Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ. Yadda...yadda...yadda.
Warning: None
Author's note: This fic was not originally intended to be a humorous one. That's why I put it under action/adventure category. It's just impossible to write DBZ without humor though, especially when Vegeta is involved. Oh, yeah! A plot is born, finally!
A Killer in Me
Part 5
The remote valley was still. The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly. There was no sound except for the constant roar of the waterfall. Once in a while, a lone bird chirped once or twice, but for that occasional exception, no creatures stirred. It was if the valley itself was tensed in anticipation.
Floating near the waterfall, the huge green Nameckian sat cross-legged, conveniently ignoring all laws pertaining to gravity. Under his white turban, his eyes were closed in concentration. The only thing that moved was his long white cape that fluttered in the breeze.
Abruptly his eyes opened and swept the valley. Piccolo's eyes rested briefly on the sleeping figure under the trees on the nearby bank. Trunks' purple hair stirred in the soft breeze, but the boy wasn't the cause of the disturbance that pulled Piccolo out of his meditation. Abruptly, he looked up.
Gohan and Goten were descending rapidly from the sky. Both of them were about to call a cheerful greeting to Piccolo, when the Namekian put his finger to his lips, and pointed to the sleeping boy nearby.
Their eyes widened, but they waved instead of calling out. They dropped down to Piccolo's level and halted.
"Hey, Piccolo! How is it going?" Gohan grinned, his short black hair stirred in the breeze. He and Goten had sneaked out while Chi-Chi was off getting groceries.
"Fine," he replied shortly. "Though it seems that I have found out why Saiyans send their children away to other planets, rather than raise them themselves."
"Oh?" Gohan raised an eyebrow. He looked around at the serene valley. All seemed to be peaceful. "Where is Vegeta?"
As if on cue, the little Saiyan prince burst straight up out of the pool directly below them, scattering the Z-fighters in all directions, because literally on his tail was one of the largest fish that Gohan had ever seen. As he rocketed into the air, Vegeta looked intently down at the fish with his trademark smirk firmly in place, despite of the hundreds of razor sharp teeth inches away from ending his second childhood.
Arms spread wide and wet hair falling forward over his face, the little Saiyan abruptly reversed direction. He kicked the fish under its massive jaw, sending it arcing back toward the pool. Moving at super speed, the little prince beat it to the water and with one mighty punch, sent the massive fish crashing into the trees on the riverbank.
The fish flopped around, crushing several trees in the process, until a single powerful ki blast through its head ended its struggles. The commotion woke Trunks up, who blinked sleepily and stretched. Ignoring his audience, a sopping Vegeta landed near the carcass and with efficient ki blasts, began to gut it.
"At least he knows how to feed himself," Piccolo muttered loud enough for Gohan to hear, who stifled a laugh. The demi-Saiyan recalled with fondness the year he had spent with Piccolo, getting ready for Vegeta and Nappa's arrival. Though he would never admit it out loud, or at least where his mother would hear, those were the best days of his life. He had always suspected it had been Piccolo that left the apples, but the Nameckian would not fess up.
"He was always very independent," Gohan agreed. "Seems to be true even at this age."
Piccolo grunted noncommitally.
When he was done, Vegeta stepped back and surveyed his work. Satisfied, he deigned to glance at the onlookers. Seeing them watching his activities, he scowled. "Get your own," he snapped.
Trunks, seeing Gohan and Goten nearby, walked over. "Hey! What's up?"
"We're just visiting," Goten chirped happily. He wanted to talk to Vegeta. He had viewed the aloof Saiyan prince as sort of a surrogate father for years, until his own father had come back from the dead during the fight with Majin Buu. Now Vegeta was his own age! Goten thought that was to coolest thing ever.
They all watched Vegeta fire a ki blast at a pile of wood and soon the clearing was filled with the aroma of cooking fresh fish. Mouths watering, Trunks and Goten looked at each other. Simultaneously they grinned and, still fully clothed, jumped into the pool of water to catch their own meal.
Gohan grinned and turning to Piccolo, asked, "Seriously, Piccolo. How is it going?"
"So far, he hasn't gotten into too much trouble. Luckily his power levels are very low compared to when he was grown up. He seems to be adjusting to his surroundings."
"Can the surroundings adjust to him?" Gohan asked.
Piccolo snorted. "However, there was nearly an incident at Kame House earlier."
"Kame House?" Gohan echoed.
