The long stretch into the earth seemed infinite as they made their way ever farther, night stretching into dawn, but time seemed not to matter in the darkness, only illuminated by the green light of Raditz's scouter. He and Piccolo had felt rejuvenated by their shared enthusiasm to fight, but now that it was getting later, and still there was no visible trace of Vulcane's remains, besides the blood splatter surrounding the tunnel, they had grown peckish and weary.
Raditz in particular, was dragging his feet as Piccolo insisted on barreling ahead with no rest stops, even though his skin was shiny with perspiration, and his legs shook with each step.
"Piccolo, please, let us stop. A saiyan has to eat." Raditz groaned, and Piccolo snorted back.
"I know, you've told me twenty times now! There's no goddamned water in here either, so either get used to it, or lap the blood up off the floor like a mongrel if you're that hungry." He growled, irritated, and Raditz frowned with disgust at his suggestion.
"I've eaten some questionable things before, but... " He muttered, looking at the floor, and pausing, pulling his boot out of a suction puddle of dark effluence, as it stretched into strings, then splashed back as he freed himself.
"This sure is alot of blood for one man." Raditz mused, dragging his boot on the floor to attempt to clean it off as they walked.
"Hmm... It is odd. He was such a small fellow, it's not possible he could have any more than 4, 5 liters of blood, but what we've seen here equates to hundreds of gallons..." Piccolo wondered aloud, then heard an odd voice emitting from Raditz's scouter.
"That's correct, an adult human body only holds 5.5 liters of blood at most. But this man was not human, I'm told."
Raditz perked up, and smiled as Dr. Briefs joined in.
"Oh, hey, Doc! I see you've gotten through alright on your end!" He said cheerfully, as Piccolo leaned in closer and listened with speculation.
"Who the hell are you talking with?! You've been able to communicate with the outside world this entire time?!" Piccolo growled, as Raditz looked back with surprise.
"...Yes? This is Dr. Briefs. He's an expert in mechanical engineering and biology..."
"Ah, Raditz, my boy! No need for introductions, I have great news! Your armour is ready, what time do you think you'll be done there?" He said, chipper, and Raditz placed his hands on his hips, squinting as he added it up in his head.
"Well, if the Galick Gun was propelling at about an average speed of 100mph, and the time of the blast was around 3.5 minutes...That gives us about 35 miles. Seeing as we've travelled 30 now, I'd say that we're about there." He said, nodding.
"Right-O! Keep it up, then. Notify me of anything odd, perhaps I can be of some assistance." He responded, and Raditz nodded, then thought on it.
"I do have one question. Are you familiar with the type of crystals we've been seeing in this cavern?" He said, and pressed a button on the scouter, which allowed Dr. Briefs to see what he was looking at. Raditz looked closer at a glowing purple crystal on the wall, which seemed to have a luminescence of its own.
"This is very curious!" Dr. Brief exclaimed, then made a musing sound.
"Perhaps, Quartz? Or, it could be Halite! Give it a little taste, would you?" He said, and Piccolo looked at Raditz as he considered the suggestion, with a bewildered look.
"If it's salty it's Halite. If it's not, and it's hard, it's Quartz. But I cannot be sure, seeing as no crystals on earth look quite like that."
Raditz rubbed the crystal with his finger, then licked it, and grimaced.
"Ack! Ugh. It's not salty. It's bitter." He said, spitting.
"Ah, perhaps a bit of Epsomite is growing there...? But that's not possible. The locale is not ideal. Nope. What you have there, is not indigenous to Earth, I'm afraid. Be careful down there, boys." He said with warning, and Raditz nodded.
"Will do." The communicator was cut off, and they continued their journey, now feeling a slight bit more uneasy now that they knew the crystals were not commonplace on earth. They came over a ridge in the tunnel, and when they looked down, they saw at last the end of their journey. Both sighed in relief, and turned to one another.
"Well, I guess it's safe to say we're just about done here!" Raditz said, and Piccolo nodded slightly, glancing behind him.
"Perhaps. But watch your back, I have a feeling we're not exactly alone here." He whispered, and Raditz glanced back, then hopped down. Piccolo followed, and they headed for the glowing red anomaly up ahead. "I know." He said softly, and gestured with his thumb. "The Gemini woman seems neglect to leave her master alone. But I don't see the harm in her being here." He whispered, not looking back to where Tianshae was hiding behind a cluster of crystals, the glow of her amber eyes making her obvious.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Piccolo muttered bitterly, and flew towards the end of the tunnel. What they saw there was very curious, as they approached carefully. A katana sword was wedged into the floor, and the red ball on the pommel was glowing. When they looked around, they saw black veins throbbing on the floor of the tunnel, then, spotted the source. An emaciated body was splattered on the back wall, plastered there; burnt until nearly indistinguishable.
"Vulcane..." Raditz whispered, his face paling. Piccolo grinned, and picked up the katana, testing the weight of it in his hands. "This will do nicely." He said, and chuckled. "Wait, Piccolo, is that...?" Raditz began, but he had already surged forth and plunged it into the corpse, twisting it, with a demented gaze in his eyes.
"Take that! How do you like your own sword in your guts?"
Then, there was a pulse that went through the sword, and the glowing crystals surrounding them suddenly dimmed completely. "Oh, shit." Raditz muttered, his eyes widening as he realized what the purpose of the crystals actually was.
The pulse went through the sword, once again, and into Piccolo, as he stiffened from the odd feeling, his eyes widening.
"The power of a Namekian should be just enough... Heheh..." A raspy voice chuckled, and then became deeper, as Piccolo turned to Raditz, and grinned devilishly, his eyes glowing red.
The forests of Mount Paozu were alive with the sounds of wildlife, as Chi-Chi squeezed water from her hair, the glimmering drops of water dappling her pale skin as she stepped out of the refreshing river, and back onto land, taking the blue fur blanket, and wrapping it around herself to dry. She looked off into the hilly green distance, and sighed. Gohan and Kakarot had been gone awhile longer than she'd expected, so she took this opportunity to bathe and freshen up, hanging the blanket over an overhanging tree branch for modesty, as she once again opened the clothing capsule, and searched for something decent to wear.
