WELCOME to the disclaimer! That's right! The disclaimer! This American apple pie institution, known as Parental Discretion, will CLENSE any sense of innuendo or sarcasm from the paragraphs which might actually make you think! And will also insult your intelligence AT THE SAME TIME! So! Protect your families! This story contains explicit depictions of things which are REAL! These REAL things are commonly known as LIFE! So! If it sounds sarcastic, DON'T listen to it! If it sounds dangerous, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME or at all! And if it offends you, then just don't listen to it.
PS: I don't own DBZ, Brolli, a piccolo… blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH!
Chapter 5: Bread and Games!
Night soon fell and the Z Fighters returned to their homes, except for Piccolo who stayed at the Lookout with Dende and Applor, much to the Namek's displeasure. The little Saiyan had been giving him funny looks since he had first seen him, and Piccolo wasn't sure how to deal with it. His first instinct had been to go into a deep meditation, but soon the kid had started to grow on the warrior in the same way that Gohan and then Goten had done. Although this little critter was more… aware than either of those two boys had been. "Living most of your life in a Prison Ship must do that to a boy," Piccolo though as he stood in the doorway, watching the Saiyan sleep. His mother, Fru, had gone home with Krillin and 18, but even though the android had invited Applor (she liked the kid too), he had insisted on staying at the lookout. Piccolo had guessed that 18 freaked him out, not being able to sense her power-level or life energy.
Piccolo turned to leave, but noticed that the youngster's tail was sticking out from the blankets, and Piccolo found himself thinking "There's something we're going to have to deal with… despite there being no moon!" and with that thought lingering, the Namek warrior left for his own quarters. But as he turned Dende was standing waiting for him. The Guardian nodded and Piccolo nodded back.
"Dende, you're up late. Is there something wrong?" The younger Namek shook his head.
"No, Mister Piccolo, but I am keeping an eye on Brolli, making sure that he does not come close to Goku or any of the others."
"And what about that large one that came back with Goku and Gohan? What do you make of him?"
"I detect no malicious intent from him, but…" he broke off.
"But there seems more to him than meets the eye," Piccolo finished and Dende nodded. They stood there in silence, listening to the night and the stirrings of Applor from the room within, his sheets rustling as he moved and the gentle sound of his breathing.
"Have you decided what to do with the boy, Mister Piccolo?" Dende asked, changing the subject. Piccolo turned and looked back into the young Saiyans quarters, leaning against the doorway.
"Yes, I shall train him up, teach him in the ways which I instructed Gohan, I sense potential in the boy." Dende nodded, obviously approving with Piccolo's decision.
"Yes, I have sensed this also. There seems to be a great spirit within the boy, some ancient power which is destined to be released." Dende finished, Piccolo turning to him, his eyes widening.
"You think he could become a Super Saiyan?" Piccolo asked. Dende hesitated and shrugged.
"I do not know, Mister Piccolo. I sense great power in the boy; a great future lies ahead of him. Whether this power will be a strength in battle, or the ability to create I cannot say, but it is there." Dende said, then turned to Piccolo. "You sense it also, I think." Piccolo grunted then moved away.
"It is late, I'm going to get some sleep." Piccolo mumbled. Dende stole one last glance at the boy Applor then looked back down towards the Earth, a single though moving inside his head: "This boy is important!"
Goku, Goten and Tomatta sat in the dinning room of the Son's, wolfing down their supper as Chi-Chi watched with that ever-present amazement of the amount of food a Saiyan could eat in such little time. Already the boys had gone through three large bowels of rice and several roast chickens EACH, and there was still more to go. A lot more! Chi-Chi sighed and rushed about the kitchen-area, preparing food and clearing surfaces and piling dishes in the sink. She turned and looked back at the boys, half smiling as she watched them, noticing the bits fly through the air as they used their chop sticks (Tomatta had become very good at using them in a very short space of time) to literally shovel the food into their mouth. The only stopped occasionally to rip some flesh of the chicken, chew on it then start shovelling the rice back into his mouth.
Chi-Cho quickly ladled steaming noodles into three large bowls and placed them on a tray before heading back over to the others, smiling courteously as she replaced the empty bowels with the full ones.