"Yeah, we dropped off a package for 18. Vegeta didn't react too well to her," Piccolo said.
Gohan thought that over. Over in the pool, loud splashes and shrieks of laughter were heard. "Do you think he remembers her and their fight?" he asked finally. Vegeta never mentioned it, but that fight was the bitterest defeat for the Saiyan prince. She not only broke his arm, but nearly his pride. The prince never forgave the android. They learned to tolerate each other as time went on, but only just.
Over in the pool, a fish suddenly launched itself onto the bank, followed closely by a soaking wet Trunks and Goten. They dragged it over to where Vegeta was sitting cross-legged, wolfing down the meat with relish. The prince looked up at them as they joined him, his expression was almost tolerant. Soon, all three were engaged in an eating contest.
Piccolo shook his head, his cape fluttered in the breeze. "I don't think so," he said thoughtfully. "He doesn't seem to remember anything at all about being here on Earth. And so far he has reacted with surprising maturity to everything else he has come across. This was something else, almost," Piccolo hesitated, "instinctive."
Eyebrows raised, Gohan chewed on that. "Instinctive," he murmured. A thought struck him. "Do you remember when we first fought the androids?" Piccolo nodded. "Remember how adamant Vegeta was about fighting them? He was obsessed with destroying them, and he was so focused on that, that he didn't even care about putting Bulma and baby Trunks in danger. I have never seen Vegeta so determined to destroy anything, even Freiza or Majin Buu."
Piccolo nodded again. "I remember," he said. He wondered if something had happened to little Vegeta to make him hate androids, or if it was something else, something less personal.
Gohan evidently had been thinking along the same lines. "I wonder if it's a Vegeta thing, or a Saiyan thing," he mused.
Hearing Gohan, Piccolo smiled to himself. If Gohan was the strongest fighter alive, he was also one of the smartest too. Piccolo was as proud as a parent of the half-Saiyan. Then he gave full attention to what Gohan has said. "Goku didn't react like that," he pointed out.
"True," Gohan agreed, "but father is not a typical Saiyan," he pointed back.
"True," Piccolo returned. "We don't have enough experience with normal Saiyans to say for sure either. Although I would never qualify Vegeta as normal either, come to think of it."
"We could ask Vegeta," Gohan suggested.
No sooner said than done. They walked over to where boys were sitting, still stuffing their faces in typical Saiyan fashion. Vegeta looked up, his cheeks bulging with fish. He swallowed. "What?" he asked impatiently.
"What happened earlier with you and the android?" Piccolo asked bluntly.
"I don't know what you are talking about," was the reply. The prince took another bite of fish.
"You almost attacked 18 with no provocation, Vegeta." Piccolo growled. "Why?"
Trunks and Goten looked at the small prince, both of them with their mouths full.
Vegeta rose to his feet, his tail fluffing slightly. "That thing is an abomination and should be eliminated," his eyes narrowed.
"Why do you say that?" Piccolo asked. "She hasn't done anything to you." Piccolo knew that not really true, but Vegeta didn't.
Vegeta fumbled for a reply. He didn't know why he had felt such a stark need to wipe that thing out of existence. It was deep inside, part of his being. Feeling cornered, he fell back on his usual defense. It worked equally well with annoying Saiyans and other aliens. "I am the Saiyan prince and don't have to explain myself to the likes of you," he snarled. Abandoning his meal, he stalked off into the woods.
"Well, that went over about how you would expect," Gohan commented. "I guess Vegeta is Vegeta, no matter what age he is."
Trunks and Goten stood up. "What's going on?" Trunks asked, wiping his mouth on the back of his arm.
"That's what we were trying to find out," Gohan answered, still looked at the area where Vegeta disappeared.
Trunks thought it over. "C'mon, Goten!" Trunks grabbed Goten's arm and they rushed into the woods after Vegeta.
Gohan and Piccolo looked at each other, shrugged, and then sat on the ground for a brainstorming session.
Vegeta stalked through the woods, looking for something to vent his anger on. Trees were no good, as they didn't fight back. Animals, sensing the violent prince, got out of the way in a hurry. He was just about to take off into the atmosphere when he heard Trunks and Goten run up behind him.
"Hey! Fa…I mean Vegeta! Wait up!" Trunks called.
Vegeta stopped and crossed his arms, but didn't face them. "What do you want?" he asked, his tail lashing from side to side.
