Chapter Four:

Desperation.





The ship was huge. The bridge of Toriyama's Dream was the entire Capsule Corporation building. A huge platform flanked by computer terminals rose up in the exact center of the floor. Directly in front of that was a giant oval shaped view screen, to either side of which where two coiled pillars pulsing with energy. Computer terminals lined the walls and a low hum filled the room.

Gokou milled about the bridge, taking in all the blinking lights and such. "Wow… This place has a lot of lights," Gokou stated to no one in particular.

"Bakka," Vegeta snarled as walked up to Gokou. "We have serious work to do. Nappa and his army will follow us to the ends of the Universe." Gokou turned to look at him and grew serious.

"You don't understand, Vegeta," Gokou replied quietly. Vegeta began to shake with outrage.

"Are you, the great Son Gokou, telling me we should just give up? Bakka!"

"Yes."

"Damn you Kakarotto! Where the hell is your fighting spirit," Vegeta snorted as his fist closed around Gokou's collar.

"Did you feel his power, Vegeta? It was staggering," Gokou whispered. "Kaiou-Sama was right. It's impossible for us to win."

"Has your idiot mind finally snapped? That blue insect always says that! He said the same thing about Freezer, and look where he is now. Burning in Hell!" He snarled fist as his fist tightened.

"Vegeta, we aren't talking about Freezer. We can't win. I know we have come back while the odds were against us before, but this is different. Nappa's power is too overwhelming. I don't want to risk the lives of innocent people in a suicide battle. Forget about it, Vegeta," Gokou snarled as he knocked away Vegeta's hand.

"Coward." Vegeta looked straight into Gokou's eyes and spat in his face. "Have it your way, Kakarotto. You may not want to fight," he begun as he walked away. "But, sooner or later you're going to have to face him anyway.

"You don't understand Vegeta... I want to fight... but the people of this planet are more important than this fight, or any fight will ever be."

"Shut up and stay out of my mind," Vegeta hissed in reply as he continued to stride away from Gokou. He noticed Gohan out of the corner of his eye. "How's it going, kid?"

"Mm? Oh, it's you, Vegeta-san. I'm all right... I'm just a little worried about the rest of the people on Earth..." Gohan trailed off.

"Bakka. Stop worrying and do something then."

"Huh??" Vegeta's eye twitched slightly.

"Go down to Earth and bring some more people here. Did I state it clearly enough for you to follow this time, or need I make it clearer," Vegeta snarled. He took a deep breath. "I'm trying to convince your father that we have to defeat Nappa here and now, to prevent further damage to the Universe."

"Vegeta," Gohan asked. "Uh.. What's wrong with you? You're never this concerned."

"Never mind about why, you pain in the ass! If you want to save those damn people either bring them here or let them die." Vegeta spat off to the side and walked off. His eyes were glossy with tears as Bulma approached him.

"Vegeta? Are you... crying," Bulma nearly screamed.

Hastily, he wiped the tear out of his eye. "No... What are you talking about... I wasn't..."

Bulma could not help but laugh. "You're so stubborn, Vegeta... but I've been thinking about what you and Son-kuh were talking about... Nappa's out to destroy you and Gokou, and he will destroy the entire Universe to get to you. If you don't defeat him while you have the chance... what future do we have? We already lost our planet. Even if we could find another one, would we always be living in fear?

"Damn it! I told Kakarotto... I told him that we have to defeat Nappa now, but he wouldn't listen.... I can tell he wants to stand and fight.." Vegeta started, but Bulma cut him off.

"That's because he values the people, Vegeta," she stated.

Vegeta's rage leapt up and he couldn't contain it any longer. "If he had ANY compassion for them whatsoever, he would defeat Nappa now!"

"Vegeta…" Bulma began.

"BAKKA," shouted Vegeta. "You don't seem to understand that there isn't going to BE a tomorrow if we don't stand and fight now! I know how Nappa works! He will find us in a matter of hours and we will all be massacred! Do you comprehend that, woman? You, me, Kakarotto.. Trunks, we will all be just memories of Nappa's! He won't stop at that: he'll destroy the entire universe! He is obsessed with one thing only... POWER... He's just like me..." he paused and looked into Bulma's tear filled eyes.