She grumbled a little as she dug through the portable dresser, then exclaimed with relief, as she at last found something much more decent to wear while traipsing up and down hill through the mountains.
"Sneakers!" Chi-Chi squealed happily, and pulled them out of the dresser enthusiastically. It was cram-packed with random items haphazardly stuffed into it; something she supposed Goku had done in his hurry to pack up all the clothing. Chi-Chi hummed happily, and dressed, forgoing a bra with the unfortunate differences in sizes, she was a bit too large for any of the ones in the dresser, a bit too tall for the jeans, but they fit her snugly enough, and the dark green cotton shirt that said 'GUCCI' in gold lettering was just right for her, as she pulled it over her head, then looked down at her chest and plucked at it. She didn't know what the hell a 'GUCCI' was, nor did she care, as she pushed the dresser drawer back in, and with it, a misplaced t-shirt fell from the crack, and onto the grass. Chi-Chi's eyes widened. She feared she would scream, so she clapped one hand over her mouth. It read 'BULMA', in black block lettering, on a pink t-shirt dress. But, that wasn't right. There was no way Goku would steal Bulma's clothes, would he?
Chi-Chi picked up the shirt hesitantly, and felt the fabric, and the lettering screen-printed onto it. It was real. But, she was sure there was an explanation for this. Surely, Goku had made a mistake, when he had said 'they were free,' he must have thought Bulma had given these clothes to him. Chi-Chi suddenly shuddered, feeling a cold chill in the air. She took a red Letterman's jacket, and put that on as well, before encapsulating the items, feeling much less enthusiastic about her gift, and more suspicious, as she walked back to camp, feeling a sense of growing anxiety as she thought back to all the signs she may have missed.
I told you, my name is Kakarot!
We have a son?
The lack of fear over needles. His vast differences in personality. His armour, his arrival in a space pod so much like the one that Gohan had gotten trapped in. Talk of 'missions'', 'duty' and odd mentions of a brother named Raditz, and other men Chi-Chi had never heard Goku mention before, with odd names like, 'Vegeta,' 'Nappa,'...
"Wait!" She gasped, and froze in mid-step. She thought back to that terrible day, the day when that horrible man Piccolo had arrived, and gruffly told her a bloody tale of battle. She had urged him to get to the point, where was her Goku, and what the hell did he want from her? In her impatience, she hadn't even given the green monster the chance to tell the full story. He'd grumbled, and reluctantly told her that Goku was dead, as well as his brother Raditz, before telling her he was taking Gohan, no questions asked. In a way, it was surprisingly considerate of the Namekian, but that was where the trouble had all started.
Chi-Chi fell to her knees, clutching the blue blanket desperately to cover her face, as sobs began to wrack throughout her body, remembering at last that this was not Earth as she knew it. She had jumped so quickly into the water jug, she hadn't even bothered to ask Korin more about what she was getting into. This was in fact, The Darkness, and she was in an alternate reality where this Goku was not her Goku, he was Kakarot; a cruel, battle embittered man, who still seemed to be attracted to her, and fine with adopting his newfound son if that meant they could 'play' together.
"Oh, Kami! I'm such an idiot!" She wailed, shaking her head. But Chi-Chi had never considered herself any lesser than any woman or man, her father had ensured she had a good education, and Martial arts training. This was different, though. Intelligence was not what she had been going by. Call it a woman's intuition, or perhaps her small fraction of a Saiyan's primal instinct, but she had recognized her 'mate' through his disguise.
Goku and Kakarot are one man, in that they share the same body and mind, but a different destiny; and yet, the same essence; Chi-Chi couldn't help but feel her husband was right there with her, somewhere inside of that shell of a soldier. And so, she wiped her cheeks with the blanket that Ji-Ji Hana had given her, and straightened herself, puffing out her chest, and holding her head high. Chi-Chi Son-Mao was no frightened crybaby, nor was she an ignorant fool. So she tied her shoelaces, and walked back to camp, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, before taking a break to scratch her lower back.
Chi-Chi looked around, making sure the coast was clear, then unbuttoned her jeans, and really went in there with the scratching, to her embarrassment. But she just couldn't help it! There was an odd spot on her back that just couldn't be itched, no matter how hard she scratched. Chi-Chi eventually gave up, and sighed, looking at her nails to make sure she wasn't bleeding. There was a small amount of blood, then to her surprise, a small brown hair beneath her nail. She flicked it off, and wiped her hands on her jeans, feeling unladylike.
"I guess I must need a wax or something! Sheesh!" She exclaimed, chuckling softly to herself as she zipped back up her pants, then headed back to camp.
...
Gohan on the other hand, was not handling this new transition well. They'd flown off, on a search for something to eat, but now, it was becoming a desperate struggle for his own survival.
Currently, Gohan was hiding behind a tree, panting. Kakarot had tricked him, once they'd spied their first deer, he'd instructed Gohan to fly down, and carefully sneak up on the deer to make sure it didn't get away once he took his kill shot from the sky. Gohan was a bit nervous, but he'd nodded, wanting to not appear weak in front of his father. The second the shot had rung out though, the deer bolted, just missing Kakarot's ki blast by a hair, and the chase had begun. He chased after the deer, but soon found out, it was not the deer being chased, but him!
Gohan gulped, and peeked out for just a split second, then, craaack! The massive tree groaned, as a ki blast burst through the bark above Gohan's head, and sent it hurtling to the ground. He yelped, and scrambled away as quickly as he could, running into the cover of forest, tailed by a black shadow that sped across the ground. Kakarot flew quickly behind, and swung from tree to tree using his prehensile tail, Gohan couldn't move fast enough! Shots rang out around his feet, the dirt exploding with each near fatal blow, as Gohan did his best to zig-zag around the blasts, then found a small burrow, and crawled in. Kakarot hovered above, as Gohan panted from inside, a cold sweat covering him, quivering violently with fear, as he heard the leaves crunching underfoot from above the cave.
"Gohan!" Kakarot called, and Gohan quivered, hearing his father's familiar voice, but he hesitated, crawling back farther. He found his tail, and nursed on it, regressing back to his former frightened self.