"Thanks Chi-Chi!" Goku spluttered, his mouth full of chicken and rice. Goten grinned at his mother, rice stuck around his mouth. Chi-Chi looked from Goten to the large one sitting next to him, the one Goku had introduced to her as Tomatta. He was indeed a large man, but he ate carefully, though still as quickly as the other two were scoffing their food. "He's trying to be polite… yes, that's it! Finally! A Saiyan with manners! My, and he has an intelligent look about his eyes as well, maybe he could teach Goten a few things." Chi-Chi beamed to her self, getting a curious look form Goku who shrugged and continued stuffing his face with the noodles which were now here, his rice bowl now empty.
Tomatta carefully placed his empty rice bowl down onto the table and picked up a bowl of noodles, and took a chicken wing form the plate.
"Chi-Chi!" he called out, "This food is great! Some of the best I've ever ate!" He said before tearing a large portion of meat from the leg and slurping his way through the noodles. Chi-Chi smiled to herself again, but didn't say anything, occupying herself with making more rice and making sure the next batch of chickens didn't burn in the oven.
"Yeah mom, this is great!" Goten chirped, his mouth half full of some food or another. A loud slurp signalled that it was noodles.
"I'm glad you think so, boys," She beamed, draining the rice and dishing it into three more large bowels, secretly thankful that Gohan and Videl had taken Cukumbri out for a meal in the City.
Vegita flew across the countryside, clouds flashing past him as he darted towards the large power level ahead of him. The trees blurred past beneath him as the blue-white aura surrounding him sent out a trail behind him.
"Blast you, I'll have you yet!" Vegita though to himself, clenching his fists tight and flexing the muscles in his arms to straining point. His right arm still had that dull pain, and he hoped that Brief's cast around the bone itself would hold in a fight with that other Saiyan. He knew it would be close, but he felt the new power surging through him now, and he knew he would now be that much closer to Kakkarot's own power level.
Vegita pushed ahead, homing onto the beacon of Tomatta's power level that was steadily becoming closer. He felt the air flowing through his tall hair, felt his aura pulling at his clothing slightly and he chuckled at his own power, feeling a tinge of excitement as he headed onwards to that battle.
"Traitor, am I? We'll see what he says when I push my fist through his face, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" he laughed as he headed ever forwards.
Unknown to Vegita, below him Brolli sat on the ground, the hide and bones of a stag lying on the ground a short distance away. The open fire crackled in front of him and the sharp stick poking into the fire containing a large slab of meat wrenched from the animal's hide. Brolli was meanwhile tearing his way through another large slab of meat, savouring the smoky taste of fire-cooked meat and smiled as he devoured the flesh. Thoughts of battle raged through his head, images of death and destruction flashing in front of his eyes as he chewed on the meat and swallowed. The colossal Saiyan thought ahead towards the battle between himself and Kakkarot, thinking of the pleasures he will have as he pounds the fools head into the floor, the fun of hearing the wimp whimper in pain as he beats the flesh into putty. Brolli let out a wide grin, exposing pieces of flesh between his teeth as he did so, then started to laugh, spraying morsels of meat into the air. He quickly devoured the meat then started on the freshly cooked piece from the fire, consuming the burnt flesh in several bites and turned back his attention to the sky. And that's when he saw it, the white trail of something flying over head. Brolli grinned again, then laughed madly, before jumping up to his feet and flying up to meet this object.
Vegita's senses panged as he felt a large power level right beneath him, startled he stopped and hovered in mid air, looking left right, up and down for this thing. Then he realised that stopping was the worst thing he could do and he powered up and sped away. Vegita felt the power level drop away, but then he felt it build up and start to follow him. His eyes widened in fear as he picked up speed, flying onwards faster and faster, and also felt the power behind hi growing and nearing. With a quick flash of energy Vegita turned sharply to the left, then sped away as fast as he could, but still he could sense the being coming closer. He dared to look in the direction and saw a large black blur in the distance, visibly getting closer as it moved forwards.
"IT CAN'T BE!" Vegita shouted as he turned and headed away as fast as he could. He could feel the thing right behind him and sweat stuck out on his forehead. Then a surge of power hit him as the power level behind him swelled incredibly, Vegita's mind straining at the thought of it. A dark blur streaked past him and stopped ahead of him, revealing the hovering form of Brolli, standing straight in mid air, arms crossed so that each hand was palm down in the top of the chest, reminding Vegita of pictures of Egyptian Tombs that trunks had shown him once when explaining the finer details of mummification.
"Oh but it is!" Brolli rumbled before chuckling. He unfolded his arms, hanging casually in the air before the prince and set his gaze directly on him. "How long's it been, Vegita?" The mountain rumbled again. Vegita pushed himself back slightly, tightening his muscles, preparing himself for a fight, to the death if necessary.