"Vegeta…." Bulma sobbed.

"Just like I was," He corrected as his scowl softened. "Freezer cast us in the same mold," Vegeta whispered as he rested his head against Bulma's and closed his eyes. "Only I was smart enough to realize what Freezer had done to our people. Now, Nappa's turned our people against me. I've lost my race twice."

"Vegeta… I…" Vegeta opened his eyes and stared directly into Bulma's as his gloved hand covered her mouth.

"Be quiet. I've lost my entire race save for Kakarotto, and because of him…." Vegeta swallowed hard, not believing the words about to come from his mouth. "Damnable human emotions." He cursed to himself as he took a deep breath. "Because of him, I gained you and Trunks. I refuse to lose that too." Tears began to stream down Bulma's face.

"Bakka! You never told me you cared for me… until just now, " she managed to chuckle between her tears. "What took you so long?" Bulma began to sob openly just as the door opened. Gohan stepped onto the bridge.

"Bulma-san, have you seen Piccolo-san," Gohan asked as Vegeta straightened and Bulma shock her head while trying to dry her tears. Gohan nodded and turned to walk away.

"Wait. I'm coming too." Vegeta interjected. Everyone looked surprised, even Vegeta himself. He turned and looked at Bulma. "Bulma, If we run into trouble, get this pile of bolts away as fast as you can..." Vegeta said as began to turn around, but Bulma kissed him square on the mouth. Vegeta stepped back, with a surprised expression. He wiped his mouth and smiled. Everyone stares at Bulma.

"Bakka Saiya-jin." She smiled lovingly at her Prince. "I don't know why I put up with you."

"Heh. Simple. Because no one else would have you," Vegeta replied over his shoulder as he and the others filed through the door. Bulma again wipes away the tears in her eyes.

"Please Vegeta, come back to me..."

Vegeta could not believe what had just happened. He kept going over those few moments in his mind, thinking that replaying them might clarify it.

It didn't. Everything he had just said, he had meant, but he had never said it aloud before.

Had he actually admitted something besides loathing for Kakarotto aloud? And it had felt good. Better than good. He felt more alive than he had in a very long while.

"Ummm… Vegeta," asked Gohan cautiously. "What made you come with us?"

"Bakka. Shut up and move. We don't have time to stand around and talk," Vegeta spat. Gohan blinked and picked up his pace, thinking that Vegeta was in one of his moods.

"Hey Papa," called a small voice from behind the party. Vegeta and Gohan turned around just in time to see Goten and Trunks rounding the corner as the latter strapped on his sword.

"Goten? What are you doing here," asked Gohan.

"Hmmmf." Vegeta snorted. "What do you two think you can do against Nappa?"

"Papa…. Fusion-Da can…." Trunks began.

"He'd snap Gotenks in two. Get out of my way," Vegeta snarled. Trunks tried to bite back the tears that stung his eye. Vegeta knelt down and put his hand on his son's shoulder. "Take care of your mother, and this ship, Trunks-kuh. I'm counting on you," he whispered as his face softened. Trunks blinked, not believing what he had just heard.

"Ha… hai…" Trunks stuttered as Vegeta stood. "But take this with you Papa," Trunks said as he took off his sword and handed it to Vegeta, who took it without hesitation. "For good luck."

"Hmmmphf." He snorted as he winked at his son. Vegeta then strapped the sword onto his back and left without a glance back.

"Trunks-kuh… is your dad feeling alright?" Goten asked as he blinked after Vegeta's retreating form.

"Goten, that was my next question." Gohan said dumbfounded. "But he's still right. We may not even stand a chance against Nappa. It's best that you stay here," Gohan said as he stood. He ran to catch up with Vegeta.

"Hmmpfh. It's about time you brat." Vegeta rasped as they took flight, leaving Goten and Trunks watching.

"Trunks-kuh... Why did you let you dad have your sword? Didn't you like it," Goten asked.

"Dad can use it more than I can right now," Trunks replied as he watched the shrinking forms of Gohan and Vegeta.

"Oh... I see."





