Part 3: Vegeta's Dilemma
There were a few things Vegeta prided himself on. First, he was one of the best young fighters on the planet (he would've been the best, but Raditz had been born first and had a bit more experience). Next, he never entered a fight that he wasn't capable of winning (this almost ensured his legendary win-loss record, because no matter what the number of wins, there were never any losses). Third, he always found time to test his skills (usually against Kakkarot, but occasionally against Nappa), because his father had said many times that there was always room for improvement.
Finally, Vegeta especially prided himself on not being what many considered a sell-out. Though he got a lot of attention because of his name, Vegeta never used it selfishly. He had little interest in being popular, though that came naturally for him. He also hated being treated like royalty, simply because he considered kings to be cowards with comfortable chairs for sitting in or hiding under during times of war (not that he would ever tell his father that).
So when his father had asked what he'd be wearing to the school prom, Vegeta's trademark smirk had instantly appeared. At first he thought the man had been making a bad joke. A really bad one, all things considered. Unfortunately, he'd been very serious. As the official representative of the best of the planet's newest generation, Vegeta had a certain social status (much to his loathing) to uphold. Among other things, this included the assured position of prom king and queen for himself and whoever his date would be. Since this clashed directly with Vegeta's sense of pride, he'd vehemently refused. It was under his father's heavy threat of being disowned that he finally agreed to attend the prom.
* * * * *
Sariana was used to Kakkarot arranging get-togethers for the three of them, since he was about the only thing she and Vegeta had in common. However, she wasn't used to Vegeta himself arranging a private meeting just for the two of them, which was exactly what he'd done, for some reason. This was the only time Sariana could remember ever being alone with him. She trusted him enough, but she got the distinct feeling that something was wrong. Why hadn't Kakkarot been invited, anyway?
She arrived at the stadium early that day, only to find that Vegeta was already there in full uniform. He looked as though he'd already done several laps around the track by the time she reached him. "So, what's up?" she asked casually, trying her best not to reveal any hint of the discomfort in her voice.
Vegeta looked at her and simply replied, "I have a favor to ask of you, Sariana."
"Okay, shoot."
He paused, as if trying to decide whether he should ask her or not. "Will you be my date for the prom tomorrow night?"
Sariana stared at him in complete shock. This was the last thing she'd expected him to say. Then, realizing he was waiting for an answer, she cleared her throat. "Since when do you go to school-sponsored events?"
"Since my father threatened to disown me," Vegeta informed her. "He seems to think it's important that I be there with a date."
"Well, sure, but why me?"
"I was given strict instructions to bring the best girl around. You're the only one that ever crossed my mind."
Sariana considered that for a moment. It was a pretty big compliment, coming from Vegeta. He wasn't very good at them, and the simple fact that he knew most of the planet's elite population personally really helped. Out of all those girls, he'd chosen her? Maybe he'd been pressed for time, or maybe not. "All right, Vegeta. I'll be your date, since Kakkarot seems to be missing in action."
Vegeta nodded briefly and turned to leave, then stopped. "He'll probably be jealous."
"So? He never was my boyfriend. Let him be jealous."
Vegeta nodded again and said, "Thank you, Sari."
It was several minutes later before Sariana realized that was the first time he'd used Kakkarot's nickname for her.
* * * * *
Kakkarot slowly lifted the weight over his head, balancing the bar across his back. He stayed in that position for nearly three minutes when there was a sharp knock at his door. With a grunt, he placed the weight on the floor and sat down on the bed. "Come in!"
"Greetings, little brother," Raditz said as he entered, a cruel smile on his face.
Kakkarot didn't seem very amused. "What do you want, Raditz?"
"I was wondering why you weren't getting ready."
"Ready? For what?"
Raditz pretended to be shocked. "The prom, you foolish boy! It's tonight! Everyone's going!"
"I can think of three people who aren't, including myself."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about it. The way I hear it, both
Vegeta and Sariana are going to the prom. Which leaves you all alone,
doesn't it?"
"Get real," Kakkarot muttered. "Neither of them would ever go to the prom."
Raditz only smiled. "From what I hear, Sari's found herself quite a date. Still, whoever Vegeta's bringing is certain to be prom queen."
Normally, Kakkarot would disregard this as a trick right away. However, he could tell there was a bit of truth in his brother's words. "So why should I believe you?"
Raditz shrugged. "You don't have to. I'm sure Sariana will tell you the same thing." He walked over and placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder. "After all, I'm just trying to watch out for my little brother. Don't say I didn't try to warn you."
After Raditz had gone, Kakkarot thought the matter over to himself. Even if Sariana wasn't going to the prom, he still wanted to see her tonight. If she was, he'd ask who she was going with. It was just that simple. Wasn't it?
* * * * *
"Son, it's time we had a talk."
