Love & Blood, part 7

The wind whistled in Kakarot's ears as he streaked through the air. How could they have possibly taken the prince? Why hadn't they taken him? And why couldn't he remember? There hadn't been a full moon...

A flash of sun on metal ahead — Kakarot slowed to a ki-reduced speed as Dodoria's ship came into sight. The ship hadn't gotten as far as he thought it would. Sending out a pulse, Kakarot sensed the overwhelming odds he had to face. Where was the prince? He couldn't sense his ki. Heart slamming against his ribs, he carefully searched the ship, one power at a time. Sweat formed on his forehead as he concentrated. Dozens of low ki levels, a strong level, two ...

It hit him like an explosion, a sudden blast of anger and hate. Excruciating pain. The young Saiyan reeled with the force of it — he grabbed his head as if to keep it from exploding.

AHHHH! MY PRINCE! he screamed.

Eyes roll back, go to white, to blue, fists clench. Screaming, screaming, the sound like thunder rolling. The sky goes dark, lightning crackles from his hands, bursts from his fingertips, streaks from tree to bush to ground, circles his body. Screaming, screaming. Wind howls, gold hair explodes, growing, growing, eyebrows disappear. Seas boil, hills move, rocks crumble, the planet trembles. Screaming, screaming. His back arches, a final shriek of rage and pain. He goes nova. The transformation is complete.

******

You left the boy?! Dodoria quivered with rage.

He was like a wildman, sir! He...transformed into something. It was like he was... a golden demon. It took twenty of us to take him down. But he was dead!

You fool! Baka! Of course he wasn't dead!

Dodoria slapped the prod against his palm and his eyes slid to the figure hanging from the ceiling. Vejita's head hung down, blood was dripping from his mouth. There were burns all over his body, and one leg dangled broken and useless. With great effort, he raised his head and grinned darkly.

Here he comes... he rasped.

The explosion hit the ship like a tornado, a force of energy that blasted the metal monster clear off its course. Dodoria and his soldiers cried out as the force flung them against the walls and sent them skidding across the room. Vejita swung on his chains and screamed from the pain. With an agonizing cry, he poured every last ounce of his energy into bursting free from his shackles. He fell to the floor, tucking and rolling to spare his broken leg.

Vejita panted, sweating, and concentrated on sending out a signal. Kakarot! He pulled himself along the floor. The prod! Tucking his head, Vejita rolled across the floor. Another blast tipped the ship in exactly the right direction and Vejita reached for the prod as it slid toward him.

Dodoria struggled to his feet as the ship continued to reel out of control. Don't let him escape! he screamed, but his soldiers were scrambling out the door in every direction and in any position they could.

Vejita heard the sweet sounds of shrieking men and ki blasts ricocheting everywhere as he wielded the prod in Dodoria's direction. Another blast rocked the ship again and Dodoria fell, sliding across the floor and landing nearly nose to nose with Vejita. The prince grinned wickedly as Dodoria's eyes widened.

Vejita hissed and, sticking the prod straight into Dodoria's face, he blasted him with full force on. Dodoria's body slammed against the far wall, his face permanently rearranged, compliments of the prince of Saiyans. Vejita flung the prod away and rolled to his back with a groan.

Suddenly, part of the wall disintegrated before his eyes and a wild-eyed stranger burst through.

He stared at the man before him, wild golden locks hanging to his knees, sharp features full of rage, his bare chest heaving with anger. The muscles of his arms bulged as he clenched his fists. The blue eyes rested on his prince.

Kakarot ran to Vejita's side and gently picked him up. My leg is broken, Kakarot. Once again I have to rely on your help.

The ship is out of control, sire. I need to get you out of here before it crashes.

Vejita flung his arm around Kakarot's neck, then wrapped his tail around the young Saiyan's waist for stability. Rising into the air, Kakarot freed one hand and blasted a hole in the side of the ship. The metal monster yawed to one side, and Kakarot burst out the hole just before it went spiraling to the ground. Dodoria's ship crashed into the earth throwing up dust, dirt and rocks, then burst into flames.

The prince hung from Kakarot's neck with the young Saiyan's arm around his waist. Grimly, they stared down at the burning ship as the force of the explosion hit them. Vejita turned his face away from the blast. Kakarot tightened his grip on the prince.

I need to get you to a healing center, sire. Kakarot's voice was deeper and he seemed to be in complete control. Vejita stared at his young charge, studying the sharp features, drawing on the power of his pulsing ki.

If you can get me to my ship, Kakarot, everything we need is there. But you'll have to go straight into the viper's pit to get it.