The mountains on earth were almost unbearably cold, or at least this one was. Nappa had chosen this place for several reasons, all of them tactical. In the unlikely case of attack, the mountains would be sufficient cover. Secondly, who would think to look for an army in this desolate place?

The Saiya-jin were terrorizing the playthings they had managed not to kill. Bodies of humans broken by Saiya-jin hands scattered the terrain. The stench of death hung heavily in the air.

Nappa loved it. He smirked and took a deep breath of death's perfume as he picked up a person by the throat.

"Tell me, do you like our Show from Hell," Nappa snarled to the human. Before his victim could respond in any way, he crushed the human's entire throat. "Weakling. I've caused all our casualties..." Nappa laughed, and shrugged. "Oh well..."

Suddenly, and explosion ripped an entire legion of Saiya-jin to shreds. Out of the smoke strode two forms.

"Hmmmphf. That was entirely too easy," Vegeta chuckled as the smoke clear to reveal him and Gohan. Nappa stood, dropping the corpse and cracking his joints.

"Vegeta… you're wasting you life." Nappa said as Vegeta was consumed by golden energy pushing himself into Super Saiya-jin and then into Super Saiya-jin 2. His arm rose out in front of him and he put his hand up, palm forward. "BIG BANG ATTACK," Vegeta rasped. The blast strikes Nappa square in the chest. When the smoke cleared, there was no more Nappa. Vegeta lowered his arm and his eyes narrowed.

"VEGETA! BEHIND YOU!!!!" Gohan shouted as Nappa zanzokened behind Vegeta. Nappa brought one arm up, but Vegeta spun around at the last possible, unsheathing Trunks' sword. He blocked the forearm aimed at the back of his neck with the blade.

"Very good, Vegeta," Nappa smiled. Vegeta knocked the forearm away and swung the sword around to gut Nappa. The sword found it's mark, but it didn't even penetrate Nappa's armor. Nappa looked down at Vegeta and smiled.

"Damn you," Vegeta roared as he tried to hack away at Nappa. The clang of steel on armor rung in the air. Vegeta continued his onslaught, the beyond- razor-sharp edge of the sword growing duller and duller with each unsuccessful strike.

"What's wrong, Vegeta? Swing harder," Nappa chuckled as he snatched the sword from Vegeta's hand. "Like this."

Cold steel bit into Vegeta's side.

Vegeta leapt aside at the last instant, the sword only leaving a long scratch on his abdomen. His side, however, was another matter. Blood gushed from the inch deep wound left by the sword.

"Damn it! You can't be that strong," Vegeta cursed.

"Really? Do you need and example," Nappa asked sarcastically. He raised two figures, and another legion Saiya-jin exploded, taking out a mass of humans. Vegeta's eyes widened slowly as the bloody remains of Saiya-jin and human rain from the sky.

Gohan vomited at the sight.

Nappa chuckled.

And Vegeta felt something inside snap.

"DIE!!!!!!" Screamed Vegeta as his back arched, golden ki clashing around him.

"Bakka," Nappa muttered. The ki around Vegeta intensified and a bolt of blueish lightning crackled through his aura. Vegeta's back arched even more as he screamed. More lightning began to crackle as every vein and his body began to pulsate.

Then, a blinding flash. The force of the shockwave from the burst of light sent Gohan. Nappa just stood there. The light slowly began to fade revealing a figure at its center.

A changed figure. Vegeta's hair hung down to his knees in long blonde spikes. Emerald eyes glowed from beneath heavy brow ridges in a sharply defined face.

Emerald eyes stared straight into heartless ebony eyes.





"Wha? What is this? Where am I?"

The world around Gokou twisted and boiled.

"DAD! THEY'RE COMING TO GET ME.... DAD..... HEL...." Gokou spun around just in time to see Goten erupt in flames, and fall to the ground as nothing more than ash.

"GOTEN!!!"

"Please... it hurts.... make the pain stop.... ....please.... Kill me...."

"GOHAN... NO!!!!"

Suddenly, Gokou was staring at the ceiling. "A dream.... Only a dream," Gokou sighed as he turned to look out of his window. An entire legion of Saiya-jin stared back at him.