Vegeta looked up. "Yes, father?"
The bear of a man took a seat in a large chair. "Have you ever had a moonlight battle?"
"No, father. What is it?"
"I'm sure you know all about how we Saiyans transform by the light of the full moon."
Vegeta nodded.
"You're probably wondering why you've never transformed, even with your tail."
Vegeta glanced down at the brown tail wrapped around his waist. "Yes, actually."
"It's because our city doesn't receive actual moonlight. Not all of it, anyway. The city is surrounded by a clear dome that filters out the majority of the moonlight we get. If you ever want to transform, you'll either have to leave the city or the planet altogether."
The man paused and trained his gaze on the boy. "That's why it's very important that you grow up and become a real Saiyan, son. Not one of the commoners that stays here all their lives. I want you to become a part of the Saiyan Elite Forces."
"The SEF?" Vegeta asked. "I've heard of them, but I've never seen any."
"Oh, but you have. Raditz is one of their newest recruits. He'll only be here a few more days, but when he goes back, I want you to go with him."
"So what exactly do they do?"
Vegeta's father smiled. "The SEF is made up of the best fighters in the galaxy. There are several divisions. One of them is the army that protects our planet. The rest specialize in what you might call galactic warfare."
Vegeta smiled a bit. "I'm listening."
"One of the reasons our planet is so successful is because of the jobs we perform. Other nations pay the SEF to find living space, or planets for them to inhabit. This is usually because the idiots have messed up their own planets so bad, it would probably explode if they continued to live on it. Anyway, there are only so many unoccupied planets in the galaxy, son."
"So the SEF 'convinces' a planet's residents to move out?" Vegeta asked.
"Not hardly. We usually just destroy them. That's why only the best fighters are allowed to join the SEF. You won't get in just because you're my son. However, every Vegeta has held a place in the SEF, and I don't expect you to be any different."
"I don't plan to be," Vegeta replied. "Is there an age limit?"
"No. Some members have actually grown up in the SEF." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Also, you'll probably become a recruiter at first, along with Raditz. Both of you will each have to choose two fighters to join the SEF. Keep that in mind over the next few days."
"I will, father."
"That's a good lad." The man stood up and tousled Vegeta's hair roughly. Then he turned towards the door.
"Father?"
The man turned. "What is it, son?"
"I will make you proud of me."
"Too late, my son," his father answered with a grin. "Too late."
There were a few things Vegeta prided himself on. First, he was one of the best young fighters on the planet (he would've been the best, but Raditz had been born first and had a bit more experience). Next, he never entered a fight that he wasn't capable of winning (this almost ensured his legendary win-loss record, because no matter what the number of wins, there were never any losses). Third, he always found time to test his skills (usually against Kakkarot, but occasionally against Nappa), because his father had said many times that there was always room for improvement.
Finally, Vegeta especially prided himself on not being what many considered a sell-out. Though he got a lot of attention because of his name, Vegeta never used it selfishly. He had little interest in being popular, though that came naturally for him. He also hated being treated like royalty, simply because he considered kings to be cowards with comfortable chairs for sitting in or hiding under during times of war (not that he would ever tell his father that).
So when his father had asked what he'd be wearing to the school prom, Vegeta's trademark smirk had instantly appeared. At first he thought the man had been making a bad joke. A really bad one, all things considered. Unfortunately, he'd been very serious. As the official representative of the best of the planet's newest generation, Vegeta had a certain social status (much to his loathing) to uphold. Among other things, this included the assured position of prom king and queen for himself and whoever his date would be. Since this clashed directly with Vegeta's sense of pride, he'd vehemently refused. It was under his father's heavy threat of being disowned that he finally agreed to attend the prom.
* * * * *
Sariana was used to Kakkarot arranging get-togethers for the three of them, since he was about the only thing she and Vegeta had in common. However, she wasn't used to Vegeta himself arranging a private meeting just for the two of them, which was exactly what he'd done, for some reason. This was the only time Sariana could remember ever being alone with him. She trusted him enough, but she got the distinct feeling that something was wrong. Why hadn't Kakkarot been invited, anyway?
She arrived at the stadium early that day, only to find that Vegeta was already there in full uniform. He looked as though he'd already done several laps around the track by the time she reached him. "So, what's up?" she asked casually, trying her best not to reveal any hint of the discomfort in her voice.
Vegeta looked at her and simply replied, "I have a favor to ask of you, Sariana."
"Okay, shoot."
He paused, as if trying to decide whether he should ask her or not. "Will you be my date for the prom tomorrow night?"
Sariana stared at him in complete shock. This was the last thing she'd expected him to say. Then, realizing he was waiting for an answer, she cleared her throat. "Since when do you go to school-sponsored events?"