"Come on out, boy! That was just a friendly game of chase, and hey! You outran me, so you won! So, let's go and get some food, for real now!" He said, and Gohan gulped, his stomach growling for nourishment.
"We've gotta get back to your mother! She's waiting for us!" He said, and the mention of Chi-Chi got through to him, so Gohan crawled out, and looked around, holding his tail between his teeth like a dog with a treasured stick.
He caught the gleam of red armour in the sunlight, and Kakarot turned, grinning.
"You're fast for a pup raised on Earth, you know that? Now, get that tail out of your mouth, we've got hunting to do. Only whelps suck on their tails. You aren't a little pup, are you?" He sneered, his hands on his hips, a cruel grin on his rugged lips, but the same playful light in his onyx eyes. Gohan dropped his tail, and shook his head 'no,' wiping the hair off his tongue with the back of his sleeve.
"Good. Now, let's go find something that Chi-Chi can cook for us. We'll need a lot of food!" Kakarot said, and grabbed Gohan by his scruff, and placed him on his shoulder pad. Gohan gasped at first, then found purchase around his neck, hanging on as Kakarot took flight, and smiling, feeling glad that he was at last reunited with his father.
...
Chi-Chi sat primly, her hands resting on her thighs as they finished their food. She looked down at the growing pile of bones and smiled, feeling happy that they enjoyed her cooking just like old times, even if it was just barbecued deer and whatever mushrooms and edible greens she could scrounge up.
"Don't you want any more?" Kakarot said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, and she shook her head, her hair back, wrapped into its rightful bun.
"No thank you, I'm full." She said, even though she did still feel oddly hungry, she didn't want to overeat, then feel nauseous like she used to get during her pregnancy with Gohan.
Kakarot eyed her carefully, his tail twitching at the end as he tore into the meat, and chewed it quickly. The female was an excellent cook, adept at child-rearing, and very pretty. She was polite, well-mannered, and ladylike, unlike the female soldiers he'd encountered in the past. Kakarot had never seen a female Saiyan besides Gine, he had been far too young to actually remember much detail about his home planet, but from what Nappa had told him, most saiyan women were strong and fierce, deadly to even look at, and even more deadly to claim. Some were more muscular than others, while some were petite power houses, more skilled in the art of cooking, like his mother. His eyes roved over her curiously, taking in her features, and gazing appreciatively. Raven black hair, onyx eyes, pale skin like that of royalty. She was toned yet soft and shapely, and as for fierce? She was most certainly a close second to a Saiyan woman.
"Didn't anybody ever tell you it's rude to stare?" Chi-Chi huffed, and zipped up her jacket. Kakarot smirked, and tossed his bones into the fire, standing.
"Staring at a woman is a challenge where I am from. If the woman stares back, it means she isn't afraid of the male." Kakarot stated plainly, spitting a small chunk of cartilage onto the ground. Gohan jumped up, quickly gulping down his food before talking.
"Is that like a staring contest? Remember, you and daddy did that before!" Gohan said happily, and Chi-Chi blushed a little, looking away from Kakarot. He furrowed his brows a bit, and tried to remember if he had ever done that before. It was faint, but the memory of her eyes blazing straight into his was very vivid.
"Yeah, and you always won before, daddy! That's why mom hates people who stare." The child stated bluntly, and Kakarot smirked, kneeling down on one knee.
"Is that so?" He said, and leered forth towards her. Chi-Chi was completely still one moment, then CRACK! Kakarot stiffened, a bright red handprint clearly impressed into his cheek, as she pulled her hand back, and held it, caressing where it ached.
"Slapping is also a way of proving one's strength," Chi-Chi clipped, "Where I'm from, a woman does not cower in fear of a man just because he can keep his eyes open longer than she can. Enough silly games. We need to get moving, we've dawdled here long enough." With that, she stood, and quickly began gathering up her meager belongings. Kakarot looked to Gohan in question, rubbing his cheek, and the child smiled at him, chuckling dopily as if this were something completely normal to the boy.
"Kakarot, don't just stand there! Get that fire doused, do something!" She snapped, and he turned quickly, blinking with surprise.
She called me Kakarot that time, instead of Goku. Why?
He thought, feeling a small twinge in his chest, then he growled, and stomped out the fire with his boot, pulverizing the bones there easily into dust. Then, as he was encapsulating the space pods, he heard an angry growl erupt from the little woman.
"Where is it?! My Radar! Ohh! That was my only way to detect the dragon balls! Now what'll we do?!" She grovelled, digging through the grass, and tossing clumps of dirt into the air with her failed efforts. Gohan stepped forward, looking around frantically. "Mom?" He questioned, his little tail twisting in a nervous knot. He held up the broken radar that was covered in mud, now completely unusable as she took it and attempted to click the buttons angrily, to no avail.
"Ugh! We need to get those last two dragon balls! I have to get out of this place, and go home! Who knows what's happening on Earth!" She whimpered, tossing it down to the ground.
Gohan tilted his head, and Kakarot was just as puzzled, stepping forth carefully, with one hand tensed at his armour where the radar he'd stolen from Bulma was carefully tucked away. The little boy spoke before he could, and reflected his sentiments exactly.
"On Earth? What do you mean? We are on Earth-"
"No, Gohan! You and your- 'father' are just figments of my imagination! The real you, and the real Goku, are probably dead for all I know!" She screamed, and turned her cheek away from him, her shoulders quaking as she held in her emotions.
"Chi-Chi. I'm not sure what happened before, but this is Earth. As I know it. I once lived here as a child, then... I found my occupation, and now I've only come back to this planet for those very same dragon balls..." He said, his voice slightly catching, as he pulled out the radar.
"... if you really do need them, you can have your wish first. I'll come back again next year, no matter the repercussions that this will have..." He gulped, thinking bitterly of how his return to Frieza would go. If he returned, he hated to think how his Overlord would react to him giving the dragon balls over to an earth woman instead of him.
"...If that is what you truly want, then you can have them." He said bitterly, and tossed the radar onto the grass. Chi-Chi gasped, grabbing it quickly, then looked up at him just as he looked away. She could have sworn he had a hurt expression on that hardened face of his, but it was gone quickly, as he blinked hard, and her Goku from before was gone completely. This was a man that had never met her before, he had never been there, to her dimension, but he seemed to be affected by her dismissal of his existence.