Trunks and Goten looked at each other. Identical grins formed on their faces at the same time. Goten reached out and slapped Vegeta hard on his back, making him stagger forward. "Tag! You're it!" he shouted as a surprised Vegeta whirled around in rage.
Laughing, the two demi-Saiyans took off running. For long seconds, Vegeta stood stock still, his teeth clenched as well as his fists. Then, a slow smirk curled his lips. "So, you want to play, huh?" he said. Reaching up to activate his scouter, he stretched his sense. This would be interesting.
Goten and Trunks stopped deep in the woods, panting slightly. In tune with each other, they held their breaths and closed their eyes, trying to focus. Each keyed their senses to their utmost; trying to anticipate which direction Vegeta would attack from. Long moments dragged by and nothing happened.
"I can't feel anything, Trunks," Goten whispered.
"He's coming, trust me," Trunks assured his partner. He knew his father, and Vegeta could not back down from a challenge.
"Then where is he?" Goten asked.
"Right above you!" Vegeta answered as he leaped down out of a tree above the two boys.
Too late they whirled and looked up. Vegeta landed on top of them and they all collapsed in a sprawling heap of arms and legs and a tail.
"You're too slow!" Vegeta jeered from on top. "Tag, you're it!" and leaped away, back into the trees once more.
Wobbling, the two demi-Saiyans climbed to their feet, spitting grass and rubbing their sore heads. "C'mon Goten!" Trunks ordered. As fast as they could, they climbed after the agile little prince. It was turning into more of a game of hide and seek, rather than tag. But as an adult, Vegeta never 'played' with his son. Trunks was determined to milk this opportunity for all it was worth.
High in the trees, Vegeta grinned. His opponents were unable to sense his battle power because he was keeping it suppressed, using only his natural strength. He didn't even try to sense their ki either for the same reason. But his scouter was set to locate all life forms and was picking them up on infrared. With this advantage, he was able to keep track of their movements.
Seeing them starting to close in, he leaped to another tree, then another. Relying more on stealth then speed, he led them in a merry chase around the perimeter of the valley. Vegeta was so caught up in the game; he failed to realize that he had inadvertently boxed himself in a cul-del-sac. Swearing to himself, he turned around, trying to judge just how soon his opponents would reach his position. He ran back to the opening, just as Trunks and Goten appeared.
For a split second, they all stared at each other. Then predatory grins spread across the two boys face. Vegeta feinted right, and then broke to the left. Goten, falling for the feint, stumbled across Trunks' path, interfering with him. This gave Vegeta room to dive around them and take off at top speed. Smirking, he looked back at Trunks and Goten in hot pursuit. He turned forward again just in time to see something blur into existence right in front of him.
He smashed face first into the broad chest at top speed, eliciting an 'oof!' from Goku.
Vegeta didn't even have time to draw a breath before Trunks and Goten, unable to stop, plowed into them and with their combined momentum, sent them all sprawling to the ground.
For a few seconds they lay in a pile, Vegeta sandwiched between Trunks, Goten and Goku, trying to draw air into his crushed lungs. Finally, he managed to gain enough air to gasp, "Get off of me!"
Moaning, Trunks and Goten rolled off, flopping to the ground on either side of them, leaving Vegeta lying on top of Goku. "What happened?" he groaned, reaching down to feel if his tail was broken.
"Dad!" Goten sat up, smiling at Goku, who was sitting up, still holding a dazed Vegeta.
"Goku?" Trunks asked.
"Where did you come from?" Vegeta asked, willing the world to stop spinning. Unconsciously he curled his tail around Goku's arm in an effort to ground himself.
"I came to get Goten and Gohan. Chi-Chi will be home soon," Goku explained.
Goten shuddered at how his mother would react if she found out where they were.
"How did you get here?" Vegeta asked, his head finally clearing.
"Instant transmission," Goku replied cheerfully. He looked down where Vegeta's tail was still around his forearm, feeling the soft fur. He recalled his own tail with a wave of sad nostalgia.
Vegeta shook himself and climbed off of Goku. For an instant no one said anything, then Goku cleared his throat. "We should find Gohan and go home."
They walked back to the waterfall, each of them lost in their own thoughts. As they entered the clearing, they all stopped as if poleaxed.
Piccolo and Gohan were standing off to the side, tensed and alert. Neither of them looked at the group because sitting in the middle of the clearing, next to the pool where the boys had been fishing, was a large spaceship.
"Looks like we have company," Goku observed.