"Hmmpfh. Super Saiya-jin 3," Vegeta said. He voice chanced as well. Now, it was more regal, more driven, and, if it was possible, more Saiya-jin. His emerald eyes continued to bore into Nappa's ebony eyes. "Savor the time you have left, Nappa. Because, right here, right now, I will rip out your entrails and feed them to you," Vegeta stated with an eerie calm.

"You're no fun...." Nappa smirked. Without warning, Vegeta zanzokened and kicked Nappa in the gut, that caused him to double over. The prince of all Saiya-jin followed through with a boot to the jaw, sending Nappa up into the air.

"FINAL FLASH," Vegeta roared as his wrists locked together and a huge blast exhumed from his hands and plowed right into Nappa. The huge blast consumed Nappa whole. Vegeta held the blast, pumping even more energy into it. It grew huge and finally exploded. "Nappa! I'm sending you back to hell!!!!" Vegeta screamed as the blast not only intensified, but also consumed the entire area with a blinding light. The light slowly faded to reveal Vegeta breathing heavily. A huge cloud of smoke bellowed where Nappa should have been standing.

"Well? Is it my turn yet?"

As the smoke from Vegeta's attack dissipated, Nappa stood up. His armor was gone, but the rest of his body was untouched. "Is that a yes?"

"Impossible," Gohan yelped. Vegeta rocketed at Nappa, who just stood there.

"Insolent," Nappa muttered as Vegeta got closer. He zanzokened away right as Vegeta swung at him and reappeared above Vegeta. Nappa slammed Vegeta down to earth with a vicious overhead smash. "Give it up and join me Vegeta. You can't beat me."

"Die," Vegeta husked as he slowly stood up. "Die, and go back to hell where you belong." Suddenly, Nappa is right in front of Vegeta. He buried his fist deep in the Saiya-jin Prince's gut, making Vegeta lose consciousness for a brief moment. He placed one fingertip at Vegeta's forehead to keep him for toppling.

"Poop Vegeta. I'm the Legendary Super Saiya-jin, you can't beat me," said Nappa. Suddenly, Vegeta slammed his foist into Nappa's jaw, catching the large Saiya-jin off guard.

"Legendary?" Vegeta smirked as he wiped a little blood from his chin. "The only thing legendary about you is your lack of intelligence." Vegeta spun and hit Nappa with a roundhouse kick to the face. Nappa did not move at all. Nappa's eyes narrowed, and he backhanded Vegeta, sending the Prince of all Saiya-jin flying past a shocked Gohan.

"VEGETA!!!! NO!" Gohan roared as he powered up, and flew straight at Nappa.





Vegeta had told him to take care of this ship.

A legion of Saiya-jin surrounded Toriyama's Dream. The ship's only defenders were Goten and Trunks.

"One... two.... Two hundred fifty," Trunks shouted as the Saiya-jin legion grew closer.

"We're out-numbered, Trunks," Goten replied.

Trunks looked at his friend with the talent for stating the obvious and blinked. "Duh, Goten! Only one person can stop them!"

"HAI!" Goten nodded and the two boys begun the fusion pose.

"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUU--"

"GOTEN! TRUNKS!" Both boys turn around to find Super Saiya-jin 3 Son Gokou floating behind them.

"Get back on the ship... NOW." Gokou rasped, as Goten's eyes grew large with amazement.

"But Papa said...." Trunks began.

"Trunks.... in the ship.... now...." Goten ordered staring wide eyed at his father. "Dad's at FULL POWER, Trunks-kuh!" Trunks swallowed hard as both he and Goten high-tailed it back onto the ship.

"I'm going to give one chance to save yourselves," Gokou snarled.

"Are you telling use to run away," snorted the leading Saiya-jin. A fist in his face as his reply

"Leave now, and no harm will come to you." Gokou warned as another Saiya- jin zanzokened behind him and slammed his fist into the back of Gokou's head. Gokou didn't even move.

"Damn you!" Screamed the lead Saiya-jin as he lunged at Gokou, fists first. Gokou easily dodged the attack and buried his knee in the Saiya-jin's gut. "What are you waiting for? Leave now. I don't want to kill you!" At once, the entire legion of Saiya-jin attacked him. Gokou tilted his back and screamed, erupting in massive golden power. He cupped his hands and pulled them to his side. "Kame~e... Hame~e... HAA~A!"

