KumikoVegeta: Yes, Vegeta's redemption is complete. I had, when I started this story, a whole long list of things that Vegeta had to do. But I realized that would become kind of boring after awhile and really detract from the Cordell story line. So, I picked the two things that seemed most important, and worked in everything on the list into those two things, and some of them outside of the list altogether. Like telling his children he loved them. Coming to grips with his feelings towards Goku, and all that sort of stuff.
Una: Thanks! That is high praise indeed!
Flameraven: I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Kirillin yet. I like Kirillin too much to simply leave him out, but unless I give him a huge power up, then he's not likely to be much help in the upcoming battle.
To Everyone: Does anyone know what the official DBZ position is on a dead warrior getting killed in battle? Do they simply go back to heaven, or The Grand Kai's planet, or are they dissolved into oblivion?
Thanks to all the people that have taken an interest and reviewed!
On to the story!!
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Kaioshin, North Kai, Goku, Vegeta, Bardock, Nappa, Raditz, Kirillin, and Bulma all stood together after having just returned from Earth's check in station.
Nappa finally broke the silence. "Well, I guess this means that we should be getting back to Heaven."
Bardock, Nappa, and Raditz exchanged saddened glances. Heaven, for a Saiyan, was a pretty boring place indeed. But boring was better than torment. "Goku, will you take us back?"
"That won't be necessary Nappa." The Supreme Kai spoke up. "You see those guys out there training?"
"Yeah, looks like fun!" All three of them echoed.
"Well, they're part of what is called the Z-Warriors. And I've decided that you three are to be reassigned to permanent duty with them. They're all strong warriors, strong of body, strong of mind. Think you guys can handle it?" Kaioshin asked.
"Yes sir! Count us all in!" Raditz was overjoyed.
"Well get over there and report to Piccolo on the double!" Kaioshin ordered.
"We're there!" Nappa yelled. And off the three ex-killers happily flew.
Kaioshin then turned to Kirillin. "Seems to me that you've earned some time back on Earth, if you want to go that is. You know, I heard that the next World's Martial Arts Tournament is in a month. Seems to me that your family could use the prize money."
"Yeah, they could, I sort of left them in a lurch with all the medical bills and stuff." Kirillin said. "But I can't win the tournament, I haven't been strong enough to even come close in years."
"Think about it baldy, other than your wife, where are all the really strong fighters on Earth right now?" Vegeta pointed out.
Kirillin's face brightened. "You mean you guys won't enter the tournament? Honest?"
"No, we won't Kirillin. It's all yours." Goku stated.
Goku suddenly looked around. "Wait a minute, we forgot one!!"
Goku put two fingers to his head and vanished.
Seconds later he reappeared with Uub, who had just stepped out of the
shower. He had a towel around his
waist, and a toothbrush in his mouth.
"Wha?!?? Sha tha helf if goin on? Uub looked desperately for something to rinse his mouth with, deciding just to spit the whole thing out, brush and all.
"Goku!! Can't you at least give a person a chance to get some clothes on!!" Uub screamed in Goku's face.
Then the towel fell off.
Pan and Bura, who had been sparing about 30 yards away, suddenly stopped and got an eye-full.
"Whoa!" Pan exclaimed. "I wonder what he's doing Saturday Night?"
"Pan! You're awful!" Bura said.
"Yeah right, I don't see you looking away either." Pan smirked.
Uub grabbed his towel and wrapped it back around himself. "Goku you idiot! Take me back home this instant and let me get dressed!"
"Hold on." The Supreme Kai came over and placed his hand above Uub's head. "Ok, just visualize the clothes you want to wear. Ok good."
With a flash of light Uub was fully dressed.
"Ok Vegeta, you, Kirillin and the round blue guy can get up and stop laughing now!" Uub exclaimed.
"Uub! That's King Kai!" Goku corrected.
"That's a Kai? I would have pictured a Kai as being a bit more.. Dignified.." Uub whispered back to Goku.
"Nope, that's King Kai alright." Goku assured
"Ok, does anyone want to explain what is going on, why I am here, and who this other blue guy is?" Uub demanded in an annoyed manner.