"Kakarot...?" She said softly, and he turned around. "Climb up onto my back. I'll take you to them." He said, and Chi-Chi nodded, stepping forth carefully. She patted the pack at her side, where the Dragon Balls were carefully bundled, then tied the blue blanket around Gohan's shoulders.
"What's this for, mom?" He said, plucking at his makeshift cape, and smiling, seeming to enjoy how it made him look like a superhero as he flew up.
"So you don't catch a cold." She simply said, and climbed onto the broad back of the man beneath her, and clung onto him tightly, clicking on the Radar, and showing him the direction where the tiny arrows were pointing. He nodded, and took flight. Chi-Chi wrapped her arms around his neck and clasped them together, the sparkling ring on her finger catching his attention for a moment. He dismissed it, and stayed on his flight path towards the old city, contemplating on what he would do now, the red scouter over his eye a bitter reminder, that everything he did had consequences, and that he belonged to Frieza Force, not some family he'd never even known existed before.
"Heheh, that's my gal! Hand em' over!" Korin chuckled, holding out his paw. Kami grumbled, and passed him a small bag. Korin snatched it up as Mr. Popo watched, stunned. They sat overlooking Earth from the Lookout, where they had been watching over Chi-Chi in The Darkness.
"I told ya good ol' Cheech would figure it out! See!" Korin chuckles, then reaches into the bag, fishing around for the shiny crystal marbles they had used earlier to play 'Go', also known as Chinese Checkers, and rolled one across the white cobblestone and batted it around. Kami smirked slightly, and crossed his arms.
"You won them fair and square, Master Korin. But what now will Chi-Chi do? It is strange, but it seems without even our knowledge the mystical composition of the Dragon Balls has allowed them to transcend the boundaries of this dimension." He said calmly, and raised a cup of hot water, and allowed the steam to warm his face before sipping.
Mr. Popo fixed a cup of tea for Korin on the bright red carpet he had laid down for them to sit on, pouring hot water from an ornate crystal decanter.
"Yes. It seems that the Earth within The Darkness has had a rougher time than our own, but it came to me as a great surprise when Kakarot gave up his own chance to obtain them, in order to help her." He said, picking up his new shiny marbles and putting them in the bag.
"Extra cream, Master Korin?" Mr. Popo asked, and Korin nodded.
"Of course."
"Perhaps you are onto something, but I have my doubts with that 'Kakarot' fellow. What say you on his chances of betrayal? I would like a few of those lovely Koi fish for my pond." Kami said with a mischievous sniff, and set down his cup.
"Kami! Gambling is immoral!" Mr. Popo gasped, but the elder waved one hand at him dismissively.
"Pah, I say what's what! And I would enjoy winning some of those pretty fish very much in an innocent trade of wagers!" He said, huffing, and Mr. Popo shrugged.
"I can let go of a few fish, I suppose. But I'm telling you, this 'Kakarot' is partially Goku, and Goku wouldn't let him betray Chi-Chi." He said smartly, kicking his large ear with one foot.
"Say, there's an idea! Have you ever heard of Go-Fish?" said, his eyes sparking with whimsy. Korin nodded, stirring a package of finely ground catnip into his Chai tea.
"It's certainly less risky than playing poker with my dinner!" Korin growled, then tested to see if his tea was sweet enough, and purred when finding it was just right.
" 'Go-Fish'? What is the premise of this game?" Kami said, looking serious.
"Ah, well... It is typically played with cards, but... I have an idea. We shall play Go-Fish with the similarities between our reality, and the reality of the darkness until your little bet plays out." He said, holding up one charcoal colored finger with a gold ring, then curling it down as he started the game.
"I'll make it easy, the first similarity here, is the existence of Mount Paozu. That's one match. What do you say, Kami?" He said politely, and the elder thought about it for a moment.
"Ehh... What are the bounds of this game? Does that mean that such a thing like having a blue sky, or dragon balls counts?" He said uneasily, and Mr. Popo nodded.
"That's 2 matches for Kami!" He said cheerfully, and Korin grumbled.
"That's cheatin'! He was just asking a question!" He snarled, curling his lip back to show a row of tiny sharp teeth between two pointed canines.
"Ah, ah! What did you say before, Korin? To not allow one's behind to become sore when they lose?" Mr. Popo said, making the Neko-Sennin groan back, exasperated. The others laughed with their amusement; the mystical deities playing games of chance as they contemplated on the fates of the saviors of Earth.
In Other World, things had at last come to a draw. It was the battle of the bald; who would triumph against Gregory? Chiaotzu or Krillin? Goku still remains unresponsive; lost to the darkness, and yet his body remains in a state of stationary rest. There is no concept of time where these earth warriors have been called to train, as the small cricket pants, covered with scratches, his poor arm in a sling after Tien had at last gotten him with his hammer.
"Now, on the count of three, we go, ok? I'll charge at him and distract him, then you sneak up from behind!" Krillin whispered, and the little one nodded.
Tien and King Kai stood off to the side, observing quietly, as Tien peeked over to the blue alien with one eye.
"So, now that I've caught Gregory, what's next?" He asked, somewhat eagerly.
"Well... from what I saw on Earth with your battle with Raditz, I believe I have a solution for your little 'self-detonation' issue.." King Kai said, air quoting with his fingers. Tien looked on, expectant.
"Your method with the 'Reikitzen' is flawed, in that you were taking your energy from the girl, Launch. Understandably, this can not ever happen again, are we clear?"
Tien nodded. "I understand. Don't worry, when I go back to Earth, one of the first things I plan to do is apologize for my actions and try to repent for them in any way I can!" Tien said, bowing his head shamefully.
"Good, good... So, do you deem yourself pure of heart now that the malignant forces have lost control over your body?"
Tien thought about this for a long moment, his eyes downcast to the ground.
"I.. would like to hope so. After my death, I realized that there are more important things I must fight for than a beautiful woman... although I cared deeply for Launch, I did not care enough to be completely selfless. That is what I must become in order to repent.. I will become truly selfless; Anatta: to only care for others, my own self is none. I am little, but I can help others with this strength." Tien said with conviction, as King Kai looked on, his brows raised.
