Death Angels, SunflowerBebe, and Girl Pan - Wow. Thanks.
John Perry - Thank you. I wasn't very happy with the way the last chapter turned out myself; it was choppy. I had foreshadowed finding Bulma in the previous chapter with Vegeta sensing her and the others before leaving the checkout. Sorry, should have posted them together.
*************
The entire universe of otherworld stretched out before them as they headed toward the Grand Kai's together. Light bathed the large stone structure in golden hues as the landed in the training yard. A few of the martial artists practiced their moves in the waning late day sun. A white bearded man in a jacket much like the one Vegeta had been wearing earlier stood in front of the great structure looking over the horizon. His expression was both concerned and annoyed at the same time.
Vegeta landed and released Bulma. The older man looked to them and then spoke at Bulma. "Is this Vegeta? Krillen and 18 said you were coming. I thought you would have been here sooner."
Some of the other fighters stopped and turned to there location. His reputation had preceded him. Recognizing that the Kai could help him he did something uncharacteristic. He bowed sharply placing his hand over his chest. "Grand Kai."
The Grand Kai reflected on the Prince. Some of the concern and annoyance left his features. "Well, you have no sense of time, but you have manners."
The fighters behind them mumbled to one another. Vegeta sized up the situation, spun and stared at the group that had formed behind him. "If someone has something to say; say it!"
They milled about for a few moments. Finally one of them spoke up. "You served Freeza."
"Well if you call being beating, tutored and forced into actions you hated serving; then yes, I suppose so." He changed his stance readying for a fight.
The other fighters muttered back and forth quietly. Then one from the back raised his voice. "I remember you. You came to my world and destroyed most of our military, but you left our escape ships untouched. You told us to evacuate, that there was nothing we could do. We didn't listen. The others came and destroyed everything. It was genocide. You tried to warn us."
The small warrior moved toward him speaking slowly. "Yes, I did. He removed his shirt and looked the man dead in the eyes. "And this was my payment for just offering you a chance."
As his shirt reached his head the fighters he had passed gasped. Eyes darted between staring and turning away in shock. As he turned to face them the man who spoke was given full view of the price the small fighter had paid for trying to help a people he knew almost nothing of. Scars covered his back in every direction, and harsh burn welts covered his shoulders. A lifetime of pain had been placed on display for all of them. The rancorous whispering had been replaced with abject silence has he moved from the group putting his shirt back on.
"But. you.. were just a child. You couldn't have been more then six." The orange fighter who had spoken stammered.
Turning with absolute certainty the prince looked him in the eyes once more. "Actually I was seven."
Moments passed and the silence remained. The Grand Kai watched and waited. He had heard the rumors starting last night. Many had said that it could not be the same person, others that it was a mistake. Not one fighter who had recognized the name had seemed inclined to speak anything good about him. Now they all looked wordlessly on as he stood by the elder Kai. The petite prince regarded the black jacketed figure and the others with his usual arrogance. "It was a bloody chapter in my life that I have learned to live with. I saw myself through it and in spite of it have earned the right to be here. There is nothing pathetic about my life; it proves my strength and conviction. I will not be pitied, or treated like garbage. So get over it."
The fighters left the three with the last light of the day. They stood quietly for a while. The prince had turned to watch the light leave the sky over the great expanse of the training area.
The gray haired Kai was milling through more than his share of thoughts on his newest arrival. The reports and rumors had been enough to make him wonder if there was, in fact, a mistake, but King Yamma and the Supreme Kai had made it clear there was no mistake.
Shin had also told him of the fight with Majin Buu, and he did remember the small fighter standing firm against the creature that was so much more powerful to him. The Supreme Kai imparted many other pieces of information his friend had discovered on the dichotomous newcomer. He had been born and raised till childhood among a race renowned for planet purging. Then sent to Freeza where he had stayed till he had grown. Living among darkness until he found Goku and earth.
It would appear that he turned from the darkness and toward a nobler path by following Son Goku, but he and Shin knew better. No one surrounded by that much evil could simply find their way; regardless of the signs they were given. Somewhere early the good buried in this fighter's heart had been fostered and given strength. Now he questioned many things he had heard about the fierce Sayians.
Blue skies darkened and tiny lights started to glisten against the curtain dropped over the Grand Kai's planet. The small black figure turned with onyx eyes back to them and the bearded man noted he seemed to blend against the backdrop, and still stand apart.
The Kai focused his attention to the small prince. "Yes, the others had said he was a prince; the future leader of his race." He spoke to himself as he took stock of the movements of the other man. He moved with absolute balance, grace and precision. His frame's motion spoke of purpose, his stance marked a man raised to lead. "I believe your friends are waiting upstairs. Follow me."
They followed and were led to a large room with several sofas; one of which was occupied by 18 and the small human. The two smiled as they entered; sitting he felt his limbs become heavy from his day's activities. They glanced back and forth as if waiting for someone before telling him how well they had been able to accomplish what they had come there for.