"Not long enough, Brolli!" Vegita growled, fear pouring into his veins at the memories of the fights with the insane Saiyan.
Brolli let out a laugh, his immense shoulders shaking with each guffaw, then turned his eyes back onto Vegita.
"Come now, Vegita… My fight isn't with you. You know who I want, and you know that I will crush anybody who stands in my way." Vegita hung there in the sky, frightened out of wits by this bulk's veiled threats. "But, it doesn't have to be this way. Me and you, Prince Vegita - we share a common interest. Or, I should I say the removal of a common interest." Vegita gasped, then:
"Kakkarot!"
Brolli nodded and re-crossed his arms over that gargantuan chest. He left the proposition unsaid, and Vegita knew what the mental Saiyan wanted.
"And if I don't?" Vegita asked, already knowing the answer. Brolli shrugged, looking away for a moment before returning a glare to Vegita, locking eyes with him.
"Then I will be forced to destroy you."
"Hah! You have to catch me first!" and Vegita vanished in a blur, heading down to the forest floor beneath him.
"What?" Brolli gasped, startled by the sudden movement. He turned and looked around and then down, seeing the rustling trees down in the canopy roof where Vegita ha entered the forest. Brolli snarled and flung out an arm, palm outwards and narrowed his hands.
Below, Vegita landed hard and rolled to his feet, running along the floor as fast as he could. Above him, through the canopy ceiling, he saw three flashes of green light and knew that Brolli had just thrown three energy blasts. Not detouring direction, Vegita ran straight ahead felt the bolt of green energy explode somewhere behind, the last one casting it's heat onto his back. Another series of flashes above him made Vegita drop to the floor as six green balls shot through the branches and exploded around him, throwing bits of earth and scorched wood across his back. He pushed himself of the floor, cursing under his breath as a pain burned in his arm, turning and seeing that a splinter of wood was buried in his left shoulder. He reached around with the other arm and yanked it out, hoping that the battle armour would stem the blood flow, not slowing down to let that demented Saiyan gain any ground over him.
Behind him, Brolli touched down on the ground and looked around him. Thick smoke coursed up from a multitude of small craters where his blasts had landed, obscuring the area. Brolli raised his hands to the heavens and let out a cry of rage brought on by Vegita's escape. He had hoped that the arrogant prince could have led Kakkarot to him so that he didn't have to waste energy looking for him.
"Your choice, Vegita… and your destruction. You made and I will finish it!"
Meanwhile, back at the Lookout, Dende looked away from the Earth and closed his eyes.
"Oh no…" he muttered.
Goku put down the last of his bowls of food and dropped a chicken bone onto the table in front of him, happily patting his stomach and letting out a shorty laugh of glee.
"Man, that was GREAT Chi-Chi! You sure do know how to cook!" he said, his smile beaming with pleasure and satisfaction. Goten placed down his own bowl on the table and leant back with a sigh and then a yawn, stretching his arms in the air.
"Mom, can I be excused please?" He asked, moving his chair out from the table a little. Chi-Chi turned to her son and saw the fatigue in his eyes and she smiled.
"Okay, hun. You go off to bed and don't forget to wash your face and brush your teeth." She nagged. Her son nodded, rubbing his eyes and ambling off towards the bathroom. Tomatta leaned back and ruffled Goten's hair as he walked away, telling him to have a good night's sleep before the morning. Goten merely nodded as he lumbered off and disappeared through a door.
As soon as Goten was away, Goku stood up and stretched.
"Hey Chi-chi, I'm just going outside to get some air." Before she could respond, he turned to Tomatta, "You coming, Cuz?" he asked, heading for the door. Tomatta looked away from where Goten had gone and nodded.
"Sure thing, Kakka… er… Goku." The larger Saiyan said lifting himself from the table. The two stepped outside into the cool night air and looked up at the clear sky, the stars twinkling overhead, a shooting star making the moment more than it already was.
Goku's expression dropped almost immediately as the door closed and Tomatta stood there, his bulk silhouetted against the stars, the night black without the full moon.
"Tomatta, something big is going to happen here. Something that could tear the planet apart." Tomatta's face went serious as well after the pleasant evening he had just spent with his new-found family. He folded his arms across his chest and nodded
"Go on, Goku," he rumbled, a feint breeze rustling his hair. Goku took several steps forward, passing Tomatta who turned to follow his cousin, looking out to the stars.