"Very well. We will see if you're a candidate for the Spirit Bomb." He said, and Tien looked back up, smiling hopefully.
"Yay!" Chiaotzu cheered, as he and Krillin at last caught Gregory, and the disgruntled cricket buzzed up into the air, and flew around King Kai's head.
"Alright, alright! That's enough! this isn't whack-a-mole!" He said, exhausted, and Krillin and Chiaotzu chuckled nervously, dropping their hammers.
"Well, we got him!" Krillin grinned, his arm around Chiaotzu as he beamed as well.
"Congratulations, you two! Now it's time for your next lesson!" King Kai said, and gestured towards Tien.
"Tien, would you do the honors of demonstrating that amazing attack, Reikitzen?"
Tien brightened, and got quickly into his pose to do his Reikitzen. Chiaotzu quickly ran behind Krillin, shivering. Krillin looked behind him, then back, confused.
"Are you sure that's wise, Tien?" He said, and gulped.
"Be careful!" Chiaotzu trembled.
Tien chuckled, and smiled to encourage his friend to come back out.
"No worries, Chiaotzu. I won't let what happened on Earth ever happen again."
The little warrior seemed nonplussed by this as he hid, and King Kai looked on inquisitively.
Tien slowly rotates his arms, and shifts his feet back, repeating the ritualistic act of Tai Chi once again. King Kai watches, observing how Tien performs the attack in order to examine the move; so that Tien can still have his signature attack, without the unfortunate side effects. The glowing golden orb in his hands begins to enlarge, but Tien does not allow it to grow out of control; he grits his teeth, and aims the orb out into the yellow clouds, where it bursts, and sunbeams radiate down harmlessly as he recovers, slightly panting.
"Very good, Tien. But it is my understanding that that was not the full extent of your power, no. We mustn't inflict that level of damage upon Other World, but we can take some from it, as the energy here is infinite."
Tien nodded, and waited for the next step.
"Alright, now. In order to perform Reikitzen like you would Spirit Bomb, listen well to my next instructions. You two listen up as well, you're next!" King Kai said, and Krillin and Chiaotzu nodded.
"The Spirit Bomb draws energy from all living things, so we must only use it as a last resort! Overuse of the Spirit Bomb could cause devastating planetary effects! Now, close your eyes, and hold out your hands. Feel every tiny life force that exists, and draw it within yourself. Allow them to lend you their energy."
Tien closed his eyes, and retained his pose, remaining completely still, as the wind gently blew, and a soft susurration swept over the planet, the small planet's energy coming towards Tien in tiny sparkles, and absorbing into the white ki ball forming in his hand. Tien felt the energy growing, and combined it with his own, in order to not sap the energy completely, as it grew, and rays of light began to spin from his open fingers.
"Lend me your energy!" He said, then the light pulsed white, with golden tendrils of electricity, as Tien shifted his stance, and at last shouted: "Reikitzen!"
The wind blew back, and everyone clung to one another for leverage as the sheer energy of the blast whirred in their ears at a high pitch, then exploded, and flashes of lightning and heat blasted through the atmosphere. Rain began to fall, and King Kai laughed, getting back to his feet, he ran and hugged Tien enthusiastically, jumping and clicking his heels together.
"Good work, Tien! You've mastered the spirit bomb!" He cheered, and the rain patter slowed, then the sun shone down on them, and a rainbow appeared.
"Tien, you did it!" Chiaotzu cheered, and ran out from behind Krillin.
"That was great!" Krillin exclaimed, and Tien chuckled bashfully.
"I suppose that was an improvement, huh?" He said, blushing slightly at all the praise he was receiving. Chiaotzu hugged around his green pant leg and he patted him on his black cap.
"No more harm will be done on those who are good of heart. I'll only use this attack to defeat those who are truly evil." He said, and Krillin smiled, then looked towards the tiny house where Goku still rested inside.
"I only wish that Goku was here to see it." He said, then walked over and looked up at the brilliant rainbow, dazzling over the nimbus clouds.
Golden light resonated from behind the dark solar anomalies shadowing over Earth, as the sun rose, and took its place in the sky, as did the planets.
Launch rubbed her eyes and wandered out of the structure she'd slept in alone the night before, and looked all around her curiously, her indigo hair laying across the back of her blue body suit, with a curling blue tail poking around the air. She caught the scent of barbecued meat and her stomach growled, as she approached the center of the saiyan encampment, where everyone sat around a fire eating their shares of an enormous white shark that was likely caught by one of them.
"Come sit down, doll-face. You hungry?" Kannon said, with a welcoming smile, offering her some meat from the spit.
"Yes, thank you." Launch nodded, and sat on a rock, taking the roasted kabob of shark meat, and nibbling at it. Her timid violet eyes took in everything, with a small amount of trepidation. The massive figures all looming around her seemed intense and frightening, and she wished dearly that her Raditz were here too, as she lowered the meat and sighed.
"Ah, don't look so glum!" A rough voice said, and Launch looked up quickly. The bald guy was speaking to her. Launch gulped.
"Raditz is one of the best tunnel-heads I know! He can clear those babies in record time, that boy can smash through anything!" Nappa said proudly, then tore off a strip of meat with his teeth.
" 'Tunnel-Heads?' " She repeated, biting her lips. Then she jumped as Kannon swatted Nappa across the back of his head.
"She doesn't want to hear that! You wanna scare the poor girl!?" She exclaimed, as Nappa rubbed his head and grumbled.
"I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
"By talk of your good old purging days?!" Kannon snapped, but Launch stopped her by clearing her throat delicately.
"That's not necessary, Miss Pinchie. I know what my Raditz has done and I am not appalled by it. I can handle some stories of blood and guts, after all, I myself was a bandit, and many times I woke up from a shoot-out with blood on my hands. It was not my intention to ever hurt anyone, but I understand that Raditz had to do what he must in order to meet Frieza's demands." The small girl said, her chin lifted into the air, and the Saiyans all around her looked on with wide eyes. Launch looked back down at her meat and took another bite, as Nappa relaxed his shoulders and chuckled softly, patting Kannon on the back, who still had her arms crossed obstinately.
