The fact they weren't immediately shot down over the planet was a good sign.
Officially, the operation with the Demsu ended, and the Saiyans went about the final extermination of the species in the wild on Nudal, which took a couple weeks more. Kikomo remained on-planet for the duration, ostensibly to oversee the final steps, but it was obvious he was terrified of further reprisals from the Ginyu Force or, worse, from Frieza himself. He even chose to return with the Saiyans aboard his ship, which meant they would return to Frieza Planet 17 together, and just after Vegeta and Nappa returned, as well.
"Well, Raditz, I'm either ignored or done for," Lemo said to the Saiyan, "I'd say it was a pleasure fighting with you, but that was a nightmare I hope I never repeat."
"You thought fast, and saved my family, Chief. Thank you. And if anyone asks, I never met you," Raditz shook his hand.
"And the same to you," Lemo nodded, and disembarked.
"Well, I suppose I should, ah, be, um, getting back to my, ah, lab," Kikono said, "I am in so much trouble, aren't I?"
Gine laid her hand on his shoulder, "If we can, we'll protect you, Kikono. Just message us. You watched over me when you didn't need to."
"He tried selling us out at the first chance he got!" Meys insisted.
"So? He still helped deliver Brussa," Gine pointed out, "Name any Frieza soldier that wouldn't have done the same thing."
"Chief Lemo," Meys grumbled. Gine and Kikono ignored him.
"I'll be sure to call if anything comes up. Hopefully we won't all get...Wiped out in one go…" Kikono swallowed a lump in his throat, and left the ship. Gine led the other Saiyans off the ship, with Raditz cradling Brussa in his arm. The baby was holding Raditz's fingers with all her grip, which was surprisingly mighty for a month-old baby.
Nappa was waiting for them with Vegeta, the former looking like he had to pee, and the other looking like he was trying not to vomit.
"Is it her? Let me see her!" Nappa rushed over to Raditz.
"Naw, we decided she cried too much, so we left her back on Nudle. This is a Demsu pup we adopted instead. Much cleaner," Raditz said. Nappa wasn't listening, he was too busy prying the baby away from Raditz, and wiggling his finger in her face. Brussa reached up and accepted the proffered gift, refusing to let it go.
"Ah-AH! SHe, uh, she's got quite a grip on her! Hehehe," Nappa laughed. He pulled, but couldn't dislodge the finger, "So, what should we name her?"
"Already have," Gine walked up to Nappa and caressed the baby's face, causing her to relax and let go of her father, "I named her Brussa, after your mother. You kept talking about her, so I figured it was a good choice."
"Well, um, yes. Of course it was. My mother was a great and powerful warrior," Nappa declared, hiding the quiver in his voice behind bravado.
"Can we go? I want to get pick out our next mission," Vegeta growled.
"You don't want to say hello to the new baby, Vegeta? She's already got the grip of a titan," Gine offered.
"It's a distraction. She'll only hold us back. You should send it off to conquer some planet, get some use out of her," Vegeta said.
"When she's fighting alongside us, you won't think that," Gine motioned to take Brussa back from Nappa. He didn't notice. Vegeta scoffed, and started walking back to their compound, the other Saiyans in tow.
"You know who I am? I'm your daddy! I'm gonna make sure you get big and strong, just like me! You'll destroy your enemies with half a thought, yes you will!" Nappa cooed at Brussa, who proceeded to baby-punch him in the face to get some space. Vegeta entered their compound first, grumbling about how dark it was in here, flipping on the light.
"Good morning, Prince Vegeta," someone called out from the other side of the front room. Four of the Saiyans took up battle stances at the intruder; it took them a moment to realize who it was. Meys let out a gasp-or a squeak.
"Captain Ginyu," Vegeta had kept his composure, and simply turned to face him, "This is a surprise."
"Shouldn't be, if you knew what your team managed to do on Nudal," Ginyu said, inspecting his fingernails while leaning against the wall, "Or have they not told you yet?"
Nappa held Brussa closer to his chest.
"They only just arrived. What's this about, Ginyu?" Vegeta demanded.