"Many years ago, before Goten was born and when Gohan was barely in his teens, a Saiyan came to earth looking for me." Goku started, "This Saiyan was immensely powerful, so powerful that he could take all of us on by merely become first-stage Super Saiyan." Goku spun sharply, looking at Tomatta in the dim light. "He wasn't even Ascendant! This man, this beast, found it no problem to throw us through buildings, slam us through the tarmac roads or even kick us into the air!"
"What? Who was this Saiyan… and why would he do all this?" Tomatta asked, not believing what he had heard.
"Brolli, that Saiyan, is insane! And for some reason he has take it upon himself to destroy me at any cost! Even those who try to help me perished. Piccolo, Vegita, myself and even Gohan were severely injured with the encounters we had with this madman. If the others hadn't wished Brolli off of planet Earth, I'm certain he would have destroyed us all, and the planet with us!" Goku explained, as Tomatta looked on, a little perplexed as to what this story had to do with anything.
"So, what…" Tomatta started, but Goku raised a hand.
"Please, my friend, let me continue, this will explain why you are here also." Tomatta nodded. "This morning we summoned the Dragon Shenlong to wish for the return of our mentor and friend, King Kai. But, some things happened and first wish was wasted because of me. Vegita was pissed off at what I had done, and decided that he would waste the second wish in an attempt to be rid of me once and for all." Goku looked up at Tomatta, who was still blank, and then he suddenly realised.
"He wished all the Saiyans to Earth, knowing full-well that Brolli would seek out and destroy you." Tomatta said with a scowl. Goku nodded.
"Brolli is indeed here, we have all felt his presence here on Earth. It is an technique we have, we can detect power levels with using those Scouters that Frieza and his cronies used." Goku added, seeing the look on the older Saiyan's face.
"In that case, why don't you get the dragon to wish Brolli from the Earth and leave him hanging in space?" Tomatta asked. Goku shook his head.
"It doesn't work like that, the Dragon won't cast wishes that will put a person's life in danger as a direct result of that wish. For example, if I wished the Dragon to kill somebody, it wouldn't." Goku explained. Tomatta shook his head.
"Figures," he said, simply.
"And besides, the dragon balls have been spent and are scattered across the Earth. It would take days to find them, and in that time Brolli will have destroyed many of the cities around here." Goku said. "No, the only way is to confront Brolli once and for all as some of the others search for the dragon balls to take us ALL away to another planet where we can fight it out safely without endangering the innocent people here on Earth."
"A noble deed, but what of ourselves?" Tomatta asked, but Goku merely shrugged the question off.
"If something goes wrong, then we'll die." Answered Goku, Tomatta nodded.
"I thought as much. Come on; let's go inside and sleep. It's getting late now and it's been a long day" Tomatta suggested, headed the door. Goku nodded and followed, stopping suddenly and looking up to his cousin, something that taller Saiyan had said suddenly hitting him.
"Hey, what did you mean, 'ourselves'?"
"He's WHAT!" Piccolo hissed, being careful not to awaken Applor who was still asleep in his hastily built bed. Dende repeated what he had just told the taller Namek.
"I said, that Vegita is heading towards Goku's house after escaping from Brolli," he hissed.
"Is the Pineapple Head out of his spikey little mind? He'll lead Brolli right to Goku!" then his mood darkened even more. "And to the kid as well!" Piccolo looked away from Dende and towards the Earth, then to Applor asleep in is makeshift bed. "We've got to get Goten away from there! If Vegita is headed there with Brolli hot behind him, no telling what could happen." Dende shook his head.
"No, Brolli isn't chasing after Vegita! He let him escape. But, what concerns me is that Tomatta is staying with Goku and Goten!" Dende hissed. Piccolo turned back and grinned.
"The guy who kicked Vegita's ass, ay? We-e-ll, this should be an interesting night then." Piccolo said, chuckling softly to himself, moving closer to the edge and looking down at the Earth.
Vegita ran faster, pushing himself harder to escape from that madman, Brolli. The blue-clad legs and arms pumped in a blur as Vegita pushed himself across the floor the dense forest, tress buzzing past him in a blur a she hopped low branch and even chopped higher once from his path. He could sense that other Saiyan better now; the bastard who had broke his arm! He was closer, a lot closer than he had been when he had narrowly escaped being blown apart by Brolli farther back in the forest. The run had been long, but Vegita entertained himself by thinking what he would do when he finally found the one who had called him the Betrayer!