"See that, sweet-cakes? A Saiyan's guts!" He said proudly, and the others all agreed, and tore back into their meat. Kannon lowered her head, turning her piece in her hands with uncertainty.
"...Launch, I... I'm sorry you had to go through all that. It's my fault, really. I'm a terrible mother."Kannon said lowly, her emerald eyes solemn. Launch looked up, with a tiny smile on her face, and shook her head.
"Don't be sorry! You did what you had to as well. Raditz explained it to me...I understand you also had to do what you did to survive, and I don't hate you for that! I am where I am now because of what happened, and I wouldn't change a thing if that meant I could never live at Master Roshi's, or meet Raditz and you all!" Launch said, and Kannon looked on at her daughter in wonder. Nappa smiled, and formed a fist over his heart, pumping it twice. "Welcome to the family, Launch." He said, and the other saiyans all echoed him, "Welcome, Launch," and pounded their breastplates. Launch blinked, and slowly recognized the gesture as one she had seen Raditz do. She formed a fist and returned the salute, smiling.
"Thank you all, I am happy to be with my people." She said warmly, then lowered her fist and sighed, placing one hand over her stomach. Kannon's eyes widened, as she looked back to Nappa and he blinked, not knowing what Kannon was trying to imply with her eyes. Launch placed one hand over her mouth and stifled herself, squeezing her eyes shut.
"What's wrong?!" Kannon said urgently, and rushed to her side before realizing what she was doing.
"Kannon-" A female said, as Zenaya and Rachanā suddenly stood up.
"What's going on with her?" Bdakka grunted gruffly, and Onioan turned his head to look on curiously. Candor stood, his slate grey eyes hardening as he sniffed the air. There was a low sound, and Launch backed away from Kannon, shielding her face, her tail bristling.
"Is she in heat?" Nappa blurted out, and one of the females shook her head.
"No, I'm afraid she's not in heat, General."
"Well, what is it?" He questioned gruffly, and stood up quickly. He instinctively looked to Candor, who stepped closer, his nostrils flared, tail bristling.
"This female is starved. She will become feral if she does not eat enough to support the pup inside." He stated out loud, and Kannon turned to gaze at him in shock, Nappa taking in the information with a gasp.
"My daughter- Is with a child?" He said, gulping, and Zenaya was the one to step forth, her dark russet eyes sorrowful.
"This is why we did not carry children on Planet Vegeta. One of the reasons. She must eat twice the required diet if she is to survive. A saiyan woman with child requires a high calorie, high protein diet of meat and vegetables that I'm afraid does not exist on this planet." She said, coming up to Candor's side and looking at him in question. "..Unless of course, we had the nutrient serum from our ships. But even that would not be enough. She must eat quickly, or the child will begin eating her." He said gravely, and Nappa nodded. He walked forward without fear, and pulled Kannon off of Launch with one hand.
"Stay back, Pinchie. It's not safe."
"But, Nappa-" She argued, and he shoved himself forth to where Launch was curled on the ground, her eyes squeezed shut as she growled. He bent down, and swept her up into his arms, then turned and kissed Kannon. She looked down at Launch cradled against his breastplate, and sighed.
"I'll take care of her, don't worry. We'll get this pup the food it needs, then she'll feel better, alright? Don't worry. You're in charge while I'm gone, alright? Got that, everyone? Listen to Kannon."
"Hurry up, then! Don't be a dope!" Kannon huffed, and spun on her heel.
Nappa nodded, and lifted off the ground slowly at first, levitating, then blasted into the sky.
Kannon looked up, her eyes swimming, as the other females stepped forth, making soft purring sounds in their chests. Kannon looked back, startled by the odd sounds. "It's alright," Rachanā purred, reaching out to take her hand. Kannon attempted to tug her hand back, but Zenaya stopped her, by biting her arm. Kannon froze stiff, and Zenaya released her, not leaving a single drop of blood.
"You must not worry yourself. That is not the Saiyan way. You must have faith that your mate can stop this." Zenaya said, and Kannon nodded, "You're right." She said, before breaking down into tears. The women looked to each other with sympathy, and held her. For them, shedding tears for one's mate was only reserved for mourning. So they attempted to quell her sobs the only way they knew how, by comforting, and using their healing purrs to help her. Candor and Bdakka looked on curiously, their eyes intently focused on their females, tails twitching.
Candor watched Zenaya, and tilted his head, then the stoic warrior too, made a soft rumble of question.
The wind ruffled Launch's soft blue curls as Nappa flew with her cradled in his arms, his teeth grit as he wished desperately that he knew more about this planet's resources, but instead when he and Vegeta had arrived they'd come in blasting, instead of scoping out the area first like Raditz had always bothered them to do; insisting that they examine the planet's worth thoroughly before destroying anything.
Nappa knew the signs to look for, though. Sustenance could be found in areas with thick vegetation, and water. He barreled across the city, knowing that there was nothing there of use unless he felt like robbing a grocery store, which wasn't wise at the moment with an incapacitated Launch. So he flew as fast as possible, towards the edge of the forest he could see in the distance, inwardly hoping all the while that it would be enough for her.
He at last landed by the river, and set Launch down carefully in the grass, looking down at her with uncertainty as she squirmed and growled in her sleep. He eyed her blue tail, and frowned, before squatting, and hesitantly reaching for it. He grasped for her tail and it escaped his grip, then batted around wildly and frizzled as she snarled low like a small frightened animal, holding her stomach where the Saiyan child inside was gnawing. Nappa at last captured the tail, and with a look of remorse, squeezed it in his fist just slightly, enough to weaken her, and Launch quieted with a whimper, before falling into a deep sleep, her features relaxing. Nappa watched her a moment, and brushed the back of his knuckles across her hair, moving it away from her pale face. He pulled his hand back and sniffed it, then shook his head.
His instincts told him to groom her, but Nappa was past listening to his Saiyan instincts; he knew when and when not to go by those ancient primal laws, and though he did wish to soothe his daughter, he had learned long ago to abide by other customs as needed, and right now, he knew that feeding her the most highly nutritious meal was more important, and to do that he first needed to catch it. Nappa turned and looked up at the waterfall, seeing the salmon swimming upstream, then a dark shadow as the largest of the river life swam circles in the pool below, perhaps too large and too ancient to make the journey upstream.