TBC
Warning: None
Author's note: This fic was not originally intended to be a humorous one. That's why I put it under action/adventure category. It's just impossible to write DBZ without humor though, especially when Vegeta is involved. Oh, yeah! A plot is born, finally!
A Killer in Me
Part 5
The remote valley was still. The afternoon sun beat down mercilessly. There was no sound except for the constant roar of the waterfall. Once in a while, a lone bird chirped once or twice, but for that occasional exception, no creatures stirred. It was if the valley itself was tensed in anticipation.
Floating near the waterfall, the huge green Nameckian sat cross-legged, conveniently ignoring all laws pertaining to gravity. Under his white turban, his eyes were closed in concentration. The only thing that moved was his long white cape that fluttered in the breeze.
Abruptly his eyes opened and swept the valley. Piccolo's eyes rested briefly on the sleeping figure under the trees on the nearby bank. Trunks' purple hair stirred in the soft breeze, but the boy wasn't the cause of the disturbance that pulled Piccolo out of his meditation. Abruptly, he looked up.
Gohan and Goten were descending rapidly from the sky. Both of them were about to call a cheerful greeting to Piccolo, when the Namekian put his finger to his lips, and pointed to the sleeping boy nearby.
Their eyes widened, but they waved instead of calling out. They dropped down to Piccolo's level and halted.
"Hey, Piccolo! How is it going?" Gohan grinned, his short black hair stirred in the breeze. He and Goten had sneaked out while Chi-Chi was off getting groceries.
"Fine," he replied shortly. "Though it seems that I have found out why Saiyans send their children away to other planets, rather than raise them themselves."
"Oh?" Gohan raised an eyebrow. He looked around at the serene valley. All seemed to be peaceful. "Where is Vegeta?"
As if on cue, the little Saiyan prince burst straight up out of the pool directly below them, scattering the Z-fighters in all directions, because literally on his tail was one of the largest fish that Gohan had ever seen. As he rocketed into the air, Vegeta looked intently down at the fish with his trademark smirk firmly in place, despite of the hundreds of razor sharp teeth inches away from ending his second childhood.
Arms spread wide and wet hair falling forward over his face, the little Saiyan abruptly reversed direction. He kicked the fish under its massive jaw, sending it arcing back toward the pool. Moving at super speed, the little prince beat it to the water and with one mighty punch, sent the massive fish crashing into the trees on the riverbank.
The fish flopped around, crushing several trees in the process, until a single powerful ki blast through its head ended its struggles. The commotion woke Trunks up, who blinked sleepily and stretched. Ignoring his audience, a sopping Vegeta landed near the carcass and with efficient ki blasts, began to gut it.
"At least he knows how to feed himself," Piccolo muttered loud enough for Gohan to hear, who stifled a laugh. The demi-Saiyan recalled with fondness the year he had spent with Piccolo, getting ready for Vegeta and Nappa's arrival. Though he would never admit it out loud, or at least where his mother would hear, those were the best days of his life. He had always suspected it had been Piccolo that left the apples, but the Nameckian would not fess up.
"He was always very independent," Gohan agreed. "Seems to be true even at this age."
Piccolo grunted noncommitally.
When he was done, Vegeta stepped back and surveyed his work. Satisfied, he deigned to glance at the onlookers. Seeing them watching his activities, he scowled. "Get your own," he snapped.
Trunks, seeing Gohan and Goten nearby, walked over. "Hey! What's up?"
"We're just visiting," Goten chirped happily. He wanted to talk to Vegeta. He had viewed the aloof Saiyan prince as sort of a surrogate father for years, until his own father had come back from the dead during the fight with Majin Buu. Now Vegeta was his own age! Goten thought that was to coolest thing ever.
They all watched Vegeta fire a ki blast at a pile of wood and soon the clearing was filled with the aroma of cooking fresh fish. Mouths watering, Trunks and Goten looked at each other. Simultaneously they grinned and, still fully clothed, jumped into the pool of water to catch their own meal.
Gohan grinned and turning to Piccolo, asked, "Seriously, Piccolo. How is it going?"
"So far, he hasn't gotten into too much trouble. Luckily his power levels are very low compared to when he was grown up. He seems to be adjusting to his surroundings."
"Can the surroundings adjust to him?" Gohan asked.
Piccolo snorted. "However, there was nearly an incident at Kame House earlier."
"Kame House?" Gohan echoed.