"Oh, well, see, this is an apology. From my team to yours. It seems that our little Guldo took an unsanctioned job, and 'acquired' some gear and men for his little side-gig. Not only that, but he failed. Seems that he got too interested in the local fauna, and got himself jumped," Ginyu explained, "It's such an awful pain when someone else's team gets involved with your operation, isn't it?"
"I do despise distractions," Vegeta remarked, glaring over his shoulder at Gine.
"Sure. Of course, I haven't got the faintest idea what Guldo was there to accomplish, but I understand he made a hell of a mess for your team to clean up. So I thought I'd wait here to give my sincerest apologies," Ginyu bowed to them. There was a tense moment as the Saiyans waited for Vegeta to respond.
To their shock, Vegeta bowed back, and the rest of the Saiyans followed suit.
"We wouldn't dream of compromising our relationship with the Ginyu Force over any misunderstandings," Vegeta said.
"Of course," Ginyu stood back up, "Of course, that does leave an opening on our team. I'd offer it to you, Vegeta, but you're busy with your own operations."
"I appreciate the thought," Vegeta crossed his arms, no gratitude seeping from his tone whatsoever.
"Though I have heard that you've got another warrior among you with a great deal of potential. Raditz, isn't it? What do you say? You'd need a bit of training, but we could use a team player like you on the Ginyu Force," Ginyu gestured to Raditz, who froze in place. Raditz glanced at each of the Saiyans. Meys held his hand to his mouth, either hiding his fear or his moustache, or both. Shive was doing his best to become invisible. Nappa was clutching Brussa like she was about to fly away. Gine was staring daggers at Ginyu. Vegeta wasn't even looking at Raditz.
"It's an excellent offer, Captain, but I'm afraid I'll have to turn it down. I already have a team, you see," Raditz gestured to the Saiyans, "With a new member to train and everything."
Ginyu grinned, "You what? I appreciate that. Stick to what keeps you strong. Your team is everything in the heat of battle."
Ginyu pushed off the wall and walked up to the Saiyans. He glanced at the baby, then up to Nappa, and finally to Gine.
"We're looking forward to seeing what she's capable of. We all expect great things from the daughter of such...Prestigious warriors," Ginyu said to her, and he pushed his way through the Saiyans, out the front door.
When he was gone, everyone let go of their breath, and held it again when they realized Vegeta still hadn't shown any reaction at all.
"So, uh, Vegeta," Nappa started. Vegeta was still staring at the door.
"Uh...Vegeta? You okay?"
"You got to him," Vegeta said. They all stared at him, their jaws dropping when Vegeta started to laugh.
"The great Ginyu! I don't know how you managed to piss him off like that, but even Ginyu's worried! A bunch of low-class bumpkins, backing Captain Ginyu into piss-poor threats and shows of bravado!" Vegeta roared with laughter, "We're well on our way."
Vegeta shook his head, and looked at Gine, "I thought your whelp was going to be a nuisance, but we're showing everyone that we can't be touched! You keep that child close, you keep it alive, and you keep it strong, and nobody but Lord Frieza himself will think of challenging us!"
Vegeta chuckled, "You've made me proud to be the Prince of Saiyans."
He pointed at Shive, "Except you. Get some backbone."
He pointed to Meys, "And if you don't get rid of that thing in ten minutes, we're having a repeat of last time, understand?"
Meys replied by pulling out his knife, and putting it into the wall. Vegeta gave him a bloodthirsty grin.
XXX
Twelve Years Later, Earth Age 761
"So what's on E-Arth?" Brussa asked, looking over the datapad. At eleven years old, she didn't even reach her brother's knees, but that didn't mean she was lacking in size. Where her mother was small and lithe, Brussa was built like her father, broad and thick. With her small stature, she looked like a muscular bush, as her head ended in the mess that was her mother's hair. All the Saiyans were assembled in their landing zone on a remote, uninhabited world they occasionally used as a launching point.
Raditz leaned down to be closer to her height; she put her hands on her hips and, almost by reflex, scowled at him, and she clenched her fist, only relaxing when Raditz gave her a smile.
"It's not a particularly important planet, but it is where our brother, Kakarot is. You remember we told you about Kakarot?" Raditz asked. Brussa crossed her arms.
