See part 1 for disclaimers.
*****
Alliance, part 2
The pub was as noisy as ever with warriors, male and female alike, laughing, sharing war stories and, naturally, drinking themselves into a stupor. Which took a lot for a Saiyan.
Kakarot had changed into his everyday uniform of black tights and black muscle shirt with blue cropped jacket, and he now stood hesitantly at the entrance. He didn't often frequent the pub.
Every female head swiveled to look at him, baring their canines in predatory grins. Two of them sauntered over and latched onto his arms.
General Kakarot, one of the women purred. It's so nice to see you here.
said the other, tossing her long black hair back with a shake of her head. Let us buy you a drink.
Kakarot blushed. Uh...well...just one.
Some of the men moved out of the way as the trio made their way to the bar. But one man, bigger than the rest, puffed up his chest and glared. The Saiyan general saw the hostile pose but chose to ignore it.
keep! Give this man a brew! The taller one leaned against his arm. My name is Talla, general. I'm not spoken for. Not like this one. She tilted her head toward the other woman, who hissed at her.
Umm, ladies... Kakarot tried to gently extricate his arms, but was interrupted by a roar of laughter coming from the opposite side of the bar.
Ha! Give it up, ladies! His heart belongs to the king!
Kakarot grinned and shook the women off, rounding the other side to sit by Nappa. The barkeep, a wizened Taurean, put a foaming brew in front of him and waved off payment.
Nappa's eyes were bloodshot and his head lolled forward.
How many have you had, Nappa?
How many what? and he roared at his own joke. He nudged the general.
Not as many as you think, he stage-whispered and winked. Hey, Talla! I'm free tonight!
In your dreams, Nappa.
See, Kakarot? No respect. It's you they want. His bloodshot eyes slid up and down Kakarot's form. Kami, kid. You're a man now. He shook his big bald head and raised his mug to his lips, beer dripping down his moustache and the front of his armor.
Kakarot traced the rim of his mug with his finger and then raised it to his lips for a gulp. Over the rim, he saw the hostile warrior on the other side still glaring at him.
Looks like trouble, doesn't he? Nappa said quietly.
Kakarot placed his mug down and looked at the bar.
Nappa, the king has a campaign for us.
Um hmmm.
I mean, all of us.
The general stared at the giant. Don't tell me you know about this, too?
Okay, I won't tell you. If Kakarot didn't know better, he'd've sworn Nappa giggled. One of our scouts found it. He didn't approach, didn't want to warn them of our presence. But his sensors indicated some mighty strong power levels. I didn't believe it until I saw the data for myself.
Kakarot couldn't believe Nappa was using words like and and he almost laughed. But he was too worried for that.
I don't think we...should, he said quietly.
Nappa stared at him like he had just grown another head.
I know you're not scared, kid. Sooo... But he didn't finish the sentence. Something in Kakarot's eyes warned him not to ask.
And the hostile warrior was beginning to bluster. Nappa and Kakarot both looked up.
Thinks he's so important. Looks pretty puny to me! The man drained an entire mug of beer and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, glaring across at the general. Kakarot returned his glare with an even, expressionless look.
I bet he and the king are real close. Like this close! The man made an obscene gesture.
Shut up, Yatsu, Talla said. You don't know what you're talking about.
Kakarot visibly controlled his anger. Whadya think, Nappa? he said quietly.
I think I'm ready to break some heads!
Kakarot slowly stood up, put his hands flat on the bar, raised his head and sneered.
Jealous, soldier? he nearly whispered, coming around the side of the bar. Some people suddenly vanished from the bar, others backed up, licking their lips, itching for a good fight, excited to see the general in action. The barkeeper removed glasses and mugs, cleaned off the counter, and stood watching the exchange with amusement.
Kakarot was ready when the huge man launched himself with a roar. He sidestepped and caught the man behind the neck with a reverse knife hand and then, levitating, came down on the same spot with an elbow. Yatsu was a big guy and Kakarot wasn't really serious yet, so it pretty much had little effect on the man except to stagger him.
Kakarot landed a few feet away and squared off, grinning. Yatsu wheeled and charged again, too full of beer to pay attention to form. The spectators were yelling and applauding.
You're outnumbered, Yatsu! one of the women called, laughing. You're fighting the general and the king!
Kakarot grabbed Yatsu's arm as he rushed by and threw him against a wall, crashing into a table and splintering it on the way. Yatsu was up again and Kakarot met him with a one-two-three punch to the gut that doubled him over. Kakarot grabbed Yatsu's head and brought it down to meet his rising knee. A punch to the jaw sent the big man skidding across the floor.
Suddenly, someone was on Kakarot's back with an arm around his neck. The general threw him off with a pulse of ki and, glancing over his shoulder, rounded on the soldier with a tight reverse hook-side kick combo.
Go, general!
Show him, Yatsu!
Kakarot back elbowed Yatsu as he came up behind and skipped a deadly front kick to his new opponent's jaw. Even in the din, everyone heard the bone crunch.
Before Kakarot could think again, there were a half dozen opponents piling on, and Nappa's roars breaking through. Everyone wanted a chance to fight the general.
It's head smashin' time! Nappa yelled, and jumped into the fray.