"Yeah, we dropped off a package for 18. Vegeta didn't react too well to her," Piccolo said.
Gohan thought that over. Over in the pool, loud splashes and shrieks of laughter were heard. "Do you think he remembers her and their fight?" he asked finally. Vegeta never mentioned it, but that fight was the bitterest defeat for the Saiyan prince. She not only broke his arm, but nearly his pride. The prince never forgave the android. They learned to tolerate each other as time went on, but only just.
Over in the pool, a fish suddenly launched itself onto the bank, followed closely by a soaking wet Trunks and Goten. They dragged it over to where Vegeta was sitting cross-legged, wolfing down the meat with relish. The prince looked up at them as they joined him, his expression was almost tolerant. Soon, all three were engaged in an eating contest.
Piccolo shook his head, his cape fluttered in the breeze. "I don't think so," he said thoughtfully. "He doesn't seem to remember anything at all about being here on Earth. And so far he has reacted with surprising maturity to everything else he has come across. This was something else, almost," Piccolo hesitated, "instinctive."
Eyebrows raised, Gohan chewed on that. "Instinctive," he murmured. A thought struck him. "Do you remember when we first fought the androids?" Piccolo nodded. "Remember how adamant Vegeta was about fighting them? He was obsessed with destroying them, and he was so focused on that, that he didn't even care about putting Bulma and baby Trunks in danger. I have never seen Vegeta so determined to destroy anything, even Freiza or Majin Buu."
Piccolo nodded again. "I remember," he said. He wondered if something had happened to little Vegeta to make him hate androids, or if it was something else, something less personal.
Gohan evidently had been thinking along the same lines. "I wonder if it's a Vegeta thing, or a Saiyan thing," he mused.
Hearing Gohan, Piccolo smiled to himself. If Gohan was the strongest fighter alive, he was also one of the smartest too. Piccolo was as proud as a parent of the half-Saiyan. Then he gave full attention to what Gohan has said. "Goku didn't react like that," he pointed out.
"True," Gohan agreed, "but father is not a typical Saiyan," he pointed back.
"True," Piccolo returned. "We don't have enough experience with normal Saiyans to say for sure either. Although I would never qualify Vegeta as normal either, come to think of it."
"We could ask Vegeta," Gohan suggested.
No sooner said than done. They walked over to where boys were sitting, still stuffing their faces in typical Saiyan fashion. Vegeta looked up, his cheeks bulging with fish. He swallowed. "What?" he asked impatiently.
"What happened earlier with you and the android?" Piccolo asked bluntly.
"I don't know what you are talking about," was the reply. The prince took another bite of fish.
"You almost attacked 18 with no provocation, Vegeta." Piccolo growled. "Why?"
Trunks and Goten looked at the small prince, both of them with their mouths full.
Vegeta rose to his feet, his tail fluffing slightly. "That thing is an abomination and should be eliminated," his eyes narrowed.
"Why do you say that?" Piccolo asked. "She hasn't done anything to you." Piccolo knew that not really true, but Vegeta didn't.
Vegeta fumbled for a reply. He didn't know why he had felt such a stark need to wipe that thing out of existence. It was deep inside, part of his being. Feeling cornered, he fell back on his usual defense. It worked equally well with annoying Saiyans and other aliens. "I am the Saiyan prince and don't have to explain myself to the likes of you," he snarled. Abandoning his meal, he stalked off into the woods.
"Well, that went over about how you would expect," Gohan commented. "I guess Vegeta is Vegeta, no matter what age he is."
Trunks and Goten stood up. "What's going on?" Trunks asked, wiping his mouth on the back of his arm.
"That's what we were trying to find out," Gohan answered, still looked at the area where Vegeta disappeared.
Trunks thought it over. "C'mon, Goten!" Trunks grabbed Goten's arm and they rushed into the woods after Vegeta.
Gohan and Piccolo looked at each other, shrugged, and then sat on the ground for a brainstorming session.
Vegeta stalked through the woods, looking for something to vent his anger on. Trees were no good, as they didn't fight back. Animals, sensing the violent prince, got out of the way in a hurry. He was just about to take off into the atmosphere when he heard Trunks and Goten run up behind him.
"Hey! Fa…I mean Vegeta! Wait up!" Trunks called.
Vegeta stopped and crossed his arms, but didn't face them. "What do you want?" he asked, his tail lashing from side to side.