"What is going on? We are all gathered here training for what we believe to be a very powerful and evil force that may attack us or attack the mortal dimension at any time. You are here because Goku kidnapped you into training with us, and possibly helping us against this threat. And I am the Supreme Kai." Kaioshin smiled.
"Is that another Kai over there then?" Uub said, pointing at the Elder Kai.
"Yes, that's the Elder Kai." Goku said.
"What's he doing to those two… Those are Sayins? I thought you and Vegeta were the only two Saiyans left?" Uub said a bit perplexed.
"Well, we were. But Vegeta found the girl abandoned on a moon, and Roger there used the Namekian Dragonballs and wished to be a Saiyan.
"Okay Goku, you're starting to give me a headache. I'm going over here and see if Gohan of someone will beat on me long enough to forget this entire conversation." With that, Uub left to go train.
"Some people are so touchy!" Goku smiled.
Vegeta, Kirillin, and King Kai just shook their heads and smiled.
"By the way Vegeta, I have a surprise for you!" Goku was fairly hopping up and down with excitement.
"What's that Kakkarot?" Vegeta quizzed.
"The Truth my friend! At long last you are ready for the truth!" Goku exclaimed. "Follow me!"
Goku lead Vegeta about a half a mile away from everyone, and was at least that far above ground when he stopped and turned towards Vegeta.
"So what is this truth you have for me Kakkarot?" Vegeta asked curiously.
"Remember all these years when you couldn't believe that I, a third class Saiyan was stronger than you, a Prince of the royal blood?" Goku started.
"Do you know that you have been right all this time?" Goku asked.
"Kakkarot, you don't need to rub it in, I know that you've been stronger than me most of the time we've known each other." Vegeta said.
"That's not true my friend." Goku said.
Vegeta just looked at him blankly. "What do you mean?"
"The good that is at the core of your heart, Vegeta. It prevented you from defeating us when you first came to Earth. It was fighting the hatred and guilt that you've carried with you all these years. That fight, that constant bickering, is what kept you from surpassing me. Now that the hatred and guilt are gone, you should be slightly stronger than I am." Goku finished. "Power up Vegeta!"
Both Goku and Vegeta powered up. Both Transformed into their Super Saiyan Four forms. But neither one showed any signs of slowing their power-up.
"Keep going Vegeta! Push!!" Goku screamed above the din.
Back at the makeshift training camp, everyone stopped. "That's dad and Vegeta! Goten yelled. "Man, look at them go!!"
"The whole planet it shaking!" Piccolo yelled.
Suddenly there was a bright flash of light. But for some reason this light was cool to the eyes. Everyone that was bathed in it immediately felt healed, and well, and content. They had been bathed in a pure and powerful life force.
Where two Super Saiyan Fours hovered in air a second before now stood two creatures the likes of which this universe has never seen.
"I-is this???" Vegeta started.
"Yes Vegeta, Super Saiyan Five." Goku stated flatly
"I feel like a Kai!" Vegeta said.
"You are far more powerful than any Kai I've ever seen Vegeta." Goku said. "Hold out your hand. Now visualize anything you want. Now understand that it already exists in your hand and solid."
Suddenly, from out of thin air, the Royal Crest of the House Vegeta appeared in his hand. The one his father was wearing when he confronted Frieza. Vegeta had given up ever seeing this object again many years ago.
Vegeta looked at Goku. Goku was wearing the same clothes as before, his standard gi, but it wasn't orange anymore. Instead it was bright silver. His hair was a deep navy blue and had grown down to his waist, like a Super Saiyan Three transformation. Both of his eyes were solid navy blue, with no hint of a pupil, and they glowed with a deep inner fire.
Goku floated over to examine the object that Vegeta held in his hand. "May I see that?" Goku asked.
Vegeta nodded his head, still in shock over the feelings assaulting his new body.