Nappa huffed and removed his armour, not wishing to get it wet. He stretched, cracking his knuckles, then glanced back at Launch. He felt it would be neglect to leave her there while he went fishing, so he hefted her up onto his back, and latched his tail around her. Nappa knew she would be fine; not only because she was part Saiyan, and they could hold their breath for long periods of time, but also because she was part Neptunian Gemini, and she was more than capable of living underwater.
"Hope you're ready, squirt. This may be a bumpy ride," He said, watching as Launch snoozed against his shoulder contentedly.
He smiled, and made sure his tail was secure around her, then dove headfirst into the water.
Launch felt the cold water hit her body, and flinched, lost in a dream state as her body attempted to protect itself from the child inside. Why is it so cold? She quivered, unknowingly gripping Nappa around the chest with her arms as she slept, the translucent fins that were natural to her own people only visible when immersed in natural sources of water showing from her wrists.
Flashes of light, bubbles. The feeling of sinking, down farther into the depths, red water. Boy lost his mother; separated. Falling. Fear spiked through her senses, and her fingers gripped him tighter, the nails elongating.
Nappa grunted as he swam, feeling Launch's nails in his skin. He looked back to her and saw her blue brows furrowed, then resolve formed in his eyes. He had to catch the fish quickly. Nappa made himself silent as his body glided across the sandy bottom of the river, looking up at the dark shadow making circles near the surface. The salmon was indeed fully grown to the limits that the body of water would allow; from it's head to tail, it must have amassed at least six feet in length, and it's slender body, at least two to four in girth. Collected around it's belly were orange spheres like miniature dragon balls. Roe; eggs it was spawning in bubbles on the water's surface as it swam. Nappa grinned, knowing that the roe would be just as nutritious for his daughter's growing pup, and he carefully swam up.
Mother said not to wander.
We mustn't play too close to the water's edge, she said.
Launch froze; hearing a strange voice echoing through her mind.
What's in the water for a Saiyan to fear?
He laughed.
Danger, there's dangers here.
She saw a massive form in her mind's eye, and gasped, Raditz?! ...No. The man turned, his long, black spiky locks floating in the water.
Would you tell him I said thank you? Please. Tell Nappa for me. I miss him dearly. The man said softly, and smiled, his dark eyes glistening with tears.
Who are you? Launch managed to ask.
My name...I... cannot recall my name, it has been so long. Last I remember, Nappa cried it out, then, black! He whispered, his cracked black bracers coming up, his thick hands grabbing at the roots of his mane. He has a domed forehead like Nappa, covered by messy forelocks, no widow's peak like Raditz, but if she knew any better, she'd say this man was a long lost twin. His eyes are softer than Nappa's hard glare, as he looks up, somber.
I died on the battlefield, but the water was my first grave. My third grave, I was buried with the piece of my armour long ago, when Nappa was finally able to allow his heart to let me go.
A Saiyan man's honor tells us not to cry for those we have lost. But my mother. She was eaten by the beast in the water.
Launch felt her pain welling within her heart for this stranger, and reached out for him. Her hand was offered across the crimson water to the man, but he seemed to balk slightly in fear of it.
It's ok. I won't hurt you. She said, and smiled at him.
I'm hungry. I'm sorry, so hungry. The man said gruffly, and hunched his shoulders, wrapping his burly arms covered in black leather bands, his dark red and black battle armour riddled with cracks and punctures.
I'm so tired, when can I rest? Has it been three centuries already? My soul is dying out. My body, where is my body!
He chanted, his teeth clicking together, and Launch lowered her hand, allowing her tears to flow for his tormented soul.
My mind has been long gone. I cannot remember even the sweet smell of my mother.
Every time I close my eyes, darkness there. The acrid stench.
Burning bodies in masses on the horizon. Death. Black smoke, blocking out the sky.
Why were we searching there?
Gone... All of them, Gone...
Launch frowned, tilting her head. The man stared right through her it seemed, to a terrible horizon, where terror haunted his eyes, and she could no longer bear to watch him suffer. Launch opened her arms, offering him an embrace.
I can tell you are special. You're such a sweet man, like my Raditz. I'm sure that Nappa misses you as well. Come here, come home with me. It's ok.
Launch whispered to him, her arms out wide in welcome, as the shadows surrounding him swarmed and seemed to try and consume him.
Do you know my name? Are you my mother? The man cried, and Launch frowned, her eyes filled with tears.
I'm so lonely. Infinity is so cold. I did not die a warrior's death. I could not die a warrior's death. His teeth chattered, as he curled into a ball, hugging himself.
Saavoy. Launch whispered, and he froze, his eyes wide, shock radiating through the water as the word hit his ears.
Saavoy. She repeated, and his shocked state of confusion seemed to wane.
Can you hear me? Is that your name? She said, and he nodded just barely, his eyes, unsure.
I think... I... It's been so long since I've been called that name. He got up slowly, his dark mane blanketed around his form as he stared off with a distant gaze, then glanced back behind him in fear.
He's here! He shouted, then curled back into a dark shell, smoke and tendrils of dark hair swirling around him, until the black hole shrunk, and Launch gasped, gulping down water, her body tensing as it felt the cold surrounding her. Then, air, as Nappa surfaced, walking up onto the shore with the large salmon. He tossed it down onto the ground, and reached around for Launch, seeing she was still asleep, he decided to let her stay resting on his back, as he squatted down and got to work.
The next time that Launch stirred, it was to a very pungent aroma in her nostrils. She murmured, then struggled a bit, wriggling as Nappa was sitting by a fire, turning a spit. He looked back and grinned, "Hey, you're awake! Hope you're hungry! I've got fish here, some cloves of garlic and leafy greens, fresh fish eggs! All jam-packed with nutrients!" He said cheerfully, and loosed his tail. Launch dropped to the ground on her bottom with a grunt, then got to her feet, rubbing her rear as she wandered back over to the fire. Her stomach was roaring for sustenance, so she nodded, and sat across from him.