Just as he was about to speak, the door opened and his jaw clamped shut. A blue man with short white hair streaked down the center of his head walked in wearing a knowing smile and strolled to the tired Sayian. Vegeta's expression formed into his trademark smirk. "So have you been having fun with your treasure hunt."
"It has been a very interesting day, but you and Goku tend to make for novel circumstance. I think we've manage to find a few jewels while waiting for you." The Supreme Kai replied, the amused expression never leaving his face.
Krillen jittered with an eager excitement, and 18's eyes sparkled at her husband and the reaction of her usually stone face former foe. The little fighters movements finally gave way to voice, "The North and West Kais have been looking all over the area you told us to. They found pockets of Sayians all over the place, we were about to give up for the day when they found a huge group of Sayians near the center of everything."
"You mean that the groups were laid out like this?" The fiery man asked leaning over the table and tapping the table in random spots forming and oval, "and then the main group is situated somewhere right around her." He continued moving his hand as he spoke and then landing nearly where they had, in fact, found the largest group of Sayians.
They nodded at his startling accuracy. Shin watched his old friend, who had let down his guard for a moment and showed the same excited joy Krillen had been trying to contain. His smile was wide. The smallest of the group finally lost control. "Wow Vegeta, that's amazing. You nailed it."
Vegeta's head snapped back in triumph. "It a very basic layout, every Sayian child knows it." His arm moved almost too quickly to be seen. "My father will be here, with the main group. So where is it?"
"The North and West Kai's are still mapping everything out. They say that they'll show you in the morning." Shin replied, still smiling.
"Then I'll just blast them. That should get them motivated." Acerbically came back. The Grand Kai was shocked not only by his word, but by the others reaction, which was no reaction at all.
Bulma smirked at her dark Sayian, "Then you won't get your map, will you."
The Sayian faked a growl, but his stomach decided to follow suite. The group laughed, he simply cringed. Shen decided that it was time for dinner. "Well we should get some food. The dining hall is this way. There should be enough to feed a Sayian army."
"I doubt that. Thank you for the offer, but I decline. It's rude to eat more than one's host. The woman and I will go and set up our accommodations and see you in the morning." The prince said quietly nodding his head and moving to Bulma.
"Very strange." The Grand Kai thought. In fact he couldn't make any sense of his regal guest. Knowing that there wasn't much more he was going to find out he decided to leave it for another day.
John Perry - Thank you. I wasn't very happy with the way the last chapter turned out myself; it was choppy. I had foreshadowed finding Bulma in the previous chapter with Vegeta sensing her and the others before leaving the checkout. Sorry, should have posted them together.
*************
The entire universe of otherworld stretched out before them as they headed toward the Grand Kai's together. Light bathed the large stone structure in golden hues as the landed in the training yard. A few of the martial artists practiced their moves in the waning late day sun. A white bearded man in a jacket much like the one Vegeta had been wearing earlier stood in front of the great structure looking over the horizon. His expression was both concerned and annoyed at the same time.
Vegeta landed and released Bulma. The older man looked to them and then spoke at Bulma. "Is this Vegeta? Krillen and 18 said you were coming. I thought you would have been here sooner."
Some of the other fighters stopped and turned to there location. His reputation had preceded him. Recognizing that the Kai could help him he did something uncharacteristic. He bowed sharply placing his hand over his chest. "Grand Kai."
The Grand Kai reflected on the Prince. Some of the concern and annoyance left his features. "Well, you have no sense of time, but you have manners."
The fighters behind them mumbled to one another. Vegeta sized up the situation, spun and stared at the group that had formed behind him. "If someone has something to say; say it!"
They milled about for a few moments. Finally one of them spoke up. "You served Freeza."
"Well if you call being beating, tutored and forced into actions you hated serving; then yes, I suppose so." He changed his stance readying for a fight.
The other fighters muttered back and forth quietly. Then one from the back raised his voice. "I remember you. You came to my world and destroyed most of our military, but you left our escape ships untouched. You told us to evacuate, that there was nothing we could do. We didn't listen. The others came and destroyed everything. It was genocide. You tried to warn us."
The small warrior moved toward him speaking slowly. "Yes, I did. He removed his shirt and looked the man dead in the eyes. "And this was my payment for just offering you a chance."
As his shirt reached his head the fighters he had passed gasped. Eyes darted between staring and turning away in shock. As he turned to face them the man who spoke was given full view of the price the small fighter had paid for trying to help a people he knew almost nothing of. Scars covered his back in every direction, and harsh burn welts covered his shoulders. A lifetime of pain had been placed on display for all of them. The rancorous whispering had been replaced with abject silence has he moved from the group putting his shirt back on.
"But. you.. were just a child. You couldn't have been more then six." The orange fighter who had spoken stammered.