"You bastard!" Vegita thought, knowing himself to be that extra bit closer, "I'm going to rip your face of, you Saiyan dog! You're an insect, just a peasant! I have royal blood, I am the commander of all Saiyans, blast you!" then his thoughts changed course. "Blast you, Kakkarot! Always one step ahead of me, always stronger, always more powerful! But wait until you see my knew power… I knew I was close, just wait until you see me now! You thought I had grown strong when we fought that pink bastard Buu! Well now, Kakkarot, just you wait until you glimpse my new power!"
This lust for Kakkarot to marvel at the stronger, more powerful Vegita sent the Saiyan Prince's energy soaring as his limbs blurred even more as he charged onwards through the foliage, feeling the bulk of the new Saiyan's power lying only a short distance away.
"I'll destroy you, you arrogant bastard! Call me the betrayer of the Saiyan race? HAH! I'll show you what it is to be powerful! I'll show you what it is to have your arm mangled and your ribs pulverised! Then, I'll destroy you, slowly! You pathetic creature, let's see how you compare to Prince Vegita then, AHAHAHAHAHAHAH!" he laughed to himself, his thoughts now racing, more ideas flooding into his mind's eyes. Would he break the Saiyan's right arm, as he had done to Vegita? Or would he break the left. Maybe he should smash both, leaving him crippled and defenceless as Vegita pulverised him into the ground, showing him no mercy, letting him know what true pain was before atomising his body piece by piece with his energy attack.
"Yes! That is what I should do! I'll give him the full treatment, AHAHAHAHAH! Show him what a fool he was to dare go against Vegita, Prince of the Saiyans! Leave him bloody on the floor, crushed and destroyed, as he sees the errors of his ways and he begs forgiveness! And I'll give him something for his troubles; I'll give him a slow death! Call ME A BETRAYER! ARGHHHHHHHHHH!"
With his anger and rage, Vegita turned Super Saiyan, bursting into a golden shine as his hair flashed to gold and his eyes green. Vegita reflected on this. Yes, it was a risky thing to do, go Super Saiyan now, his aura might attract unwanted attention from Brolli and he would come a-running to come and destroy the Prince, but no matter.
"I evaded him before, I can do it again!" Vegita scoffed arrogantly, flashing away.
Piccolo took a step back from the edge and looked down.
"Oh man! Dende, did you feel that!" he gasped, looking around for the Guardian. Dende appeared beside him, holding his staff in both hands.
"Yes, Mister Piccolo, I did. That is why I did not want Vegita to go up against Tomatta in Goku's house. His is much more powerful now than he was before, remember that Saiyan's grow powerful with every fight, and near death brings them out a lot tougher than they were!" Dende said calmly, looking down at the Earth and tracing Vegita's progress towards Goku's.
Piccolo looked at Dende for a moment, then looked towards the Earth again, his attention on the house and Goten, asleep in his bed right now, as Applor was behind them, the softly spoke a single word:
"Goten."
Vegita burst through the foliage of the forest and entered a clearing, a large house I the centre. He did not recognise it as Goku's, the only fact burning in his mind was the Saiyan's presence in there.
Inside, Goku sat up in bed, sensing a high power level coming from outside. He quickly jumped up and pulled on his blue fighting shirt, orange trousers and quickly slipped his boots on before rushing out the door. He saw Vegita sneaking around the side of the house, powered up and Super Saiyan, and powered up himself, bathing the clearing with gold light. Vegita turned, and narrowed his eyes looking into glare, but couldn't see who it was; guessing it was the one he was there to seek out Vegita called out:
"So, you're a Super Saiyan after all! How pathetic!" Vegita sneered, dropping into a fighting stance.
"Of course I'm a Super Saiyan, Vegita! You were there when I made the transition!" Goku shouted back. Vegita paused, and straightened up.
"Kakkarot?"
"Of course it's me! Who else did you expect to find here!" Goku answered. Vegita opened his mouth to answer but another, much larger, person dropped to the ground in front of Goku.
"Me!" the huge, silhouetted figure rumbled.
Who is this dark figure that has just landed between the two Super Saiyans! Has Brolli finally found Goku and is about to exact a furious revenge for those miserable night as a new-born? And what about the other Saiyans, what will they do, especially that elusive pair of Maylon and Turrun…
Find out, in the next instalment of TOTAL WAR!