"Mom sent him away when our homeworld blew up. Why didn't we get him earlier?"
"Too dangerous, but we're almost ready to make our move, so we should go and get him, and bring him back here. Do you feel ready for your mission?"
"Pff, yeah. I don't know why you're sending me with Shive and Meys. I can handle it myself," she insisted.
"Well, someone has to watch over them, and while I'm getting Kakarot, you're the next best, got it?" Raditz reached out with his finger. Brussa tried to block his hand, but he was too fast for her, and he booped her on the nose. She replied by punching him in the shoulder.
"Well if I have to babysit then," she grumbled.
"If you three get yourselves in trouble, I'm the closest. I'm a couple months away, while Mom and Nappa are almost a year away, okay? We're a team. We've got each other's backs, no matter what," he told her.
"Right. If you're in trouble, go right to you, you're only a couple months away. Got it," Brussa nodded. Raditz laughed, and slapped her on the shoulder.
"Do us proud, kid. I'll see you in a few months, with our brother, okay?"
"Okay, Raditz," Brussa huffed. Gine immediately squeezed her son in a hug.
"Tell your brother I look forward to meeting him," Gine told him.
"Tell him yourself," Raditz said, "I'm bringing him back, by his tail if I need to."
"If he's anything like you, you might," she laughed.
"Shouldn't be any trouble," Nappa said, "We've pushed Raditz as far as he can go, while Kakarot's been alone on a planet for almost twenty years. Poor kid doesn't stand a chance."
"This better not be a waste of our time, Raditz," Vegeta growled, "I don't want you to go off for months at a time when we could have used you somewhere else."
"Don't worry, I'll make sure Kakarot shapes up, one way or another, Prince," Raditz bowed, "We won't disappoint you."
Vegeta nodded, "Good."
Raditz waved goodbye to them, before slipping into his pod, and it floated away.
"You ready, kiddo?" Shive asked Brussa. She glowered at him.
"It's 'Mission Leader Kiddo' to you!" she insisted. Shive held up a fist.
"Just because you're assigned the leader doesn't mean you've earned it, kiddo. This is a test, and you can fail," he reminded her.
Nappa loomed over Shive, "You doubting my daughter?"
Shive rubbed his neck, "Well, you know. Just reminding her she's got to prove herself. You know, it's a challenge. She won't back down from a challenge, right?"
Brussa and Nappa gave the same huff of "Course Not."
"All right, into the pods before Shive wets himself," Meys ordered.
"Hey, I resent that!"
"You resemble that."
Gine hugged Brussa; her daughter buried her face in her mother's hair, a familiar comfort to them both.
"I know you'll what needs to be done. Just remember, together, okay? We're all a team," Gine said.
"Yeah, way to repeat Raditz. I've got this. I'll be the toughest person in the sector," Brussa insisted.
"Being tough isn't always enough. Remember to pay attention, okay? It's okay to ask if someone else sees something. And if you get hungry-"
"I have to go, mom," Brussa said.
"Okay, sprout. Call Raditz if you-"
"Mom, I have to go."
"Bye, Brussa!" Gine wouldn't stop waving as Brussa got into her pod, and the three took off. Nappa rested his hand on her shoulder, and Gine leaned against her.
"Your girl is strong," Vegeta said, "So there's no point in worrying. Let's go, we have a planet to conquer."
"Of course, Prince Vegeta," Gine said, "They'll all be fine."
XXX
"Arrived in Urth orbit. Awakening subject."
Raditz let out a stomach-rumbling burp, and spit out a bit of the sleeper fluid into a tube meant for that. The turbulence was always the worst par, though Raditz had a stronger stomach for it than Meys, who always hid his discomfort with extra bravado once he left his pod. The explosion of the impact was a comfort, as it meant the shaking was at an end.
Raditz stepped out of the pod, floating out of the crater. Before him stood an alien, squat and a bit hairier than a Saiyan, but generally shaped the same way. He scowled at the creature.
"The creatures on this planet are still alive? Kakarot failed us…" Raditz groaned.
"Y-You're on my property!" the alien said, and the machine in his hand made a noise as he pumped the handle.
