Chapter 3: Saiyan Past
After Goten was able to get out of bed, he came to the outside of the lookout. He could see could see his father, Gohan, Trunks, Piccolo, and Mr. Popo awaiting him. Trunks apparently washed his face. Goku practically ran to his son.
"Are you ok, son?" he asked.
"Thanks to Dende," he answered, "but you already saw me when he healed me."
Goku bent down to his son's height and smiled.
"You're my son, Goten. I can't have your mom going off worrying about your safety…"
He abruptly stopped and got closer to Goten's ear.
"…and I think we should keep this one from mom," he whispered. Goten quietly laughed and nodded.
"So," Gohan started with an irritated face, "what happened you two?"
Both of the two boys became startled as Gohan started to resemble Chi-Chi in facial expression.
"Well," Trunks responded rubbing his dry face with a towel trying to hide, "after we took your letter, we began to search for the Dragon Balls to make some wishes. You barely missed us when we saw this strange guy with a long sword. He said something about us having to die. Then he stabbed Goten."
"Hmmmm," Goku sounded as he tried to think. "Why would somebody want to kill you two? Did you boys foil a crime?"
In unison, both said, "No."
"Destroy someone's property?"
"No."
"Make a psychopathic woman with a split personality sneeze?"
"No."
"Ruin someone's chances at world domination?"
"No."
"Well, that count out the reasons why people wanted me dead as a kid," he said rubbing the back of his head.
Goten thought about a second.
"He did say something about us being Saiyans."
"What?"
"He knows you guys are Saiyans?" Piccolo asked alarmed.
"Yeah!" Trunks said in an epiphany. "He asked us if we were Saiyans, and when we said yes, he said he wanted to kill Goten."
"Who else on earth knows about Saiyans?" Goku asked.
"Perhaps," Piccolo said, "he's not from earth? It might be someone from the past, someone who meet the Saiyans."
"What?" Gohan asked, "But who?"
"I don't know, but I have a pretty good idea who does?"
"Vegeta," Bulma called out.
"I'm right here woman!" he responded from the back yard.
She looked surprised to find Vegeta in the backyard doing push-ups rather than in the Gravity Room. She opened to door and walked to him.
"Hey, you incredible hunk of Saiyan, why aren't you in the Gravity Room."
"I…don't want to damage it now."
"What? That's odd. Usually you break it, and I have to repair it. Does this have anything to do with your 'surprise performance' this afternoon?"
"Woman! If you're done, I'd like to get back to training now."
"All right, all right. What ever the prince wants."
After she opened the door, Bulma's mother came out.
"Oh, I didn't know Vegeta was out here," she said giggling.
"What that matter mom?"
"You father says he can't find the Dragon Radar you had him search for."
"What? How are we supposed to find the Dragon Balls if something or someone, like Cell, happens again?"
"I think you should look in Trunks's room."
"Where is that brat?!" Vegeta interrupted.
"I don't know," Bulma answered, "I know Gohan took Goten home earlier today, but Trunks must have gone with them. I'll call Chi-Chi."
As she was about to enter the building, she looked back to Vegeta.
"Oh and you were good this time, just like when we had Trunks."
As soon as the door closed, Vegeta smirked.
"I've still got it."
Just when he thought that, Goku, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks appeared right beside him.
"What the…? Kakarot! What the hell are you doing here?"
"Vegeta, we need to ask you something about Saiyan history?"
"Well…all right. I suppose if it's a noble subject," he said getting up.
"How many races of people did you kill?"
Vegeta looked at Goku with a cock-eyed stare.
"Do you know what you're asking of me, Kakarot, or has your brain finally left your cranium?"
"Huh? What's the matter?"
"I've killed thousands of species, more than I dare count."
"Ok," Gohan thought aloud, "do you know if anyone survived, the species you killed?"
"I doubt it, and even if they did, Frieza's henchmen would have taken care of them. Why are you asking me this?"
"Someone attacked Goten and Trunks because they were Saiyan."
"Now who in their fucking right mind would do that?"
"We don't know. That's why we think it may be someone who has a grudge against us."
"Well, it could be…nahh."
"What dad?" Trunks asked in eagerness.
"It just popped into my mind about the race that was once by us."
"Huh?" all of them asked.
"My father once told me that our people shared a planet together with a weaker race."
"Really?" Gohan asked intrigued.
"Yes. The other race was weak but technologically advanced. They called themselves the Tuffles, I think. The Saiyans decided to attack them and take over the planet. After the Great Battle went into the night, we first showed our powers under the full moon with our tails and eradicated the Tuffles, thereby taking the planet and their technology."
"Man," Goku said, "we were ruthless."
"That's our nature Kakarot. Oh it nearly slipped my mind," Vegeta sarcastically said, "You bumped your head and forgot."
"That's not important now Vegeta. Did any of them survive?"
"How the hell am I supposed to know? My father told me that story. And I don't know how old the story itself is."
"If he is one of them," Gohan asked, "that's probably why he wants to kill us."
"Aren't we in the same boat?" Goten asked.
All of them turned their attention to him.
"Dad, you told me you, Gohan, me, Trunks, and Mr. Vegeta are the only Saiyans left."
"That's right!" Vegeta interrupted. "But, what your getting at is impossible. We killed that race a long time ago, so how could he come back to take vengeance at such an old age. And even if he was alive, how on earth is he so powerful…or is your son getting weaker, Kakarot."
"Dad, he immobilized me," Trunks commented, "He did something to me that held me still. We know he's powerful."
Vegeta stood there looking into space.
"Was father wrong? Did somebody from the Tuffles survive our onslaught? They did have space travel technology. Maybe one of them escaped the planet, but then how is he so powerful that he can immobilize my son and almost kill Kakarot's brat. I must learn why!"
"We better prepare a plan."