Incredibly, Goku did not reach out with his hand, but twenty or thirty strands of his hair snaked out and encircled the crest and raised it to his eye level. "You see Vegeta, in this form we are in control of every cell, every molecule in our bodies. Our bodies are not simply using ki anymore, they are ki. I believe that this is our highest form before…." Goku hesitated.
"Before what?" Vegeta pressed.
"Before we become something… else.. I don't know what. Pure energy perhaps, pure mental power, I don't really know." Goku tried to explain. "But I was right, you are more powerful than I am." Goku admitted.
"What would happen if we fused in this form?" Vegeta pondered.
"I don't know. We might cross over into that next level, become pure energy, or something." Goku said. "I think we should use that technique only as a very last resort."
Vegeta nodded his head. "Agreed. We don't what to do something we cannot undo."
"Over the next few days we will train exclusively in this form so you can get the hang of things." Goku said. "I'll even teach you how to generate a field that transforms the air you breath out back into breathable air." Goku said. "You can survive in space in this form."
"Sounds good Kakkarot." Vegeta said. "Can we spar in this form?"
"Yes, but we will either have to go back to the Nexus, or
find a real large area of space without life forms or planets." Goku
explained. "A planet wouldn't stand up
to this form for more than a few seconds in a fight. Ok then, we'll start the first thing in the morning. I don't know about you, but I'm hungry and
tired. I'm not really dead like those
other guys, I gotta sleep and eat at least once in awhile."
Goku powered down, Vegeta followed suit.
Goku and Vegeta flew back to where everyone else was standing open-mouthed staring at them. "What's the matter? Never seen a Super Saiyan Five before?" Vegeta teased. "Where's dinner?"
"Coming right up Vegeta!" The Supreme Kai finally broke the silence.
"Everyone come up and eat!" Kaioshin yelled. "Ooops! I'll need to take something out to Roger and Yambia. So I'd better grab some stuff now before this horde of Saiyans gets to the table!"
Unfortunately, Kaioshin wasn't quite fast enough and was trampled underfoot and knashing jaw. He did manage to teleport away before any serious harm was done. Before he could get back, the thirty large tables full of food was emptied. Kaioshin could see teeth marks in the wood.
"How long do we have left here?" Yambia asked for the 100th time in the last hour.
"I don't know, about an hour, hour and a half maybe." Roger patiently answered.
"Did you notice that this guy has a halo? How can a Kai be dead?" Yambia wondered.
"I think this must be the Kai that Vegeta said gave up his life so that Goku/Kakkrot could come back to life to fight that Buu character." Roger explained.
"Ohhh.. That's right, I remember that part of the story. Vegeta was dead at the time as well, wasn't he?" Yambia asked.
"Yeah, that's right I think." Roger answered.
"This has been quite an adventure so far, hasn't it?" Yambia grinned.
"Yeah. And my gut feeling tells me that the best is yet to come!" Roger exclaimed.
"I'm glad we met Roger." Yambia said looking into Roger's eyes for a reaction.
"Me to Yambia." Roger returned.
"Roger, are you glad we are bonding?" Yambia asked.
"Yes Yambia, with all my heart." Roger leaned forward as Yambia's face came up to meet his. Their lips just a hair's breath from touching.
"Alright! That will be quite enough of that! You two are done, you can go now!" Rou Kaioshin quarreled.
"What do you mean done? I thought we had another hour or so left?" Roger asked.
"I get better each time I do this! So, it was a little shorter this time. Besides, if you think I'm going to sit here and watch you two suck face for the next hour you're crazy!" And with that, The Elder Kai disappeared.
"Okay then…. Do you feel any different Yambia?" Roger asked.
"No… Let's try powering up." Yambia suggested.
"Umm…. Ladies first…" Roger said.
"Age before beauty.." Yambia said handing the ball back to him.
"Ok, here goes then." Roger unwrapped his tail from around his waist and clutched his hands into fists and began to concentrate on his power up. "EEEEEAAAAAHHHHH…. OH MY KAI!! I feel like I'm on FIIIIIREEEEEEE!!!" Roger transcended the level of Super Saiyan, and was about three quarters of the way through Super Saiyan Two before he stopped. Only he hadn't actually gone super. This must be the mystic form they were talking about. I think I can push a little bit higher yet. Here goes. EEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Suddenly, the planet began to shake violently as Roger did go Super Saiyan.
