his little brother to double over onto the ground. Raditz slammed his boot on the back of Kakarot's head, grinding it.
"Naive little brother, did you really think that I would give up that easily?" Raditz laughed.
As he laughed his scouter went off once more. "Hm? That energy? It's higher than Kakarot's. Is there someone stronger than him on this planet? Wait, that power it's coming from…" He looked over at his Saiyan pod which exploded.
Gohan, Kakarot's little brat jumped into view looking enraged. "Leave my Daddy ALONE!"
The young half-saiyan launched himself into Raditz's stomach cracking his armor and more than winding
"URK- Why you little brat- Huh!?" Before Raditz could finish his sentence he felt someone grab him and hold him still.
"Wha- Kakarot! What are you doing!?" He shouted.
"Now! Piccolo! DO IT!" Kakarot yelled.
Raditz looked at the Namekian who had finished charging his attack a second time.
"Special Beam Cannon!" Piccolo launched the attack at Raditz once again.
Time grew still for a moment. Was this the end. Was Raditz really going to lose to two warriors even weaker than he was? Had his entire life to this? Being killed on some backwater planet, merely a footnote to the history of the Saiyans. No. Raditz refused to let it end like this.
Summoning all of his remaining strength, Raditz flexed his muscles and broke Kakarot's hold on him. He leaped out of the way of the attack dodging once again. Kakarot however was hit directly by the attack, which drilled straight through the front of his chest and out the other end.
Everyone was left stunned. Gohan witnessed his father's death, Piccolo defeated his eternal rival albeit by accident, and Raditz horrified by his little brother's willingness to sacrifice himself. Raditz the first one to recover from their shared stupor and quickly grasped the situation he was in.
He was tired, wounded, and no longer in any condition to fight, even if the Namekian was as exhausted as he was that little brat posed more of a danger than he had originally anticipated. He flew off before anyone could do anything. He didn't have any destination in mind. He just picked a direction and flew.
Once he felt he was a safe distance away he flew to a nearby cave that was located near some fruit trees. He sat down wincing at the pain he was in. This had been a fruitless endeavor. He called Vegeta and Nappa via his scouter to report to them.
"Raditz, you better have some good news for me." Vegeta said.
"Vegeta… Kakarot is dead." Raditz replied.
"Explain." Vegeta replied calmly although darkly.
"He refused to join me. He and a namekian confronted and fought me. Kakarot was killed in the ensuing battle. The namekian used this technique that raised his power level to something similar to Nappa's. It killed Kakarot, it almost killed me." He explained.
"Hmph, it's too bad it failed to kill you." Vegeta spat.
"What? What do you mean?" Raditz asked.
"I told you I would not tolerate another failure from you Raditz, don't bother yourself returning. I have no use for weaklings such as yourself, or your useless brother. This will be the last time we speak." Vegeta explained preparing to cut off communication.
"Wait Vegeta." Nappa interjected, "That namekian guy sounded strong. I want to fight him. If the little weakling is telling the truth about that technique then it could be a fun time."
There was a moment of silence as Vegeta considered this. "Fine." He finally said.
"Wait. If you're coming to Earth then let me help you. I could prove useful to you. I could-" Raditz began.
"Shut up Raditz!" Vegeta snapped. "When we get there you can either stay out of our way or we'll kill you too. I suggest you not be on that planet when we arrive." He cut off communication without another word.
Raditz was left speechless and processing. He was cut off from everyone. His comrades had decided he was nothing more than low level trash, his brother dead, Raditz had no one to rely on. What was worse was that he would have taken Vegeta's advice and left the planet if he could but he couldn't. His Saiyan pod was destroyed. He was stuck here on a doomed planet.
"Dammit." He murmured angrily and he saw only one option left to him.
If he wanted to survive he'd have to stay and fight Nappa and Vegeta. But on his own he was doomed. He would have to fight alongside this world's strongest warriors. Warriors like the namekian, Kakarot's brat, and whoever else was strong enough to hold their own. He didn't like his chances but what choice did he have? Deciding that he would find the namekian and Gohan later, he would take time to rest. This cave was well hidden and there was food nearby. Yes that was it. He would rest here and gather Earth's warriors when he was recovered. For now he allowed himself to drift into an uneasy sleep.