CHAPTER 28 – Second Contact

Disclaimer: I love you mister Toriyama!

Mr. Popo was nervous, they didn't often have guests at Kami's palace and he wanted everything to run smoothly. For this reason, the bedding situation caused Popo considerable stress. He knew very little of the current customs regarding unwedded couples, especially inter- species pairings. Would they want to share a bed? Would they even want to share a room? The possibilities for error seemed endless and he didn't imagine he'd have the opportunity to ask them, or even that it'd be appropriate to ask such things if the opportunity arose. Eventually his hosting instincts kicked in and the correct decision seemed obvious.

Popo thought on all this quietly to himself as he led the guests of honor to their bedchambers. In fact, he was so lost in thought that he almost walked straight past the door; he stopped abruptly in font of the couple, causing a rather exhausted Bulma to walk straight into the solid wall of muscle that was Vegeta's back.

"Watch where you're walking woman!" Vegeta growled, still feeling a little uptight about their sleeping arrangements.

"Watch it yourself buddy! I'll have you know that I'm not impressed with your attitude at the moment!" Bulma scolded in return

"I care little for your human pleasantries"

"I'd noticed" Bulma inwardly fumed but simply lacked the energy for a full scale row right now, especially with the knowledge that a nice comfortable bed lay on the other side of the door they stood before.

Popo sensed the end of the dispute and opened the door slowly to reveal a narrow hallway with two doors facing each other on either side. The genie smiled broadly at his own shrewdness. Adjoining rooms, both with double beds was the obvious answer. If they chose to share a room they could easily do so without the knowledge of any other soul and if not, no harm done. Vegeta had to hold in his huge sigh of relief, while Bulma was far too sleepy to form an opinion on their sleeping arrangements right now. After a brief row about who got which room, both retired for the night, but not before Vegeta received all the information he required on the training facilities of the lookout etc.

Popo breathed a huge sigh of relief and congratulated himself on another task well executed.

Krillin shot out of bed; he had to get to Goku's side and fast. Something was coming, he could sense it and it certainly wasn't any Namekian he'd ever met… not even Piccolo could compare to this. He found Goku in front of the ship, ready to meet whatever was coming, not looking even slightly nervous, typically. Krillin had little time to wonder whether Goku had a death wish before two powerful auras began to grow in the distance. Krillin gulped

"Can we take them Goku??"

"If they're not masking their ki, then yeah I think we can, if not who knows?"

Krillin prayed to every God he's heard of that these people didn't know how to mask their power.

Soon enough, two huge men stood before them in full armor, Krillin felt he's knees begin to buckle but held his ground, his faith in Goku's abilities unwavering.

Nappa checked the power readings on his scouter

"Pitiful" he said aloud, Radditz nodded in acceptance "where is Vegeta?" he stated rather dumbly, unsure of whether the weaklings before him understood him

Goku blinked, this was certainly a turn up for the books, someone else here looking for Vegeta. He regained his composure quickly

"Vegeta's dead, but not for much longer so if ya stick around…"

"Don't lie to me! I saw his power flare around here just half an hour ago!" Nappa interrupted

"Huh? That's not possible, we didn't wish him back yet" Goku grinned amiably "that musta been me you sensed, I had a nightmare" he scratched the back of his head while the two elder saiyan stared at him blankly.

"Wishes? Nightmares? What kinda nonsense are you talking? Hand over our prince before I beat your ass into the ground boy!" Nappa barked like a crazed army veteran.

"Whoa!" Goku raised his hands, gesturing for the gigantic man to settle down, it didn't work. Nappa roared and charged at the smaller man. Krillin covered his eyes waiting for the inevitable. Silence fell, he looked up to see Goku holding the man twice his size in the air using only one arm. Nappa had passed out after one punch. Radditz gaped at the scene before him, and began to weigh up his options. He could run now, but what kind of a saiyan would that make him? He had little time to debate before he saw the younger warrior place Nappa gently down and walk toward him.

"Gee, your friend sure was a hot head! Are you going to attack me too?" Goku smiled brightly at his long lost brother, something clicked into place inside Radditz's tiny brain.

"Kakorotto?" he whispered.

"Huh? I don't know what that means, but if you want to come inside and talk about this calmly then I'll explain everything"

Radditz could only nod his head shakily, deciding to observe what kind of a saiyan Kakorotto had become before he attempted to jog his obviously long lost memory.

Once inside and comfortably seated in the ship's kitchen, Goku proceeded to explain everything to the mysterious man. Krillin began to worry a great deal about handing over such information to strangers, for all they knew they could be playing straight into Frieza's hands, and Krillin had heard enough about that guy from Kami to know that that wasn't good.

"… So ya see, we need to get the dragon balls, wish Vegeta back, take him back to earth and let him beat Frieza so the whole universe won't collapse." Goku finished.

"I see" Radditz replied, this was going to take some time to absorb. The story was very elaborate, but something about his younger brother's manner told him it was all true and Radditz was a man to trust his own instincts. "How many of these balls have you gathered?"

"Three" replied Krillin "we need another four before we can make our wishes" Radditz sneered at the tiny human, only his curiosity about his brother could tempt him to tolerate such a weak creature.

"Leave us earthling, I have much to discus with this… 'Goku'" Radditz growled lowly. Krillin looked nervously at Goku for confirmation. He merely smiled.

"Fine, but I'll be right outside the door, if ya need me pal" he whispered, Radditz's saiyan hearing picked up on this and he snorted, but was ignored as Krillin retired from the room. Radditz watched him go and then turned to his younger brother, for by now he was sure he had found him. The resemblance to their father was frightening, at least physically.

"Kakorotto" he grinned, "the things I could tell you"

Goku merely gave the older man a quizzical look.

New chapter!!! Yes I know it's been a month, but I split up with my boyfriend of three years, I wasn't up for writing k?

Any who, on a happy note thanks to all my reviewers, especially Brenda! KEEP ON SMILING, AND REVIEW!!