"Yes, and?" Raditz pressed on his scouter, "A power level of five? This is a disaster…"
BANG!
Raditz caught the weapon's projectile.
"How many of you are left on this planet?" Raditz demanded. The alien pumped its weapon again, but Raditz flicked the projectile at the creature, breaking the weapon and pushing the alien against its vehicle.
"Not even a brat like Kakarot could have messed this up so much," Raditz grumbled, and he pressed on his scouter, "Something's wrong here."
The scouter ran through all the creatures in the vicinity, before locking onto one within a flight.
"Three hundred twenty two? This thing must be busted! There's no way he's that pathetic!" Raditz snarled, flying toward the power source. During his flight, he stopped, and looked down at the region around him. He cycled his scouter, trying to confirm what he was looking at. Even out here, in the mountains, in this remote area, he could spot several small settlements. Some were little agricultural operations, others were clusters of buildings. Primitive vehicles drove along smooth paths.
"There's no way! KAKAROT! HOW COULD YOU FAIL US?" Raditz shouted, and began firing blasts at every building and settlement he could see. He watched them all impact and explode, wiping out every sign of civilization. He took a breath.
He would find Kakarot. He would beat him within an inch of his life. Then, once he was recovered, they would finish Kakarot's mission together. Mother might object, but she wasn't here, and this was the best they were going to get.
Cycling his scouter again, and, seeing that the power had increased to just under four hundred, he vowed to give the device a workover, before flying straight toward the source.
He found it, in the middle of a wasteland, and he cursed the device once again.
"A Namekian? I don't understand. Where is Kakarot?" he hissed.
"What-What are you? Did you-Those towns!" the Namekian stammered.
"More worthless aliens," Raditz grumbled, "What are you doing here, Namekian? You're much too far from home."
"Namekian? What are you talking about?"
"I'm looking for a Saiyan named Kakarot. Where is he?"
"I don't understand-What are you?" the alien took a step back, holding up his arm.
"Are you going to try something, green man? I don't have time for this. Where's Kakarot?"
"Who is Kakarot?"
"Whoever he is, he's not here, so get lost!"
"Tell me, Namekian, how many warriors on this planet have your…" Raditz checked his scouter again. The Namekian was still under four hundred, but the busted thing said the power seemed to be crawling up, "...Scale of power? Because I assure you, I am several fathoms higher.
Raditz was engulfed in a flash of yellow light and heat, but he stepped through the blast.
"Not even a leg hair singed. Now, answer my questions: Who are you, and where is Kakarot!"
"I am-" the Namekian clenched his fists, "I am Piccolo, and this world is rightfully mine! Leave, before I get serious!"
Raditz snorted, "Serious. Right."
He lifted two fingers, and blasted the Namekian, sending him flying off the mesa they were standing on. Raditz simply dropped down after him, and stood over the Namekian, who struggled to stand.
"So, 'Piccolo', do you feel cooperative? You're the only thing my scouter has picked up on that's even worth looking at, and not by much. He should be a warrior of considerable power, much greater than your paltry, what was it? Three hundred sixty five?" Raditz scoffed, before checking the Scouter again. One hundred forty four, "Damn thing!"
Suddenly, it beeped again, and flashed another power level at the Scouter's peripheral range. Raditz looked down at the Namekian.
"What in that direction, about three hundred klicks?" Raditz pointed.
"Th-The ocean," Piccolo coughed, finally standing, and he looked off into the distance, "Where...No...You can't be…"
Piccolo looked to Raditz, a look of horror on his face, "Could it be...Goku?"
"What's a 'Goku'?" Raditz demanded.
"Follow your device. If who you're looking for is who I think it is, you'll find them," Piccolo said, "But mark my words, stranger...I'll find a way to surpass you and your power, and when that happens, you'll regret coming to Earth."
Raditz snorted, "As you say, Namekian. Why don't you stay here, and contemplate your irrelevance, until Kakarot and I come back to wipe you from existence."
Piccolo watched the alien fly off, leaving him in solitude once more, his gi in tatters.
"Goku, I could have surpassed you...But that...It was so beyond either of us...This won't end well, one way or another…"