The blast erupted from Gokou's hands as he thrust his arms forward. The blast consumes the entire legion. One Saiya-jin flew forward, and stopped as he saw the blast.

BOOM

The blast disintegrated the majority of them, and as the smoke cleared, a singe Saiya-jin held onto one of Gokou's legs. The Saiya-jin had been blown in half, and blood poured out of his abdomen.

"You," the Saiya-jin husked. His scouter crumbles and his face twitched. Tears streamed down his cheeks, as the scouter falls from his ear. "T.... Thank y.. You...." The Saiya-jin muttered as he let go of Gokou's leg and fell. Gokou stood alone, baffled at the display.

"Why.... Why would anyone be greatful for being killed...? I... don't understand...." Gokou looked behind him to see the cargo bay door open.

"YAHOO!!" Trunks shouted as he began to jump up and down.

"That was great dad!" Goten exclaimed. Gokou smiled at his son as his hair reverted to it's normal length and color.

"Where's your brother, Goten?" Gokou asked.

"He went back to Earth with Papa to...." Trunks began.

"Goten, Trunks! Stay here!" Gokou ordered as his power exploded and he flew away at top speed to find Gohan. The cargo bay door slowly closed, hiding Goten and Trunks from sight.

Come on.... DAMN IT C'MON!!!

"IN THE NAME OF GENERAL NAPPA, I COMMAND YOU TO HALT!!!!"

Gokou came to a screeching halt and looked over his shoulder at another legion of Saiya-jin legion. "Nappa has ordered the immediate demise of all Earth scum! Pledge allegiance to Nappa, or die...." The leader of the legion snarled.

"No. I suggest that you leave now, I don't really like beating up on weaklings." Gokou replied as he calmly stared down the Saiya-jin.

"What are you talking about weak," the Saiya-jin snorted as he thumbed his scouter, which blipped in response. "You're the one with the power rating of 350,000!"

"You might want to check you scouter again," Gokou stated. The scouter blipped again. All of the Saiya-jin scouter blipped and began to smoke. "This is your chance to run away. Don't waste it."

"Ummmm…. Who are you..." asked the Saiya-jin leader.

Gokou looked at the Saiya-jin and blinked. "Huh?"

The Saiya-jin also blinked and said, "We're supposed to be dead.... Aren't we? And this doesn't look like hell..."

"Ummm... that's cause this isn't hell. You're on Earth..." Gokou stated as he scratched the back of his head.

"You mean we're not dead!" The entire legion exclaimed.

Gokou continued to stare. "You're serious... you have no clue what's going on do you?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about…." Replied the Saiya-jin as Gokou rocketed away. "Okay.... Is any body else confused?"

"Now I get it! He's using those scouters to control his men! If we can break all of them… we might stand a chance! Vegeta, Gohan! Hang on!"





"BAKKA," shouted Vegeta. "You don't seem to understand that there isn't going to BE a tomorrow if we don't stand and fight now! I know how Nappa works! He will find us in a matter of hours and we will all be massacred! Do you comprehend that, woman? You, me, Kakarotto.. Trunks, we will all be just memories of Nappa's! He won't stop at that: he'll destroy the entire universe! He is obsessed with one thing only... POWER... He's just like me..." he paused and looked into Bulma's tear filled eyes.

"Vegeta…." Bulma sobbed.

"Just like I was," He corrected as his scowl softened. "Freezer cast us in the same mold," Vegeta whispered as he rested his head against Bulma's and closed his eyes. "Only I was smart enough to realize what Freezer had done to our people. Now, Nappa's turned our people against me. I've lost my race twice."

"Vegeta… I…" Vegeta opened his eyes and stared directly into Bulma's as his gloved hand covered her mouth.

"Be quiet. I've lost my entire race save for Kakarotto, and because of him…." Vegeta swallowed hard, not believing the words about to come from his mouth. "Damnable human emotions." He cursed to himself as he took a deep breath. "Because of him, I gained you and Trunks. I refuse to lose that too." Tears began to stream down Bulma's face.