A slow, cold smile crossed Kakarot's face. I welcome the opportunity, sire, to come face to face with Frieza himself. His voice was devoid of emotion.

Vejita suppressed a shiver. Did any of my men survive?

Nappa was seriously injured when I left, but everyone else was dead.

Then, return there to find Nappa. We will need to lay low while you get my ship. Kakarot leveled out and flew back in the direction he had come from.

I'm at your service, sire, he shouted against the wind. I won't fail you.

Vejita smiled. I had no doubt, Kakarot. I had no doubt.

******

They found Nappa limping toward the hills. As Kakarot descended, Nappa looked up and gaped. Kakarot landed softly beside him.

Stop staring, Nappa, and give me a hand, Vejita growled.

Uhhhh...sure thing, prince. They transferred the prince's arm from Kakarot's neck to Nappa's. The huge man lifted the prince right off his feet.

Put me down, baka, and let me lean on you! Vejita snarled. Nappa quickly dropped the prince, who landed nimbly on his good leg.

I thought your leg was broken, Kakarot said, glaring at Nappa.

Startled at the sound of the young Saiyan's voice, Nappa just gaped. Finally, he recovered his wits enough to say, Naw, my foot is just sprained.

Vejita smirked as Nappa stared and Kakarot's anger began to rise. His ki began to pulse dangerously.

Well, this works out, doesn't it, Kakarot. Nappa, we need to lay low and heal while Kakarot performs a little mission. He put his free hand on the young Saiyan's shoulder. Ebony eyes bored into blue. When this is all over, Kakarot, you will show me how you do this.

Kakarot's hairless eyebrows drew down in a scowl. Nappa swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing.

You know what to do, chibi, Vejita said. Startled at being called this by his prince, Kakarot's anger disappeared.

Yes, sire. I'm on my way.

Long heavy triangles of golden hair blowing, Kakarot ran a few steps then burst into the air with a blast that nearly blew the two men over. He was out of sight in less than a second.

Nappa continued to gape into the empty sky.

he began.

Come on, Nappa. Let's find a place to rest and you can get us some food.

H-how did he...do that? The two men turned and began to hobble toward the heavily wooded hills. With one arm thrown around Nappa's waist, the prince moved painfully forward. He gritted his teeth and growled, clenching his free fist.

I don't know, but I intend to find out.

*********

I can't just go barging into the middle of Freiza's stronghold, Kakarot thought as he rocketed toward the city. On the other hand, I'm sure they're tracking me right now, anyway. Might as well go for it. Probably not expecting just one person.

When the stronghold was in sight, Kakarot came to a dead stop mid-air and stared toward the city.

Something's wrong...

He frowned, concentrating, gaze sweeping back and forth. The realization hit him like a brick wall.

Frieza's gone! Kakarot searched for the ki of any of his enemies, and, finding none, he turned to stare back the way he had come.

No, I would have sensed him, he thought. But if he's not on the planet...

He swept his gaze across the skies. ...then he's in his ship.

Did you have that dream again, Kakarot?

He sits trembling as Fasha strokes his hair, a little boy frightened by nightmares. He nods and sniffles a little, but quickly wipes the tears away before she can see them. Saiyans don't cry!

I'm okay, Fasha, he says and slips back under the covers.

Do you want to talk about it? Her voice is soft and gentle which angers him for some reason, but he only shakes his head.

She sighs, brushes a soft kiss on his forehead and leaves the room.

It's only a dream, he thinks. Everyone is still alive, the planet is still here, that freak is still in power.

The young Saiyan grits his teeth. The planet...

Kakarot's eyes widened in horror.

The son of a bitch is going to do it!

With a bellow, he powered up and streaked into the sky. Within minutes he located Frieza's ship. He concentrated, searching the ship, letting his mind travel along its long corridors. He sensed the low ki of dozens of soldiers, found Zarbon's and Ginyu's and the rest of his men's.

Then he found Frieza. The evil hit him in the eyes like a sandblast. In an instant, he knew he was right and that time was short. By the time he reached the ship, Frieza would have time to react and Planet Vejita would be history... no, it would no longer exist, in any history books.

The young Saiyan made his decision. He powered up to his fullest and streaked back to the city, hitting the ground running.

Vejita's small ship was heavily guarded. With surprise on his side, Kakarot charged straight for it, right through the guards.



Fists and feet flying, Kakarot easily took out the guards and raced through the small ship's corridors. He found the bridge, ran to the controls and then panicked.

How do I fly this thing!? he cried.

I'll help you.

Kakarot wheeled around and there stood an old man, hands clasped behind his back, white whiskers quivering, dressed in a tunic and baggy pants.