One after the other, the men hit the walls and skidded across the floor. The man with the broken jaw lay crumpled against the wall. Another one picked up a chair and smashed it over Kakarot's head. The general turned and faced the astonished man, and, smiling almost kindly, punched the man in the stomach. The man gagged, eyes bulging, bending over. Kakarot finished with an uppercut that sent his opponent reeling into the bar. The barkeep calmly smashed a bottle over the man's head and winked at Kakarot.
The general laughed and jump kicked two men coming at him, landing lightly on both feet, then whirled with a reverse turning kick to take out another wannabe. He caught a blow to the neck and lost his breath for a second. Time to turn it up a notch. He transmitted out and reappeared behind the man, wrapping his arm around the thick neck and squeezing. He put a knee in his back and bent the man backwards until he went limp, and then dropped him.
Hey, general! Nappa cried. Take this one would ya? He picked up one man and tossed him like a kid's ball, where Kakarot met the flying body in mid-air and kicked him into a wall. Like a dog shaking water off, Nappa shook off a fighter hanging on his back.
Fists, feet, beer, glasses, chairs, and tables were flying everywhere. Less than an hour later, groaning men—and some women—lay crumpled on the floor among the broken rubble.
Nappa and Kakarot stood in the center surveying the carnage with ear-to-ear grins. The legend grows, Kakarot! Ho! Hey, Nappa said tossing a few coins on the bar. Charge the rest to the king!
The old barkeeper saluted the retreating forms of Vejita's best generals, who were weaving into each other laughing their asses off.
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Vejita stormed into the barracks. Soldiers dropped to one knee and cried as one, but the king ignored them all and marched straight to Kakarot's room.
The general was snoring, arms and legs poking out from under the sheets, wild black hair in disarray. Vejita clenched his fists and growled, stalking to the sink and filling a glass with water. He threw it on the sleeping general's face with a dark grin and watched with glee as Kakarot bolted from the bed sputtering.
What the hell?! Ready to fight, Kakarot wiped the water from his face and then went pale.
Do you know what time it is, general?
Kakarot looked at his clock and turned paler yet. I'm sorry, sire.
Drunk as he was last night, even Nappa made it on time. Oh, yes, I know all about your little escapade. The king's gaze slid over Kakarot's naked form. Get dressed. I expect you on the bridge in five minutes. Vejita raised one hand and spread his fingers for emphasis, mouthing the words five minutes again. Spinning on his heel, the king stalked out.
Kakarot slumped to the cot and held his head, groaning. How could he have overslept? The king wasn't likely to listen to anything he had to say if he was royally pissed. Definitely royally pissed.
Quickly he donned his battle gear, raced out to the barracks kitchen and inhaled whatever food he could get his hands on. Soldiers in the mess hall kept their eyes down, but he knew they were secretly laughing.
Four minutes later, General Kakarot joined King Vejita and General Nappa on the bridge. Vejita scowled as Kakarot entered bowing with one fist against his heart.
Hmph. Nappa fill him in. The king turned his back, arms crossed.
Sure thing. The giant was grinning wickedly at Kakarot who gave him a narrowed-eye look that said just wait till I get you alone.
Earth is over a year away even in this ship. We're going into sleep chambers with the ship on auto. The engineers assure us that everything is in perfect working order. When we get there, we look for the warriors. Simple enough, huh, general?
Vejita looked over his shoulder at Kakarot who opened his mouth. The king scowled. Kakarot shut his mouth.
Yes, simple, he finally said, and cursed his lack of foresight when he slept through his navigation classes. No way he could change coordinates, but even if botched them up he could still avoid Earth.
Sire, I volunteer to enter last, he said.
Nice try, general. We enter at the same time and the scientists seal us in.
Maybe I can get them to let me out sooner, Kakarot thought. When do we leave, sire?
Kakarot didn't have time to finish his sentence because the scientists entered at that exact moment — three of them. Nappa, Vejita and Kakarot stepped into the chambers. The general glanced over and saw Vejita watching him as the scientists buckled them in. Then the lid was shutting and Kakarot's eyes went heavy. He turned his head and Vejita was still looking at him. Then everything faded to black.
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Slowly he came to his senses. His lashes fluttered open, eyes unfocused. He blinked several times. His body felt heavy. Then hands were unbuckling him and he finally recognized Nappa's great bald head. Bald...
You okay, kid?
Kakarot sagged against the side of the chamber. Nappa said and caught him before he fell. Get your sea legs first, Kakarot.
He managed to get his legs to obey his head and he slowly exited the chamber, holding onto the giant for stability.
Kakarot caught his reflection in the window of the sleep chamber. He looked older, somehow wiser. But if he were wise, he wouldn't be here.
he croaked and cleared his throat. How long have you...?
Nappa grinned. Few days. That explained the bald head. He didn't look much different, though. The king has been awake for a month.
Then he saw him. He was standing in front of the great panoramic window with crossed arms, looking exactly as he always did. Regal, proud, handsome.
Vejita said quietly, and Kakarot's blood ran cold. Spinning almost lazily in space was the huge blue and white swirled globe that was Earth.
He was home.
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continues!