"No! Damn it! NO! Trunks... Bulma... I have failed you. I cannot defeat Nappa... Kakarotto was right... we can't win... I'm sorry, everyone... It's my fault.... They will all be massacred... because of my decisions to fight Nappa... because of my pride. It was suicide... we never had a chance... and Nappa knew it."

"I'm sorry."





Nappa's head snapped back as Gohan's fist hit his jaw. "What the hell was that supposed to do?" Nappa snarled as he straightened his neck. Gohan floated back a few meters, his eyes wide with fear. Gohan's brow knitted as his aura exploded in power, as he brought his arms back to his side.

"KAME... HA..."

"Stubborn to the death." Nappa rasped as the ki between Gohan's hands became massive.

"ME... HA~A!" The blast rocketed from Gohan's outstretched hand and slammed into Nappa. Energy flies everywhere, sending debris flying away from the blast. Gohan held his stance, breathing heavily.

Nappa wasn't even sweating.

Then Vegeta stood up.

Vegeta himself could believe he had the strength to stand, let alone turn into a Super Saiya-jin. However, he did just that.

"For Bulma and Trunks." Vegeta's mind husked as his entire body began to tremble. "Nappa... you... you won't escape…. MY WRATH!!!!!" Vegeta roared as he erupted in golden energy. Nappa squinted his eyes, as the power pouring from Vegeta's body became blinding. Vegeta could be heard, but not seen. "Die," Vegeta whispered right in Nappa's ear. "Burn in Hell.... BIG BANG ATTACK!" The blast erupted in Nappa's face and a huge explosion created a gigantic crater, of which, Nappa calmly walked out of.

"That wasn't bad, Vegeta-kun! I think you knocked out the fillings in my molars!" Nappa laughed as he strode out of the crater.

"You...." Vegeta hissed as his shoulders shook. "DAMN YOU!!!" Vegeta lunged at Nappa, and slammed his heel into Nappa's jaw. Vegeta's momentum carried him over Nappa, and as he landed, Vegeta shot hundreds of ki spheres at Nappa, all of which connected. Nappa turned around and grinned.

"We don't have enough power," Gohan moaned aloud.

"Stop whining, brat!" Vegeta snarled as Nappa slowly made his way over to them. "If we must die... it won't be without a fight!" Vegeta powered up and rocketed toward Nappa. Nappa easily sidestepped Vegeta and grabbed the Saiya-jin prince by his long, golden hair.

"Bakka," Nappa smirked. Vegeta swung up, and slammed his knee into Nappa's bald head. Nappa dropped Vegeta and staggered back, dazed.

"FINAL FLASH!!!!!!" Vegeta roared as he thrust his arms forward and locked his wrists together, putting ever bit of power he had left into this attack. It smashed into Nappa's torso, and swallowed him whole. A huge explosion ripped from the point of impact. The light from the explosion slowly began to fade. Vegeta's hair had turned black no. His reserve of power, gone. And all he had to show for his efforts was bruise on Nappa's chest, and a thin line on his chin.

"Not bad.... Not bad.... Not very good, but not bad."

Vegeta fell too the ground, unconscious. Nappa calmly walked over to Vegeta's unconscious form, and rested his foot on Vegeta's back.

"You know, Vegeta you try to hard. All this time, you've been fighting me and all this time, you knew you couldn't win," Nappa smirked as he ground his foot into Vegeta's spine. "Why not give it up and join me?"

A fist in the jaw took Nappa totally off guard and sent him reeling. He opened his eyes to see an orange clad figure kneeling down by Vegeta.

"Kakarotto," he snorted as he righted himself.

"Enough." Gokou said as he stood to his full height.

"Enough," Nappa echoed quizzically. "Surrendering so easily? I had at least hoped for a fight…" Gokou, in response, slid into a fighting stance as his hair stood up and turned golden. "Kakarotto," Nappa chuckled. "You seem to be another dreamer... I'll have to lay you to rest... permanently..."

"Shut your mouth Nappa! My father's going to beat you!" Gohan shrieked.

"Nappa? Such insolence. I am GOD!!" Nappa began to power up, holding two fingers in the air.