"Thank you.. It all smells... very robust. I'm really hungry!" Launch said perkily with a smile, which wavered only slightly as Nappa laughed, and handed her a segment of salmon stuffed right full of green and white ingredients. He had removed the internal organs, and stuffed the body cavity right full with greens, nutritious roots and garlic. She gulped, feeling uneasy about its contents, but her Saiyan nature told her this was exactly what she needed to feel better.
"Welcome! A female with child needs her strength!" Nappa said, grinning widely. Launch sniffed the fish once more, then tore off a large section and chewed it quickly, as he chuckled heartily. She gulped, then looked back to see he hadn't taken any for himself.
"Aren't you going to have some?" She said, taking another large piece, and feeling guilty about eating it so ravenously. Nappa shook his head, "Nah. That's all for you, I already ate." He said with a sharp sigh, standing to put his teal and gold armour back on. Launch looked at the spread before her, and blushed bashfully at the generous meal he'd made for her.
"How can I possibly eat all this?" She said, narrowing her shoulders and feeling little under the big man's glare.
"Heh! Believe me! Even a little gal like you can eat that! We Saiyans digest food and absorb nutrients very quickly. Hasn't Raditz been making sure you're eating right?" He said, with an accusatory tone.
"Oh, Raditz is always telling me I should eat more. I suppose I should have listened, because now this little one isn't happy." She said, placing one hand on the slight curve of her stomach. Nappa diverted his eyes, feeling an odd sense of pride in him as she stroked her stomach, where his grandchild was growing.
"Yes, saiyan children need to eat a lot, and very often. That's why you should have put the child in a pod, but.. It's ok. As long as you keep it well fed." Nappa said, and pulled the last strap of his armour tight, before sitting back down across from her, and looking with approval to see she had already done away with a quarter of the fish. "I'll try my best, Mister.. Nappa.. sir." She said timidly, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Nappa rubbed his goatee with his hand and smiled.
"No need for formal greetings, just call me Nappa. Or even, 'Pops' if you want. Heheh. That's what Raditz calls me." He said with a grin, and Launch nodded, but didn't answer, her mind going back to the dream she had underwater; or whatever it was.
She was deep in thought, remembering the words he had said to her, and was reminded of something important.
"Oh! This man...Saavoy told me to tell you he says thank you. He said, thank you for burying him, he misses you dearly." She said, smiling to cover her uncertainty. Nappa was silent a moment, blinking dumbfoundedly.
"Wh... What?" He stuttered, his gaze struck with pained confusion. Launch put one finger to her chin and thought about it.
"Yes... He is very sad where he is now. I talked to him a little while ago, but he wouldn't come with me. He seemed scared of whatever it was there with him." She said solemnly, looking down at the bare fish carcass she had eaten clean. Nappa stared down at his calloused hands, as he laced his fingers together and sighed deeply.
"Saavoy is my older brother...well, was. But, he died a very long time ago. Unfortunately, he was slain without the chance to defend himself. He couldn't die a warrior's death, so he was unable to go onto the Great Warrior's Rest. I don't know, I suppose he's trapped in Infinite Hell." He said, and frowned deeply.
"I'm so sorry to hear that, it must be terrible for him...
Launch said, and looked to Nappa with sympathy, stroking circles around her stomach, dazzling golden sparkle coming from her hand in as it made streaks across her belly.
"What's that?" Nappa said as he eyed her, and Launch looked down, pulling back her hand. "Oh, I didn't realize I was doing it!" She gasped, holding her hand.
"I felt like he was hurting." She said, and Nappa grunted in understanding, slowly coming to sit beside her on the ground. He hesitated a moment, as Launch slightly flinched under his shadow.
"...May I?" He said, and Launch stared up into her father's mournful eyes.
"Yes." She nodded, and grasped his large hand in both of hers to place it on her belly. Nappa rested his hand there, and closed his eyes. He felt a warmth flickering on the fringes of his senses, and sighed deeply, as Launch's small hands showed him precisely where to feel.
"Oh!" She gasped, and Nappa chuckled.
"What was that!?" She exclaimed, having felt movement in her abdomen.
"A punch! Heheh," Nappa laughed, his eyes sparkling as Launch giggled with him.
"Goodness, he's strong!" She said, and Nappa nodded in agreement, his grin creasing his cheeks.
"Well, that's a son of Bardock's blood, alright!" He said, and Launch tilted her head. "..Who?" She murmured, and he moved his hand away to let it dangle between his scuffed up knees.
"Raditz never mentioned him...? Well. I suppose I could see why, his father was hard to like... But he was tough, tell you what! Funny, I never would have thought my blood would mix with that of the Zühn's." Nappa said thoughtfully, stroking his chin, and Launch smiled contentedly.
"I'm so happy to be a part of Goku's family! And now Chi-Chi and I can be sister-in-laws!" She said chipperly, even though Nappa seemed slightly confused. He didn't realize that the Saiyan name 'Zühn', was very close in pronunciation to 'Son'.
He stood, noticing the Eclipse had moved higher up into the sky, and reached for Launch's hand.
"Come on, we've been gone awhile. Your mother will start shooting off if I don't get back soon." Launch nodded, taking his hand, and jumping up easily into the sky. Nappa seemed remiss as the girl opted to fly on her own instead of getting on his back, pouting slightly.
"Well, let's get going, Pops!" She said, and he jumped in mid-air slightly, then chuckled bashfully, his ears reddening as Launch spun around in the air playfully, feeling rejuvenated, she sped off away from her father, and he froze up a moment, not knowing what to do.
"Are you a slow-poke?" She said, and he growled, quickly blasting up in the air after her. "I ain't slow, you little twerp!" He growled, and they made two white streaks across the red sky.
A/N: My apologies for not catching up with Vegeta and Bulma in this chapter, but it's already very long. I will write a nice segment for them in the next chapter, but all he is doing right now is recovering, so you can kind of guess how that would go. I hope you all enjoyed! Also, if there is confusion about this new character, Saavoy, don't worry! There will be more about him later. If you read A Runt Named Raditz, you should remember him. Hopefully the next chapter won't take long to write. Welcome to my new followers, thank you for reading everyone!