"What in the hell is going on out there?" Vegeta yelled as he left his dinner and flew towards the huge ki he sensed. "Holy crap! That's Roger!"
"Romaine!" Nappa reminded him.
"No! Rhubard!" Raditz insisted.
"Shuttap!!" Vegeta warned.
As they approached Roger everyone but Vegeta, Piccolo, Kaioshin, and Goku had to fall back. They weren't strong enough to approach Roger's ki field. When they arrived they found Roger floating above a huge crater in Super Saiyan form, but it was different. Roger had the classic gold hair and turqouis eyes, but the hair had a shocking silver streak running from front to back.
Kaioshin looked at him in wonder. "Mystic Super Saiyan level One!"
The others looked at Roger not sure what to think for the moment.
Yambia flew up from where she was blown to when Roger forced his last power surge. "Idiot! Why don't you warn people when you're about to try and blow up the damned planet!"
"Ummm…. Sorry…" Was all Roger could muster. Roger could not believe the amount of sheer power that was running through his body. "This is incredible!"
"Okay, my turn!" Yambia said. "But I'm going to put some distance between myself and Kaioshin's planet." So she flew up until she was about a mile above the surface and started powering up. When she finished, she was equivalent to Roger in power and had also attained the level of Mystic Super Saiyan level one. She floated down beside Roger.
"Kaioshin. I was told that I would destroy the planet if I jumped into Super Saiyan as a mystic." Gohan said.
"With you that would have been true. Remember that you were already a Super Saiyan Two before you gained the mystic abilities. You were already vastly stronger than Roger or Yambia going into it." Kaioshin explained. "I'm thinking these two are around the middle of the Super Saiyan Two level, wouldn't you agree Goku?"
"As amazing as it seems, I agree." Goku was clearly shocked. "Ok, now we get to work on controlling that power. First I guess we need to gather everyone together and explain exactly what is going on. We'll do that first thing in the morning."
Goku and Vegeta was clearly getting ready for bed with the ruckus started, the rest were just finishing up the day's training.
"So, let's all get a good nights sleep and face a new day." Goku said. Everyone agreed.
Kaioshin was busy showing everyone to their rooms. At the end of the hall he turned and said. "And this will be your room Roger and Yambia."
The couple hesitated. Roger stammered a bit. "But Supreme Kai, we.. I mean to say we aren't.. "
"What's the matter Roger, you two are bonding aren't you?" Kaioshin asked with a wink.
"Yes but.. Well I think…." Roger started again. Suddenly someone grabbed his tail. He felt pain, and all his strength fled his body.
"Aw c'mon you shy thing you!" Yambia dragged Roger into the room by his tail.
The rest of the Saiyans were unsuccessfully trying to stifle their laughter.
"Roger! You'd better learn that Saiyan women always get what they want!" Raditz yelled.
"And just how the hell would you know?" Bardock teased.
Bardock's oldest son let his eyes drop and looked very sad. "Dad, Frieza destroyed the planet before I had the chance to bond."
Bardock realized he'd hit a nerve better left undisturbed.
"I'm sorry son, I wasn't thinking." Bardock apologized.
"I wonder if she'll scream out Roger, Romaine, or Rhubard tonight?" Nappa said with glee in his eye.
"Shaddap!!" Vegeta yelled as he headed to his room with Bulma.
"I think they make a great couple!" Bulma stated.
"Yeah, I'm just glad they're a couple of rooms down so I don't have to hear them!" Vegeta said.
"How are you going to hear them when you're busy listening to us, lover?" Bulma sashayed into the room.
Vegeta smiled widely. "We can do that? I mean we… you're dead and…."
"I still have my body." Bulma grabbed Vegeta's tail. "C'mon you shy thing, Saiyan women aren't the only ones that get what they want." Bulma dragged Vegeta into their room.
The rest of the team rolled on the floor laughing and clutching their sides. Even Piccolo.