Turning with absolute certainty the prince looked him in the eyes once more. "Actually I was seven."
Moments passed and the silence remained. The Grand Kai watched and waited. He had heard the rumors starting last night. Many had said that it could not be the same person, others that it was a mistake. Not one fighter who had recognized the name had seemed inclined to speak anything good about him. Now they all looked wordlessly on as he stood by the elder Kai. The petite prince regarded the black jacketed figure and the others with his usual arrogance. "It was a bloody chapter in my life that I have learned to live with. I saw myself through it and in spite of it have earned the right to be here. There is nothing pathetic about my life; it proves my strength and conviction. I will not be pitied, or treated like garbage. So get over it."
The fighters left the three with the last light of the day. They stood quietly for a while. The prince had turned to watch the light leave the sky over the great expanse of the training area.
The gray haired Kai was milling through more than his share of thoughts on his newest arrival. The reports and rumors had been enough to make him wonder if there was, in fact, a mistake, but King Yamma and the Supreme Kai had made it clear there was no mistake.
Shin had also told him of the fight with Majin Buu, and he did remember the small fighter standing firm against the creature that was so much more powerful to him. The Supreme Kai imparted many other pieces of information his friend had discovered on the dichotomous newcomer. He had been born and raised till childhood among a race renowned for planet purging. Then sent to Freeza where he had stayed till he had grown. Living among darkness until he found Goku and earth.
It would appear that he turned from the darkness and toward a nobler path by following Son Goku, but he and Shin knew better. No one surrounded by that much evil could simply find their way; regardless of the signs they were given. Somewhere early the good buried in this fighter's heart had been fostered and given strength. Now he questioned many things he had heard about the fierce Sayians.
Blue skies darkened and tiny lights started to glisten against the curtain dropped over the Grand Kai's planet. The small black figure turned with onyx eyes back to them and the bearded man noted he seemed to blend against the backdrop, and still stand apart.
The Kai focused his attention to the small prince. "Yes, the others had said he was a prince; the future leader of his race." He spoke to himself as he took stock of the movements of the other man. He moved with absolute balance, grace and precision. His frame's motion spoke of purpose, his stance marked a man raised to lead. "I believe your friends are waiting upstairs. Follow me."
They followed and were led to a large room with several sofas; one of which was occupied by 18 and the small human. The two smiled as they entered; sitting he felt his limbs become heavy from his day's activities. They glanced back and forth as if waiting for someone before telling him how well they had been able to accomplish what they had come there for.
Just as he was about to speak, the door opened and his jaw clamped shut. A blue man with short white hair streaked down the center of his head walked in wearing a knowing smile and strolled to the tired Sayian. Vegeta's expression formed into his trademark smirk. "So have you been having fun with your treasure hunt."
"It has been a very interesting day, but you and Goku tend to make for novel circumstance. I think we've manage to find a few jewels while waiting for you." The Supreme Kai replied, the amused expression never leaving his face.
Krillen jittered with an eager excitement, and 18's eyes sparkled at her husband and the reaction of her usually stone face former foe. The little fighters movements finally gave way to voice, "The North and West Kais have been looking all over the area you told us to. They found pockets of Sayians all over the place, we were about to give up for the day when they found a huge group of Sayians near the center of everything."
"You mean that the groups were laid out like this?" The fiery man asked leaning over the table and tapping the table in random spots forming and oval, "and then the main group is situated somewhere right around her." He continued moving his hand as he spoke and then landing nearly where they had, in fact, found the largest group of Sayians.
They nodded at his startling accuracy. Shin watched his old friend, who had let down his guard for a moment and showed the same excited joy Krillen had been trying to contain. His smile was wide. The smallest of the group finally lost control. "Wow Vegeta, that's amazing. You nailed it."
Vegeta's head snapped back in triumph. "It a very basic layout, every Sayian child knows it." His arm moved almost too quickly to be seen. "My father will be here, with the main group. So where is it?"
"The North and West Kai's are still mapping everything out. They say that they'll show you in the morning." Shin replied, still smiling.
"Then I'll just blast them. That should get them motivated." Acerbically came back. The Grand Kai was shocked not only by his word, but by the others reaction, which was no reaction at all.
Bulma smirked at her dark Sayian, "Then you won't get your map, will you."
The Sayian faked a growl, but his stomach decided to follow suite. The group laughed, he simply cringed. Shen decided that it was time for dinner. "Well we should get some food. The dining hall is this way. There should be enough to feed a Sayian army."
"I doubt that. Thank you for the offer, but I decline. It's rude to eat more than one's host. The woman and I will go and set up our accommodations and see you in the morning." The prince said quietly nodding his head and moving to Bulma.
"Very strange." The Grand Kai thought. In fact he couldn't make any sense of his regal guest. Knowing that there wasn't much more he was going to find out he decided to leave it for another day.