Alliance - Part 5

Everyone continued to sit at the table in complete silence just staring at each other. It seemed like an eternity when all of a sudden Kakarot's snores stopped.

The sound of a tidal wave of water being thrown was followed by "AAIIIIEEEEEE!!! What the hell did you do that for, Vejita?!" followed by maniacal laughter.

"Get up, Kakarot! We have planning to do."

The group at the table burst out laughing and stood up as Vejita came back downstairs with an impish grin on his face.

"The prince of Saiyans strikes again!" Trunks said. Goten pointed his finger at Trunks and nearly doubled over in laughter.

Kakarot followed soon after, hair dripping wet and dressed in his orange gi. His tail snaked out of a hole he'd torn in the back. Vejita raised one eyebrow watching the tail wave gently. Kakarot looked behind him, grinned sheepishly and wrapped it around his waist.

"Now you look like Goku," Trunks said, but Kakarot held up his hand.

"I know this will be hard for you, but I've been Kakarot for twenty-five years. Goku seems like...another person." He looked at Vejita who half-smiled, genuinely.

His gaze traveled around the room looking long and hard at each person. He took a deep breath. "Ready to do battle?"

A chorus of "You bet!" nearly raised the roof. Videl hugged Gohan. "I'm too old for this. I'll leave you men to the fighting and go help take care of the kids." She lightly kissed her husband. "Come back alive."

After Videl left, the warriors sat around the table, except Vejita, of course, who preferred to lean against the wall and look out the window.

"What do you think they'll do, dad?" Gohan asked. "They don't have a chance against five of us. And it's too late for recruits from the home planet."

"Honestly, Gohan? I don't have a clue!"

"Kakarot, tell me one thing," Vejita said, still looking out the window. "Can you go super Saiyan?"

Kakarot looked at the table. "Yes," he said quietly. "To level three."

"What about those two?"

"No."

Vejita turned his head sharply and stared open-mouthed at the general. "Not at all?"

"Not at all."

The silence was deafening, and then whoops went all around the table.

"Then what're we worried about?" Goten cried. "They're history!"

The only ones not celebrating were Kakarot and Vejita. "Don't underestimate the king," Kakarot said. "He's been hungering for this for a long time. I don't know what they'll do, but you can bet he isn't leaving without a fight." He looked at Vejita. "And he sure can fight."

"Soooo... what do we do now?"

Kakarot patted his stomach. "Eat!"

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It was reminiscent of the time everyone was waiting for the Cell games to start — just hanging around waiting for something to happen. Vejita suggested that they wait at the Capsule Corp compound where they could train rather than at Roshi's.

Kakarot visited Bulma, who was almost 80 years old and frail. Just before he left she grabbed his hand and squeezed.

"Take care of Vejita, Goku," she whispered, tears in her eyes. "He thinks he's invincible."

"I promise, Bulma." In a rare show of affection, he bent down and kissed her cheek. "I promise."

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Trunks, Goten and Gohan were sparring in the gym, and Kakarot and Vejita were working out in the gravity room when they felt them coming.

The five men flew out of the compound, landing in a nearby field raising their ki levels to make sure that their adversaries could find them. The sun was already low in the sky, the air had become cool. Kakarot, Gohan and Goten were all dressed in orange gis, Trunks and Vejita in blue spandex and white boots. They lined up, standing with feet apart and fists clenched.

The sound was like a fleet of jets whistling through the air as the two figures rocketed into view. They landed about twenty feet away and faced the Z warriors.

The king's face was grim. Nappa stood with his arms folded and a sneer on his face. Gohan looked up at the giant and remembered that time about forty-five years ago when he first faced him. He had been terrified then. But not now.

"General Kakarot," the king began, and his lips quivered just the slightest. "I'm asking you once more. Join us."

Kakarot looked at his king and his face softened. His voice was quiet. "I spent my life dreaming about ridding the planet of Frieza and avenging the people I loved. And these last few years all I wanted was to serve my king."

He drew himself up, squaring his shoulders. His face was full of pain. "Will you leave Earth?"

The monarch clenched his fists. "You know I can't do that."

Kakarot knew the king's pride wouldn't let him. His two Vejitas — both so full of pride.

"Then...no, sire." His voice quivered, and he thought he saw the king's eyes shimmer in the fading light.

"Then we have no choice but to fight, Kakarot." His voice was filled with regret.

"Yes, sire. But not here. Will you allow me to take you to a secluded place?"

He was royalty, after all. He inclined his head, and, with Kakarot leading the way, they flew back to the same area where his pod had crashed.

The king faced his general. "Just you and me, Kakarot."

The general broke off from his group. "As you wish, sire."

Gohan started forward. "No, dad..." but Vejita put a hand out to restrain him and shook his head. Gohan frowned, but he stopped, muttering, "I don't like this."

The king and Kakarot faced each other. Their eyes locked, ebony boring into onyx, tails twitching. The general swallowed. "I'm sorry, sire," he whispered, and launched himself at the king.

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