"Since my father threatened to disown me," Vegeta informed her. "He seems to think it's important that I be there with a date."
"Well, sure, but why me?"
"I was given strict instructions to bring the best girl around. You're the only one that ever crossed my mind."
Sariana considered that for a moment. It was a pretty big compliment, coming from Vegeta. He wasn't very good at them, and the simple fact that he knew most of the planet's elite population personally really helped. Out of all those girls, he'd chosen her? Maybe he'd been pressed for time, or maybe not. "All right, Vegeta. I'll be your date, since Kakkarot seems to be missing in action."
Vegeta nodded briefly and turned to leave, then stopped. "He'll probably be jealous."
"So? He never was my boyfriend. Let him be jealous."
Vegeta nodded again and said, "Thank you, Sari."
It was several minutes later before Sariana realized that was the first time he'd used Kakkarot's nickname for her.
* * * * *
Kakkarot slowly lifted the weight over his head, balancing the bar across his back. He stayed in that position for nearly three minutes when there was a sharp knock at his door. With a grunt, he placed the weight on the floor and sat down on the bed. "Come in!"
"Greetings, little brother," Raditz said as he entered, a cruel smile on his face.
Kakkarot didn't seem very amused. "What do you want, Raditz?"
"I was wondering why you weren't getting ready."
"Ready? For what?"
Raditz pretended to be shocked. "The prom, you foolish boy! It's tonight! Everyone's going!"
"I can think of three people who aren't, including myself."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about it. The way I hear it, both
Vegeta and Sariana are going to the prom. Which leaves you all alone,
doesn't it?"
"Get real," Kakkarot muttered. "Neither of them would ever go to the prom."
Raditz only smiled. "From what I hear, Sari's found herself quite a date. Still, whoever Vegeta's bringing is certain to be prom queen."
Normally, Kakkarot would disregard this as a trick right away. However, he could tell there was a bit of truth in his brother's words. "So why should I believe you?"
Raditz shrugged. "You don't have to. I'm sure Sariana will tell you the same thing." He walked over and placed a firm hand on his brother's shoulder. "After all, I'm just trying to watch out for my little brother. Don't say I didn't try to warn you."
After Raditz had gone, Kakkarot thought the matter over to himself. Even if Sariana wasn't going to the prom, he still wanted to see her tonight. If she was, he'd ask who she was going with. It was just that simple. Wasn't it?
* * * * *
"Son, it's time we had a talk."
Vegeta looked up. "Yes, father?"
The bear of a man took a seat in a large chair. "Have you ever had a moonlight battle?"
"No, father. What is it?"
"I'm sure you know all about how we Saiyans transform by the light of the full moon."
Vegeta nodded.
"You're probably wondering why you've never transformed, even with your tail."
Vegeta glanced down at the brown tail wrapped around his waist. "Yes, actually."
"It's because our city doesn't receive actual moonlight. Not all of it, anyway. The city is surrounded by a clear dome that filters out the majority of the moonlight we get. If you ever want to transform, you'll either have to leave the city or the planet altogether."
The man paused and trained his gaze on the boy. "That's why it's very important that you grow up and become a real Saiyan, son. Not one of the commoners that stays here all their lives. I want you to become a part of the Saiyan Elite Forces."
"The SEF?" Vegeta asked. "I've heard of them, but I've never seen any."
"Oh, but you have. Raditz is one of their newest recruits. He'll only be here a few more days, but when he goes back, I want you to go with him."
"So what exactly do they do?"
Vegeta's father smiled. "The SEF is made up of the best fighters in the galaxy. There are several divisions. One of them is the army that protects our planet. The rest specialize in what you might call galactic warfare."
Vegeta smiled a bit. "I'm listening."
"One of the reasons our planet is so successful is because of the jobs we perform. Other nations pay the SEF to find living space, or planets for them to inhabit. This is usually because the idiots have messed up their own planets so bad, it would probably explode if they continued to live on it. Anyway, there are only so many unoccupied planets in the galaxy, son."
"So the SEF 'convinces' a planet's residents to move out?" Vegeta asked.
"Not hardly. We usually just destroy them. That's why only the best fighters are allowed to join the SEF. You won't get in just because you're my son. However, every Vegeta has held a place in the SEF, and I don't expect you to be any different."
"I don't plan to be," Vegeta replied. "Is there an age limit?"
"No. Some members have actually grown up in the SEF." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Also, you'll probably become a recruiter at first, along with Raditz. Both of you will each have to choose two fighters to join the SEF. Keep that in mind over the next few days."
"I will, father."
"That's a good lad." The man stood up and tousled Vegeta's hair roughly. Then he turned towards the door.
"Father?"
The man turned. "What is it, son?"
"I will make you proud of me."
"Too late, my son," his father answered with a grin. "Too late."