Trunks and Goten looked at each other. Identical grins formed on their faces at the same time. Goten reached out and slapped Vegeta hard on his back, making him stagger forward. "Tag! You're it!" he shouted as a surprised Vegeta whirled around in rage.
Laughing, the two demi-Saiyans took off running. For long seconds, Vegeta stood stock still, his teeth clenched as well as his fists. Then, a slow smirk curled his lips. "So, you want to play, huh?" he said. Reaching up to activate his scouter, he stretched his sense. This would be interesting.
Goten and Trunks stopped deep in the woods, panting slightly. In tune with each other, they held their breaths and closed their eyes, trying to focus. Each keyed their senses to their utmost; trying to anticipate which direction Vegeta would attack from. Long moments dragged by and nothing happened.
"I can't feel anything, Trunks," Goten whispered.
"He's coming, trust me," Trunks assured his partner. He knew his father, and Vegeta could not back down from a challenge.
"Then where is he?" Goten asked.
"Right above you!" Vegeta answered as he leaped down out of a tree above the two boys.
Too late they whirled and looked up. Vegeta landed on top of them and they all collapsed in a sprawling heap of arms and legs and a tail.
"You're too slow!" Vegeta jeered from on top. "Tag, you're it!" and leaped away, back into the trees once more.
Wobbling, the two demi-Saiyans climbed to their feet, spitting grass and rubbing their sore heads. "C'mon Goten!" Trunks ordered. As fast as they could, they climbed after the agile little prince. It was turning into more of a game of hide and seek, rather than tag. But as an adult, Vegeta never 'played' with his son. Trunks was determined to milk this opportunity for all it was worth.
High in the trees, Vegeta grinned. His opponents were unable to sense his battle power because he was keeping it suppressed, using only his natural strength. He didn't even try to sense their ki either for the same reason. But his scouter was set to locate all life forms and was picking them up on infrared. With this advantage, he was able to keep track of their movements.
Seeing them starting to close in, he leaped to another tree, then another. Relying more on stealth then speed, he led them in a merry chase around the perimeter of the valley. Vegeta was so caught up in the game; he failed to realize that he had inadvertently boxed himself in a cul-del-sac. Swearing to himself, he turned around, trying to judge just how soon his opponents would reach his position. He ran back to the opening, just as Trunks and Goten appeared.
For a split second, they all stared at each other. Then predatory grins spread across the two boys face. Vegeta feinted right, and then broke to the left. Goten, falling for the feint, stumbled across Trunks' path, interfering with him. This gave Vegeta room to dive around them and take off at top speed. Smirking, he looked back at Trunks and Goten in hot pursuit. He turned forward again just in time to see something blur into existence right in front of him.
He smashed face first into the broad chest at top speed, eliciting an 'oof!' from Goku.
Vegeta didn't even have time to draw a breath before Trunks and Goten, unable to stop, plowed into them and with their combined momentum, sent them all sprawling to the ground.
For a few seconds they lay in a pile, Vegeta sandwiched between Trunks, Goten and Goku, trying to draw air into his crushed lungs. Finally, he managed to gain enough air to gasp, "Get off of me!"
Moaning, Trunks and Goten rolled off, flopping to the ground on either side of them, leaving Vegeta lying on top of Goku. "What happened?" he groaned, reaching down to feel if his tail was broken.
"Dad!" Goten sat up, smiling at Goku, who was sitting up, still holding a dazed Vegeta.
"Goku?" Trunks asked.
"Where did you come from?" Vegeta asked, willing the world to stop spinning. Unconsciously he curled his tail around Goku's arm in an effort to ground himself.
"I came to get Goten and Gohan. Chi-Chi will be home soon," Goku explained.
Goten shuddered at how his mother would react if she found out where they were.
"How did you get here?" Vegeta asked, his head finally clearing.
"Instant transmission," Goku replied cheerfully. He looked down where Vegeta's tail was still around his forearm, feeling the soft fur. He recalled his own tail with a wave of sad nostalgia.
Vegeta shook himself and climbed off of Goku. For an instant no one said anything, then Goku cleared his throat. "We should find Gohan and go home."
They walked back to the waterfall, each of them lost in their own thoughts. As they entered the clearing, they all stopped as if poleaxed.
Piccolo and Gohan were standing off to the side, tensed and alert. Neither of them looked at the group because sitting in the middle of the clearing, next to the pool where the boys had been fishing, was a large spaceship.
"Looks like we have company," Goku observed.
TBC
